College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Sept. 3, 2019
Top Stories
CALS Partners on Global Agenda to Reduce Food Waste
Dirk Maier, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the newly formed Consortium for Innovation in Post-Harvest Loss and Food Waste Reduction, collaborated on a report released Aug. 29 that seeks to reduce the annual 1.3 billion tons of global food loss and waste by 2030. Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Setting a Global Action Agenda, is designed to guide businesses, governments, civil society and others in the food system to play an active role in tackling food loss and waste, individually and collectively. Produced by World Resources Institute — with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, and in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme, Natural Resources Defense Council, Iowa State University, the University of Maryland’s Ed Snider Center, the Consortium for Innovation in Postharvest Loss and Food Waste Reduction, Wageningen University and Research and the Waste and Resources Action Programme — the report was released at the World Food Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. More
Research
New Study Suggests U.S. Land Carbon Sink May Have Been Overestimated
A new study co-authored by Chaoqun Lu, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, could help scientists better understand how changes in agricultural land use affect carbon, a critical element in some greenhouse gases. Previous models may have overestimated cropland abandonment and reforestation in the U.S. More
ISU Study Takes New Look at Monarch Numbers
A long-term study offers new insights on how monarch butterflies are doing as they journey through the state, based on research by ISU and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The findings are reported in the paper, Design Implications for Surveys to Monitor Monarch Butterfly Population Trends, co-authored by Stephen Dinsmore, natural resource ecology and management and entomology, and Karen E. Kinkead, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program coordinator. More
Teaching and Students
Students Invited to Submit Poster Abstracts for Borlaug Competition
Abstracts are being accepted for the 18th annual Norman Borlaug Lectureship Poster Competition for Graduate and Undergraduate Students preceding the Borlaug Lecture, scheduled for Oct. 14 in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Abstracts should describe work related to world issues. To be considered, complete the Borlaug Student Poster Competition submission survey by Sept. 26. You will be notified by Oct. 7 if your abstract has been selected for the poster competition. The Borlaug Poster Competition is coordinated by ISU’s Nutritional Sciences Council. More
Science With Practice Fall Program Open until Sept. 6
Participation in the Science With Practice program for the fall 2019 semester is open until Friday, Sept. 6. Science With Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture. Registration forms are available online, or contact the SWP team at swpteam@iastate.edu. More
Extension and Outreach
Maturity Becomes a Concern as Harvest Approaches
Iowans may notice combines harvesting corn deep into November due to the late start to planting last spring, according to Mark Licht and Sotirios Archontoulis, agronomy, and Dennis Todey, USDA’s Midwest Climate Hub. Much of the Iowa corn crop remains weeks behind schedule, and farmers will be paying close attention to temperature as their crop nears maturity and dries down. More
Registration Open for Seed Technology Short Courses
Registration is open for the ISU Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business’ short course that addresses the rapidly changing advancements in agriculture from both a seed technology and business perspective. The course is divided into two parts: Seed Science and Technology on Nov. 4-8 and Seed Business Management on April 6-10, 2020. The courses are led by faculty from ISU’s Seed Technology and Business Graduate Program, Seed Science Center, CALS and the College of Business. Guest speakers, discussion sessions and tours of Iowa State labs and local seed industry facilities are included.
