CALS Online and Dean’s Message
August 22, 2022
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Happy first day of the new semester! It is truly wonderful to see our beautiful campus full of students bringing to life every corner of who we are and what we do! Enjoy all the moments of this Day 1, and the incredible weather we happen to have! Take a walk in the hallway and on the sidewalks around your buildings today and this week. Look for students looking a bit lost and lend a smile and some guidance as best you can… More
Top Stories
Cow-calf Sculptures Honor Famous Iowa State Alumna
A decade-long project has succeeded in honoring a famous Iowa State University alumna and the dairy industry she supported. Earlier this summer, three bronze cow-calf sculptures were installed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Iowa State Fair and in Toledo, Iowa. The sculptures are replicas of the original one, created by Norma “Duffy” Lyon. Lyon graduated from Iowa State with an animal science degree in 1951. She and her husband, Joe, were well-known in the dairy industry, especially for their Jersey cows. Many also know Lyon as the “butter cow lady,” a name she gained after years of sculpting life-sized cows out of butter to display each year at the Iowa State Fair. More
Research
Researchers Studying Leaf Angle Aim to Improve Yields
To better understand the underlying structure of corn leaf angle, an interdisciplinary research team including Jianming Yu, agronomy, and Lie Tang, agricultural and biosystems engineering, is working to identify the genes using a robot developed at Iowa State to capture 3D images of corn in the field as well as transcriptomic- and CRISPR-based tools. The research, supported by a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant, has the potential to aid in the engineering of new hybrids and boost yields. More
Assessing Trends in Water Quality Impacted by Weather Variability
New research shows how complicated it is to accurately predict when positive changes on the landscape can be expected to show up as reduced levels of nutrients in Iowa’s water. The research, conducted by Gerasimos Danalatos, PhD student, Michael Castellano and Sotirios Archontoulis, agronomy, and Calvin Wolter, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, was featured recently in the Journal of Environmental Quality. More
Teaching and Students
New Student BBQ Scheduled for Aug. 30
The CALS Student Council is hosting its annual freshman and transfer student barbecue on Aug. 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Iowa Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall. Booths will be set up to learn about and join different CALS clubs. More
Behrends Attends Ag Voices of the Future Program in Washington, D.C.
Nathan Behrends, senior in agricultural studies, was one of 10 students chosen nationwide to attend the Ag Voices of the Future program in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer. The program, sponsored by the American Soybean Association and Valent U.S.A., took place July 11-14, and is aimed at exposing young people to major policy issues and advocacy within agriculture. Behrends had the opportunity to interact with various agricultural professionals during the program, including each of Iowa’s senators and representatives. More
CALS Student Holds Groundbreaking for New Meat Market
Jordan Marks, senior in animal science and meat science, is a fourth-generation meat cutter and processor. In addition to Marks Meat Processing Center in Remsen, the Marks family is building a new red meat processing center in Marcus. Jordan’s Meat Market is scheduled to open in May 2023. Along with custom processing, the plant will have a full-service retail counter. More
Visiting Students Showcase Summer Research Projects
Nine students from across the country presented research at the Cyclone Scholars Summer Research Experience and George Washington Carver Internship Program Research Symposium on July 29. The programs ran for eight weeks this summer, bringing college students from other institutions to Iowa State to work with faculty mentors on research in the students’ interest areas. More
Extension and Outreach
Rural Drinking Water Survey Shows Significant Nitrate Risk for Many Iowans
Results of a new rural drinking water survey reveal a risk of exposure to potentially unhealthy drinking water. Risk profiles were compiled based on recent testing, use of reverse osmosis filters, and use of supplemental water sources. The Iowa Drinking Water Survey was conducted by the Conservation Learning Group and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. More
Special Episode of PigX Addresses Wild Boar Populations
On a special episode of the PigX podcast, part of the Improving Pig Survivability Project, Ryan Brook shares the importance of wild boar populations and what can be done to mitigate the risks it causes. Brook is an associate professor in animal and poultry science at the University of Saskatchewan. More A copy of his full-length presentation from Iowa State’s Iowa Swine Day is also available online.
