CALS Online and Dean’s Message
Nov. 29, 2021
Dean’s Message
Happy Monday after Thanksgiving, CALS Colleagues – I hope you had some wonderful time off and a great Thanksgiving. The end of the semester is just a few short weeks away… Let’s help our students along, including to still watch out for stress and other challenges. And let’s watch out for each other, too. Please be extra diligent on your COVID precautions, as well, with so many people coming back to campus from near and far… More
Top Stories
Watershed Game App Developed by Iowa State Reaching Wide Audience
People in Ecosystems Watershed Integration, better known as PEWI, is an innovative game-based learning app providing land-use “what if” scenarios. Originally a brainchild of Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management, PEWI started out as a spreadsheet for a class exercise. Since then, it has developed into an interactive tool for formal and non-formal education with the help of a creative, interdisciplinary team of faculty and students, including John Tyndall, NREM; Nancy Grudens-Schuck, agricultural education and studies; Robert Valek (’20 Ph.D. sustainable agriculture and forestry); and Richard Magala, current Ph.D. student in forestry and DataFEWSion. More
Teaching and Students
Iowa State Partners with Mary Greeley to Provide Nursing Education
In a new cohort agreement, Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames will annually provide tuition for eight of its registered nurses to complete their bachelor of science in nursing at Iowa State University. The RN-to-BSN program at Iowa State is unique as it is designed to meet the needs of the newly licensed and mid-career working nurse, as the curriculum is delivered through hybrid learning. More
Alum on Campus for Teacher in Residence Program
Brandi Boyd, agricultural education instructor for Clarke Community Middle School and High School in Osceola and CALS alum, took part in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies’ Teacher in Residence Program on Nov. 15-16. Made possible by a gift from Jane and Richard Carter, the program aims to connect Iowa agricultural education instructors with current students, faculty and staff in the department. More
Students Design CALS Space at the SIC
Students from CALS and the College of Design joined forces Nov. 13-14 to come up with designs for two CALS-owned collaborative learning labs in the Student Innovation Center. The winning design, created by team “Deep Roots,” represents life, providing for others and nourishment. It features ceiling décor that replicates plant roots and a casual lounging area in the middle of the space in shades of brown, green, gold and red. Team members included Maeve Cleary, senior in agricultural studies, Marwa Elkashif, graduate student in graphic design, Jenna Errthum, senior in horticulture, Norah Larson, sophomore in interior design, and Laura Maschino, senior in interior design. In the spring, CALS and Design faculty will work with students who took part in the design challenge to develop and implement ideas from the winning designs. More
FSHN Silent Auction Continues through Dec. 1
The annual FSHN Silent Auction ends Wednesday, Dec. 1. Winners will be notified Thursday to pick up items in the Culinary Discovery Lab (2379 Food Sciences Building) on Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Culinary Science Club, Dairy Products Evaluation Club, Food Science Club and Student Dietetics Association Club. More
Horticulture Club’s Poinsettia Sale Set for Dec. 1-4
The Horticulture Club is holding its annual poinsettia sale this week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations: Wednesday, Dec. 1, Curtiss Hall ground floor rotunda; Thursday, Dec. 2, Beardshear Hall sale desk; Friday, Dec. 3, Memorial Union by the ISU Bookstore; and Saturday, Dec. 4, Reiman Gardens main corridor. Funds raised will be used for covering club activities, contest expenses and student enrichment. More
Forestry Club’s Christmas Tree Sale Continues
The Forestry Club is holding its annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Trees continue to be for sale 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
Salazar to Help Lead Produce Safety Outreach
Andre Salazar is a new food safety expert with ISU Extension and Outreach. His focus will be on educating those in the produce industry about the Producer Safety Rule found in the Food Safety Modernization Act. More
2022 Garden Calendar Features Iowa Edibles
ISU Extension and Outreach has released its annual garden calendar. This year’s theme is “edibles” and includes photos of popular edible plants and flowers found in Iowa. The calendar includes seasonal guidance for growing fruits and vegetables, and caring for trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns. Planting and harvesting dates are provided, along with year-long tips on plant care. The calendar is available at the ISU Extension Store for $8. More
New Blog Series Features the Voices of ILF Farmer Partners
Iowa Learning Farms is launching a new blog series featuring farmer’s perspectives on what they are most proud of, what they most want to preserve in agriculture and what they hope will change. Richard Frailing, water and natural resource specialist, will post biweekly installments of the blog series beginning Wednesday, Dec. 1. More
Farm Stress Publications for Dairy Producers Released
Dairy specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach have released a series of publications to help dairy farmers identify and understand stress, and learn how to manage farm stress and distress. More
Podcast Recognized for Authority and Outreach
The Small Farm Sustainability Podcast, designed and produced by the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program with ISU Extension and Outreach, ranked first among the best sustainable agriculture podcasts, according to FeedSpot Blog. More
Master Gardener Winter Series Returns Dec. 8
The Master Gardener Program with ISU Extension and Outreach will again host a Winter Webinar Series from December through March. The sessions are free and open to the public, although registration is required. More
Around the College
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.
FundISU Campaign Launched for ISU-Uganda Program
The ISU-Uganda Program, administered by the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, has launched a FundISU campaign to target early childhood development in Uganda. Currently, the CSRL program provides a mid-morning meal for children and improves some school infrastructure through classroom, kitchen and latrine construction. With funds from the campaign, the goal is to provide age-appropriate learning materials, improve nutrition through adequate meals throughout the day, increase the number of teachers’ aides/assistants, and continue improving infrastructure at schools in the district. The campaign runs through Nov. 30. More
Calendar
Dec. 1: Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
Leveraging social media advertising for conservation outreach is the topic of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at noon. Laura Witzling, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, will present “Extending Outreach Impacts through Virtual Events and Facebook Ads.” More
Dec. 2: Open House for Future Cyclone Welcome Center
An open house for the CALS Future Student Welcome Center will be held Thursday, Dec. 2, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in 0004 Curtiss Hall.
Dec. 7: Science with Practice Poster Presentation
This semester’s Science With Practice poster presentation open house will be held Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the first floor Curtiss Hall rotunda. Science with Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture.
Dec. 8: Sow Summit
The Iowa Pork Industry Center is hosting its first Sow Summit on Dec. 8 at the Scheman Building. The one-day conference will provide an opportunity for producers to hear from swine industry experts on challenges facing the industry. More
Infograzing
Iowa State Receives National Recognition from APLU
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities recognized Iowa State’s ongoing efforts to support small businesses and innovators across Iowa with its 2021 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Place award. “I am extremely proud of our faculty and staff who live our land-grant mission every day by responding directly to the needs of Iowans,” said President Wendy Wintersteen. “Their expertise, innovative ideas and personalized solutions help businesses and communities not simply overcome challenges, but emerge stronger and more competitive.” More
Bird Study Illustrates Interaction between Pathology and Behavior
A study examining eye disease in a common bird species shows how pathology and behavior interact in complex ways that determine how widely a pathogen can spread. Rachel Ruden, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine at Iowa State, is co-author of the study. More
Marginalia
Why Are Barns Painted Red?
“There are three reasons we see so many red American barns. It’s traditional, it’s practical and the color looks good,” said Thomas Durant Visser, professor of historic preservation at the University of Vermont. Visser elaborates in a Nov. 22 posting on Curious Kids, a series for children of all ages published by The Conversation. 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.