CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Nov. 15, 2021
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Here we go into the week before Thanksgiving, and that always feels like a sort of segue into the holidays and the coming of the wonders of winter! Although if winter will hold off for a while longer, that’d be just fine. I want to give a shout out to Carmen Bain for the incredible design charrette she put together with College of Design colleagues that took place over the weekend. The event fostered creative thinking among CALS and design students for the two rooms on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center that our college manages… More
Top Stories
Kaleita Named Chair of ABE
Amy Kaleita has been named chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. She currently serves as the department interim chair and her permanent appointment will begin on Dec. 1. The program is jointly administered by CALS and the College of Engineering. As a professor, Kaleita has taught courses in soil and water conservation management and engineering, and analytical techniques for data and modeling. She has served on the department’s curriculum committee, been active with the accreditation process and plays a role in the college’s Honors Program. Kaleita is also a prominent researcher. Her work focuses on information technology for precision conservation including remote sensing, crop and hydrologic modeling, precision farming, and advanced analytical methods for understanding the influence of spatiotemporally variable soil and hydrologic properties. More
Research
Nitrous Oxide Emissions a Factor in Climate Change Mitigation
A newly-published study found that a range of agricultural soils produce nitrous oxide emissions in sufficient quantities to contribute to climate change. Steven Hall, ecology, evolution and organismal biology and lead author of the study, said in addition to carbon sequestration, management plans also should encourage nitrous oxide mitigation strategies. More
CALS Researchers Report on Pipeline Impacts to Farmland
An Iowa State study looking at the impacts of soil disturbance and early remediation practices from construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline found significant soil compaction and gradual recovery of crop yield in the right-of-way over five years. The team was led by Mehari Tekeste, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Soil Machine Dynamics Laboratory, and included Mark Hanna, retired extension agricultural engineer; Robert Horton, agronomy; and Elnaz Ebrahimi, agricultural and biosystems engineering. More
Horton on Team Honored with National Research Excellence Award
Robert Horton, agronomy, is one of the senior scientists recognized by USDA with its 2021 national Multistate Research Excellence Award for his part in the long-running project, “Soil, Water and Environmental Physics to Sustain Ag and Natural Resources.” The multistate project is an initiative whose representatives come from more than 24 research institutions across the country. More
Teaching and Students
Agronomy Student Named FFA Star in Agriscience
Chase Krug, senior in agronomy, won the National FFA Star in Agriscience award at the national convention in Indianapolis on Oct. 29. One of his agriscience experiences was an internship at the World Vegetable Center in Hyderabad, India. More
Students Design CALS Space at the SIC
CALS and the College of Design brought together 34 students this past weekend at the Student Innovation Center for a design charrette – a collaborative session in which a group of designers draft a solution to a design problem. CALS owns two classrooms on the fourth floor of the SIC. Both rooms are fully furnished with tables, chairs and television screens, but the rooms are in need of design elements that showcase the college’s programs. The winning design will be published in the Nov. 29 issue of CALS.
FSHN Silent Auction Begins Today, Nov. 15
The Culinary Science Club, Dairy Products Evaluation Club, Food Science Club and Student Dietetics Association Club are organizing the annual FSHN Silent Auction, set for Nov. 15 to Dec. 1. Winners will be notified on Dec. 2 to pick up items in the Culinary Discovery Lab (2379 Food Sciences Building) on Dec. 3 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The bidding link is now open. All proceeds benefit the four clubs.
Meat Science Club Taking Orders for Holiday Hams
The Meat Science Club is taking orders for its annual holiday ham fundraiser. Club members trim, inject, cook, smoke and package the holiday hams and ham hocks, providing them with hands-on meat processing experience. The money raised helps members attend academic conferences, funds industry trip tours and supports meat science club activities and events. Pick-up dates are Thursday, Nov. 18, or Thursday, Dec. 9, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Meat Lab sales counter in Kildee Hall. More
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Begins Nov. 27
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Trees will be for sale Nov. 27-28, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12. Hours are Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The club will have Korean fir, balsam fir, Canaan fir and white pine, as well as wreaths. Cash or checks only. Proceeds go toward club activities and student development.