Around the College
Crespi Receives Pomerantz Endowment Support
John Crespi, economics and director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, has received the Marvin A. Pomerantz Endowment for Faculty Enrichment award for FY23. Established in 1992 and administered by the provost's office, the endowment award provides additional support for faculty who are deemed outstanding in their teaching, research and outreach. Recipients rotate among Iowa State's seven colleges each year. More
Iowa State to Offer Preview Days for Dynamometer Technology
Iowa State will introduce its new state-of-the-art Off-Highway Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Laboratory during a set of preview days, Aug. 30, 31 and Sept. 1, from 3-5 p.m. each day. The open house will take place at Iowa State’s BioCentury Research Farm west of Ames at 1327 U Ave., where the dynamometer is located. The open house is planned especially for industry partners in the neighborhood for the Farm Progress Show. More
GWT/Xylem Finalist in Singapore PUB’s Carbon Zero Grand Challenge
Gross-Wen Technologies, co-founded at Iowa State by Martin Gross and Zhiyou Wen, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research, is a grand challenge finalist in Singapore PUB’s Carbon Zero Grand Challenge 2022. GWT, in collaboration with Xylem Water Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd, will be awarded up to $2.5 million to demonstrate a large-scale version of their carbon footprint reduction solution at a PUB facility in Singapore.
Fifth Cardinal Women* Cohort Begins
The 2022 Cardinal Women* cohort met for the first time on Aug. 16. The program provides personal and professional leadership development for Iowa State faculty and staff women. Participating from CALS are: Teresa Middleton, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Deanna Powell, food science and human nutrition; and Nicole Scott, agronomy. More
Research Farm House for Sale, To Be Moved
The North Central Iowa Research Association will be constructing a new multiuse facility at the Northern Research Farm in 2023 that will include offices, meeting rooms, bathrooms, a conference area and shop space. To make room for this facility, the association is selling the house located at 310 S. Main St. in Kanawha to be moved from the property. The one-and-a-half story home has two bedrooms and one bath, with a bonus room upstairs running the length of the house. The association will be taking bids through Sept. 1. For more information, contact the North Central Research Association at 641-726-3247.
Calendar
Aug. 27: Bug Village ‘22
Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo is hosting Bug Village ’22 on Saturday, Aug. 27. Two separate events will take place. An open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Advanced Teaching and Research Building, 2213 Pammel Drive, on campus. Later in the evening, an insect light collecting event will take place from 6-10 p.m. at Carr Park, near the intersection of Carr Drive and Meadowlane Avenue in Ames. More
Aug. 30: Retirement Reception
A retirement reception will be held for entomology’s Donald Lewis, Joel Coats and Rick Hellmich on Aug. 30 from 2-4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room.
Sept. 9: PPEM Merger Celebration
Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends are invited to celebrate the merging of Iowa State University’s Department of Entomology and Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology. The celebration will take place Sept. 9, from 1-7 p.m. on the north lawn of the Advanced Teaching and Research Building. Tours of ATRB will be offered, in addition to a visit from the Insect Zoo. Several alumni representing the two departments will speak, as well as Iowa State administrators, followed by a barbecue meal, ISU Creamery ice cream and music by the ISU Jazz Band. The merger will take effect Sept. 1, with the new name being the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology. More
Infograzing
Admissions to Share New Recruitment Campaign
This fall, the office of admissions is launching its new recruitment marketing campaign, "A Cyclone in the Making," for prospective students. The "Adventure" theme has served Iowa State well for 15 years, but extensive research has revealed it no longer resonates with today's students or differentiates Iowa State University from its competitors. Faculty and staff who recruit prospective students and are interested in learning more about the campaign are invited to a general overview during a town hall on Aug. 30 at 9 a.m. in 101 Carver. Seating is limited, so RSVPs are requested via this Qualtrics link.
Iowa Hunger Summit Scheduled for Sept. 1
The 2022 Iowa Hunger Summit will be held virtually on Sept. 1. This year’s theme is Our Paths to Zero. Partner workshops will be held virtually from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. They will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage in more in-depth conversations on addressing food security locally and around the world, and share tools and action items.
Marginalia
New Book Tells Story of 2015 World Food Prize Laureate
Sir Fazle Abed, 2015 World Food Prize Laureate, is the subject of a new book, “Hope Over Fate: Fazle Hasan Abed and the Science of Ending Global Poverty.” Sir Fazle founded BRAC in 1972 and focused on the social and economic empowerment of women, which was a new, breakthrough approach to lifting the poor out of poverty. The author is Scott MacMillian, BRAC employee and Abed’s former speechwriter. 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.