Workshops Explain Foreign Animal Disease Plan Using Secure Pork Supply
In the event of an African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease or Classical Swine Fever outbreak in the United States, state and federal regulatory officials will restrict animal movement to slow or stop the spread of these foreign animal diseases. The Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU Extension and Outreach swine specialists have prepared two workshops to help producers understand state and federal responses and learn how to use Secure Pork Supply resources to prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak. More
Around the College
Arbuckle Receives Freudenburg Award
J. Gordon Arbuckle, sociology, received the William R. Freudenburg Award of Merit from the Rural Sociological Society’s National Resource Research and Interest Group at the RSS annual meeting in August. Arbuckle’s research and extension efforts focus on improving the environmental and social performance of agricultural systems. He seeks to understand what drives farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to make the decisions they do related to soil and water quality and climate change. More
Yin Selected to Serve on Biotechnology Council
Yanhai Yin, genetics, development and cell biology, has been selected to serve a three-year term on ISU’s Biotechnology Council. The Council makes recommendations to the Office of Biotechnology on program activities supporting biotechnology research, education and outreach. More
Mickelson Featured by ISU Alumni Association
Steve Mickelson, chair of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, was featured in the August issue of Friends of a Feather, published by the ISU Alumni Association. Mickelson grew up in northwest Iowa and went to the smallest public school at that time in Iowa: Rembrandt Consolidated. “We had a total of 52 students in the high school,” he said. More
Proposals for New 1-Credit Undergraduate Courses Due Sept. 9
The college has released three internal Call for Proposals for one-time grants to support the development of new courses. The goal is to continue to advance the quality of education for all CALS undergraduate students and provide opportunities for undergraduate students in other colleges to learn about the important work in disciplines offered through the college. For more information contact Alison Parker, aparker@iastate.edu, 4-3830.
- New 1-Credit Undergraduate Courses in CALS – Due Sept. 9. New special topic 1-credit courses to be offered during the second half of fall semester 2019 (and repeated in subsequent semesters). Hot topics related to faculty and staff expertise are welcome.
- Learning Across America – Due Sept. 30. Faculty and staff led groups of undergraduate students traveling to domestic locations to learn and earn credit. Provide expanded opportunities for students to learn about the diversity of cultures, food and agriculture systems, natural resources and life sciences within the U.S.
- New 3-Credit Undergraduate Courses in CALS – Due Oct. 14. New 3-credit courses to fulfill one of the following CALS or ISU requirements: advocacy, communication and media management for audiences engaged with agriculture, natural resources, food and life sciences issues; ethical decision making in agriculture, natural resources, food and life sciences; international perspectives; or U.S. diversity.
In Memoriam: David Williams, Friend of the Leopold Center
David Williams (’53 animal science) died Aug. 26. He was 87. Williams served on the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s board of directors from 1993 to 2002. He received the center’s Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture in 2016. Memorial donations can be given to Villisca EMT or the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. More
Calendar
Sept. 5: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues Thursday, Sept. 5, 3:40 to 5 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall, Ensminger Room. Gretchen Hansen, a volunteer recruiter for the Farmer to Farmer Program in the Middle East and North Africa, for Land O’ Lakes International Development, will present.
Sept. 5: FSHN Welcome Back Picnic
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition will be holding its annual Welcome Back Picnic on Sept. 5 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Food Sciences Building courtyard. All FSHN faculty, staff, students and their families are invited to attend. Food and drinks will be provided, along with FSHN-inspired games.
Sept. 9: Farewell Reception for Kevin Keener
A farewell reception honoring Kevin Keener, food science and human nutrition, will be held Sept. 9 from 4-5 p.m. in 2379 Food Sciences Building. Food and drinks will be provided. Keener joined ISU in 2015 as director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research and the BioCentury Research Farm. He returned to the FSHN faculty in 2018 to focus on research, teaching and industry training initiatives. Keener has accepted a position outside of the university.
Sept. 17: CALS Fall Convocation
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is Sept. 17 at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Dan Robison. Faculty and staff honorees from the 2019 awards program will be recognized. (The awards program originally scheduled for Jan. 30 was cancelled due to the closing of the university due to inclement weather.) Also, a medallion ceremony will be held for Kristine Tidgren, the Leonard Dolezal Professor in Agricultural Law. A wine and cheese reception will follow.
Communications Kiosk
STEM Acceptable on First Reference
STEM is acceptable on first reference for science, technology, engineering and math, but spell out the full phrase shortly thereafter. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2019 edition, pg. 270)
Infograzing
Brunnier Art Museum Hosting Reopening Gala
The Brunnier Art Museum is hosting “Beyond The Glass Reopening Gala” on Sept. 19 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. View the all-glass front entrance to the museum including the Lori A Jacobson Gallery and the Hilsinger Janson Collections Vault. Attendees will preview three world-class exhibitions and see the unveiling of a new public art installation. There will be live music from ISU musicians, a short program, light refreshments and a cash bar. This event is free and open to the public. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.