CALS Online and Dean’s Message
May 23, 2022
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Campus has sure gone quiet with our academic summer here, and yet the fields of Iowa are about to burst with the energy of germinating corn and beans. Seems like an interesting juxtaposition to me. I hope you’ve found time and ways to enjoy our beautiful campus this spring, from the daffodils to the redbuds and more. More
Top Stories
Students ‘Nerd Out’ as They Build Bionic Hand
Karri Haen Whitmer, genetics, development and cell biology, is one of nine CALS faculty who were selected for the new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows Program. Sponsored by the Dean’s Office of Academic Innovation and Start Something CALS, the program aims to expand a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among college faculty. This past semester, 11 students involved in the biology and honors programs enrolled in Haen Whitmer’s experimental course. The students learned about bionics technologies, then used that newfound knowledge to create a bionic hand. More
CALS Faculty Among SIC Consulting Innovators
The Faculty and Staff Professional Practices Innovator Program invests in advancing collaboration and professional development between faculty and staff and the Student Innovation Center. The consulting faculty innovators in the program include: Matt O’Neal, entomology; Claudia Lemper-Manahl, plant pathology and microbiology; and Rodrigo Tarté, animal science.
Research
New Sorghum Lines May be Biofuel of the Future
New inbred lines of sorghum that are significantly more productive and cold-hardy than sorghum plants of the past have been developed by Maria Salas-Fernandez, agronomy. Recently released through Iowa State University, the lines produce hybrids that deliver high biomass yields, are well adapted to northern growing conditions and require fewer inputs of pesticides and fertilizer. More
Teaching and Students
Fluid Power Club Places First in National Challenge
Iowa State’s Fluid Power team brought home the first place title in the National Fluid Power Association’s Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge in April. Members of the team include Tyler Hamerlinck, James Stultz, Russell Rydin, Isaac Linn and Luke Greiner. The team was mentored by Brian Steward and Saxon Ryan, agricultural and biosystems engineering. More
Extension and Outreach
Webinar Features Nutrient Recycling from Swine Manure
Iowa State researchers will discuss the use of biochar and biochar-zeolite mixtures to help recover nutrients from swine manure, for the Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar Wednesday, May 25, at noon. More
Northern Iowa Research Farm to Hold June Field Day
Tar spot, recent analysis of the corn nitrogen rate calculator and a review of current growing season issues will highlight the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm’s summer field day on June 16. More
Around the College
Orazem Honored with Faulty-Staff Inspiration Award
Peter Orazem, economics, was recognized with a Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award at a reception on May 20. The ISU Alumni Association established the award in 2011 to provide former students a way to recognize Iowa State faculty or staff who had a significant influence on their lives. More
Research Farms Shares Staff Announcements
Cody Schneider, agricultural specialist for the last five years with Iowa State Research and Demonstration Farms, was promoted in January to farm superintendent for the Southeast and Muscatine Island Research Farms. Alexa Bancks, agricultural specialist, joined the Southeast and Muscatine Island Research Farms in February. Bancks will be helping with farm operations at both locations. Tyler Prizler, agricultural specialist, joined the Northeast Research Farm in Nashua in April. He will be helping with farm operations and managing of the Borlaug Center.
IPIC Announces New Education Specialist
Matie George has joined the Iowa Pork Industry Center. As an education extension specialist, she will be responsible for creating educational content from a variety of programming and research efforts for producers. More
Hertz Lecture Available Online
The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture presented by Craig Hill, Iowa farmer and former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, is now available online. Hill presented “The Future of Agriculture: A Reflection and Discussion on Emerging Trends and Issues” on April 12. More
Calendar
May 24-26: Making Climate-Smart Agriculture Work
A national conference on “Making Climate-Smart Agriculture Work” will be held virtually on May 24-26. Speakers include Mark Licht and Sotirios Archontoulis, agronomy. Keynote speakers include Cynthia Rosenzweig, 2022 World Food Prize Laureate, and Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize Laureate. More
June 10: Dairy Farm Open House
The annual open house at the ISU Dairy Farm is scheduled for Friday, June 10, from 7 a.m. to noon. Tours include stops at the milking parlor, the milk house and dairy barns. Visitors can sample free dairy products while learning about the dairy industry.
June 30: Iowa Swine Day
Registration is open for the 11th annual Iowa Swine Day on June 30 in Ames. Iowa Swine Day is presented by the Iowa Pork Industry Center with support from CALS and the Department of Animal Science. More
Infograzing
ISU Memorial Day Remembrance Online
Iowa State’s annual Memorial Day ceremony, hosted by the ISU Retirees Association to honor retirees and spouses or partners who died in the past year, will be held online via Zoom on Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m. More
Ames Laboratory Celebrates 75 Years of Materials and Energy Solutions
An integral part of Iowa State’s legacy of science, engineering and innovation, Ames Laboratory celebrates 75 years in 2022. The national laboratory is shaping its future much like it shaped its past: by being first, by forging new ground and by using science to meet national and global challenges. More
Join Conversation with 2022 World Food Prize Laureate
The World Food Prize Foundation is holding a “Live with the Laureate” Digital Dialogue on Thursday, May 26. Guests will be Cynthia Rosenzweig, NASA climate scientist and 2022 World Food Prize Laureate, and Andrew Revkin, environmental journalist. The event will be streamed at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. to accommodate global time zones. More
Marginalia
Ice Cream Flavor Honors Ames Lab’s 75th Anniversary
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Ames Laboratory collaborated with the Iowa State Creamery to release a new ice cream flavor. Created by the lab’s Performance Management team, Materials Masterpiece features a peanut butter ice cream base with mini chocolate chips, mini M&Ms™ and Oreo™ mix-ins. The limited-release flavor is available in the ISU Creamery retail store. 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.