College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
March 29, 2021
Top Stories
Secretary Naig Honors ISU Meats Laboratory with Ag Leader Award
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the Iowa Ag Leader Award for Leadership in Collaboration to the ISU Meats Laboratory and the Iowa Ag Leader Award for Leadership in Community to the Iowa Food Bank Association for their extraordinary efforts to help livestock producers overcome supply chain disruptions and feed hungry Iowans during the COVID-19 pandemic. More
Video: Teaching Meat Science while Serving Humanity
When the COVID-19 pandemic limited the state’s meat processing capacity, the ISU Meats Lab re-opened its doors and started processing Iowa-grown pork and beef from local producers. These actions provided needed relief for producers who were struggling to market their livestock and gave the meat science students invaluable hands-on experience and training. “This project allowed us to teach our students meat science while serving humanity,” said Dr. Dan Thomson, chair of the Department of Animal Science. “It was the highlight of our year.” More
Research
Study Leads to New Understanding of Leaf Arrangement and Genetics in Sorghum
Findings from an interdisciplinary CALS research team including Maria Salas-Fernandez, agronomy, and Lie Tang, agricultural and biosystems engineering, challenge previous understanding of the genetic control of traits associated with a “smart canopy” in sorghum. More
CALS Researchers Win PIRS Seed Grant
Eric Henderson and Geetu Tuteja, genetics, development and cell biology, have been selected to receive $50,000 in funding from the Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program from ISU’s Office of the Vice President for Research to explore creation of a nanotechnology platform for targeted gene editing. Their project is one of two awarded 2021 funding focused on addressing novel treatments for human health conditions. More
Teaching and Students
Agricultural Business Club Honors Deiter on Retirement
The Agricultural Business Club honored Ron Deiter, economics, at its annual banquet on March 6. Deiter has served as club advisor since 1978 and will retire June 30. The banquet program is available on Facebook.
CALS Students Elected to Top Student Government Positions
Julia Campbell, senior in agricultural business, and Megan Decker, sophomore in agriculture and society, were elected Student Government president and vice president. Inauguration will take place April 6.
Block and Bridle Club to Host Animal Learning Day on April 17
The Block and Bridle Club will hold its annual Animal Learning Day on Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. The event is free and provides an opportunity for the public to learn about animals in agriculture. Face coverings and social distancing required.
Fellows Program Prepares Student to Cut Innovative Path
Owen Cline, senior in industrial technology, joined the Student Innovation Fellows Corps with an agenda – grow his metal sign-making business, Cline Design Creations. Working with Karen Kerns, entrepreneur in residence, and others helped put him in a position to work full-time on building his business after he graduates in May. More
Budding Business Caters to Pets’ Dietary Needs
Arilyn Oatman, freshman in global resource systems and agriculture and life sciences education, pitched her business idea to judges during the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship’s College-by-College Pitch Off competition. Brightside Feeds caters to the special dietary needs of companion animals. She won first place in the existing business category for the CALS portion of the competition and tied for third place in the university-wide finale. More
Extension and Outreach
Soil Erosion Topic of Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Rick Cruse, director of the Iowa Water Center, will discuss soil erosion and how to control it during an Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, March 31, at noon. More
Around the College
FCSAmerica Gift Supports Student Innovation
A gift from Farm Credit Services of America will promote CALS student innovation in the new Student Innovation Center at Iowa State. The $250,000 gift commitment will help support technology and innovation programming within the new facility. More
Schulte Moore Named ESA Fellow
Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management, has been named a 2021 Fellow by the Ecological Society of America. She was elected for contributions to sustainable agriculture and landscape diversity, especially for pioneering strategies that foster wildlife conservation, reduced soil erosion and improved water quality in agricultural regions.
Toth Presented Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award
Amy Toth, ecology, evolution and organismal biology and entomology, received the 2021 Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award. Toth will use funds from the award to initiate a new traineeship, the “ISU BEE SQUAD,” which will provide students with training in bee biology and hands-on beekeeping and honey production experience. More
CALS Searching for New HR Partner
An advertisement has been posted for a new Human Resource Partner for CALS, open through April 7. The person will work for University Human Resources but have a close, daily working relationship and leadership position with CALS and the HR coordinators that support the college. The position was previously held by Kathey Schuckert, who is now the business operations manager in animal science. In the interim, HR support continues to be provided by Lora Socia, Becky Green and Robyn Davis. More
CALS Awards Program Available Online
The virtual celebration honoring CALS faculty and staff awardees held March 22 is available online.
CALS P&T Virtual Workshop Scheduled for Assistant Professors
A promotion and tenure workshop for assistant professors will be held April 5 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. via Zoom (taped for future viewing). RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu) by Wednesday, March 31, to register. The workshop will include expectations, definition of scholarship, portfolio preparation and development, and time for questions.
CALS P&T Virtual Workshop Scheduled for Associate Professors
A promotion and tenure workshop for associate professors will be held April 8 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. via Zoom (taped for future viewing). RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu) by Friday, April 2, to register. The workshop will discuss the transition from associate to professor, portfolio preparation and development, and time for questions.
Calendar
April 2: R. F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium
“Predicting in the Future of Plant Breeding” is the theme of this year’s R.F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium hosted by the Department of Agronomy. The symposium will be held online, April 2, with an additional professional development workshop, April 1. More
April 9-10: Annual Stupka Memorial Symposium
The 15th annual Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium will take place via Zoom on April 9-10. The symposium is hosted by students in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology. The schedule includes presentations by distinguished alumni, in addition to keynote speakers from Harvard, Stanford and Washington University. More
April 12: Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging issues in Agriculture will be held April 12 at 7 p.m. The presenter will be virtual – guests may watch online or in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Dhamu Thamodaran (’83 PhD agricultural economics), retired executive vice president, chief strategy officer and chief commodity hedging officer for Smithfield Foods, will present “Emerging Issues in Global Markets and Trade.” More
Communications Kiosk
Collaborate vs. Corroborate
To collaborate means to cooperate on some undertaking: the participants are collaborators. To corroborate something means to back up its reliability with proof or evidence. (Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, pg. 272)
Marginalia
New Smokey Bear PSAs Urge Americans to Explore Nature Responsibly
With the spring outdoor recreation season about to begin, the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council announced a new public service advertisement from Smokey Bear’s Wildfire Prevention campaign encouraging Americans to explore nature responsibly by taking steps to prevent wildfires. 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.