Extension and Outreach
Online Crop Marketing Course Now Open
Registration is open for an Online Crop Marketing Course offered by ISU Extension and Outreach. It provides learning opportunities for various crop marketing strategies and tools to develop crop marketing plans. More
North Central Aquaculture Conference Set for February
The North Central Aquaculture Conference, scheduled for Feb. 18-19, 2022, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, will highlight key topics of production. The conference is co-hosted by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center, housed at Iowa State, and the Minnesota and Wisconsin Aquaculture Associations. More
Around the College
CALS Hosts WellBeing Webinar for Faculty, Staff
A webinar for CALS faculty and staff will be held Thursday, Nov. 18, at noon. Stephanie Downs, senior WorkLife and WellBeing coordinator, will present “Surviving vs. Thriving – Am I Really Okay.” The last two years have been challenging to say the least. Many are tired, overwhelmed, on edge and re-thinking everything from work, to family, friends and the future. It doesn’t feel like there is space to breathe some days, much less find time for self-care and well-being. “During the interactive lunch session, participants will discuss why we are OK even though we don’t feel like it some days, learn about resources available to support our well-being, and share some practical strategies to move toward thriving as we manage our daily experience at work and home,” said Rob Stevenson, Human Resources Partner for CALS. Register in advance for the webinar.
CALS Award Nomination Deadline Tomorrow, Nov. 16
Nominations for annual awards presented to faculty and staff by CALS are due Tuesday, Nov. 16. The list of college awards and nominating guidelines are available online. Nominations will be reviewed by the college faculty and staff award committees in December and presented during the annual CALS Awards Program, scheduled for March 10, 2022. Nominations for most awards presented by ISU need to be submitted to the college first. The college deadline for university award nominations is Nov. 16. The college award committees will review and forward the best two to three nominations for each award. The list of university awards and nominating guidelines are available online. University awards are presented at the ISU Fall Convocation in September. The award page on the CALS website provides a complete list of awards available, frequently asked questions and a list of past recipients. Contact your departmental awards committee for additional information.
College Hosting Holiday Gathering on Dec. 15
Dean Robison and the CALS leadership team are hosting a holiday gathering on Dec. 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium (brief remarks at 4:30 p.m.) Food and refreshments will be available, along with music by Kaizer Jazz. All CALS faculty and staff are invited, along with a spouse, partner or guest. RSVP by Dec. 8.
CALS Works Toward Goal for 2021 United Way Campaign
The 2021 campaign to support United Way is nearing an end. The CALS goal for the campaign is $75,000, and 37% of the goal has been reached to date. For those interested in getting involved, United Way encourages giving, advocating, and/or volunteering. More
CALS Online: Next Full Issue Nov. 29
CALS Online will not be published on Nov. 22, the week of Thanksgiving. It will resume Monday, Nov. 29.
Calendar
Nov. 17: Building Inclusive Communities Webinar Series
The final fall conversation in the CALS Alumni Conversations: Building Inclusive Communities webinar series is Wednesday, Nov. 17, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Maurice Washington (’17 agricultural and biosystems engineering) will present Making Moves: Networking and Leveraging Your Skillset to Make a Career Pivot.
Nov. 18: Pierre Lecture in Soil Science
The William H. Pierre Memorial Lecture in Soil Science will be held virtually Nov. 18 at 2:10 to 3:10 p.m. Asmeret Berhe, University of California-Merced and President Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, will present “Soil Erosion in Biochemical Cycling of Essential Elements.” More
Infograzing
Obbink to Serve as University Public Health Coordinator
Kristen Obbink will serve as Iowa State’s university public health coordinator beginning Dec. 6. This is a new position that will oversee the non-clinical operations of public health at ISU. Obbink, who is the lead public health veterinarian at the Center for Food Security and Public Health located at the College of Veterinary Medicine, served as the university’s COVID-19 public health coordinator.
Food Pantry Seeks Volunteers for December, January Shifts
The SHOP student food pantry is asking university employees to volunteer during prep week, finals week and over winter break to help keep the pantry open three times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday) for students who remain in Ames. The food pantry, located in 1306 Beyer, will not be open on university holidays. Volunteers may select their shifts at an online sign-up site, and more information will be sent automatically in an email. Direct questions to SHOP advisor Breanna Wetzler (bwetzler@iastate.edu, 294-4875). More
Marginalia
Prepare Vegetable and Flower Seeds for Next Year
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year. ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturists can answer questions on the basics of harvesting, preparing and storing seed from your garden. 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 Thursday.