CALS Online and Dean’s Message
August 29, 2022
Dean’s Message
Hello CALS – Welcome to week two of the semester… If your office does not look out onto main campus, and you only really get to see students in a classroom or by happenstance – take a few minutes and actually go out and see them on parade, and remind yourself of the anticipation and outlook these wonderful people bring to us… and maybe treat yourself to an ice cream from the ISU Creamery before you find a spot on any of the hundreds of parade routes on campus. Enjoy and be filled with renewed energy to do the work of Iowa State… More
Top Stories
Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology Merger Takes Effect Sept. 1
The merger of Iowa State University’s Department of Entomology and Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology will take effect Thursday, Sept. 1, with the new name being the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology. The merger was approved by the Board of Regents in June 2021 and is intended to create opportunities for new undergraduate curricula, research ventures and strategic faculty positions, while conserving administrative costs. Steven Harris became chair of the departments on April 1, 2021. In a news release announcing his appointment, CALS Dean Dan Robison said, “Dr. Harris will be a terrific addition to our college leadership team and set the course for combining these key departments into a new academic powerhouse, ensuring the continuation of each of their disciplines and their extraordinary teaching, research and extension.” Over the last 17 months, Harris has been working to increase collegiality among faculty and staff in both departments, including social activities to help them get to know each other. Events have ranged from an apple and pumpkin bake-off last fall, to a holiday party last December, to an end-of-semester celebration this past spring with tacos and burritos.
PPEM Merger Celebration Set for Sept. 9
Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends are invited to celebrate the departmental merger on 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. More
Research
Case IH Donates Field Cultivator to Research Farms
Case IH has donated a new Case IH Tiger-Mate 255 field cultivator to Iowa State’s research farms. The donation came about because of a tillage study being conducted by Mehari Tekeste, agricultural and biosystems engineering, in partnership with Case IH and Agrisolutions Corp. Tekeste is in year two of a three-year project looking at how standard versus CADEN Edge coated field cultivator sweeps impact yield in corn fields. More
INRC Seminar Series Highlights Decade of Work
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a new seminar series highlighting outcomes and impacts from a decade of research. The series starts this fall and continues through spring 2023. Two presenters each month will discuss INRC-supported projects. The presentations will take place the second Wednesday of each month, from 3:10-4 p.m. The fall seminars begin Sept. 14. The hybrid seminar series will be presented online and in-person at 1306 Elings Hall. More
Teaching and Students
New Student BBQ Scheduled for Aug. 30
The CALS Student Council is hosting its annual Freshman and Transfer Student BBQ on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall. Booths will be set up to learn about and join different CALS clubs. More
What Instructors Have Learned about a Classroom-in-the-Round
Room 3204 in the Student Innovation Center is a one-of-a-kind general university classroom, built in the style of a theater-in-the-round stage. Only a handful of Iowa State instructors have taught in the classroom. Kevin Kimle, economics, who taught four course sections in 3204 SICTR last year, agrees the major benefit of a 360-degree classroom is the peer-to-peer connection it encourages. That's a big aim in the classes he teaches on agricultural entrepreneurship and small business management. More
Social Media Influencer Seeks New Level of Expertise at Iowa State
Jess Pryles, creator of Hardcore Carnivore and current student in the meat science graduate certificate program, spent time on campus earlier this month working on her final project. The claim she was trying to prove or disprove – does frying bacon in water result in a crispier bacon and a more even cook of the muscle and fat? More
Club Advisors – Remind Students of Risk Management Tasks
As student clubs reconvene for fall semester, there may be risk management tasks that need to be completed. Student organizations that plan to hold events on campus must submit their requests through the University Event Authorization system. Travel must be submitted through the Student Organization Travel Authorization system. Also, individuals who plan to drive a university vehicle must have an approved Motor Vehicle Record check. Additional information is available through Iowa State’s Office of Risk Management. They are hosting an open house on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 3-5 p.m. at 1700 Administrative Services Building. There will be food, giveaways and an opportunity to meet the staff. More
Extension and Outreach
Farm Progress Show: Iowa State’s Research and Extension Mission on Full Display
The 2022 Farm Progress Show is Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, in Boone. Iowa State’s exhibit will span nearly 6,000 square feet, showcasing the latest in agricultural research and technology. Iowa State will have staff and displays pertaining to nine key content areas: water quality, weeds, plant health, digital agriculture, farmland ownership trends, weather and climate, monarchs, carbon and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. More
Farm Progress Show: Water Quality Efforts Become Visual
Thanks to the aid of computer monitors, visual demonstrations and printed materials, the water quality team with ISU Extension and Outreach is planning to make water quality improvement visual during this year’s Farm Progress Show. Also at the exhibit, visitors who are interested in having a water quality project of their own will have the chance to sign up to connect with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. More
Farm Progress Show: Weed Seed Destructor
At this year’s Farm Progress Show, ISU Extension and Outreach will showcase one of the more innovative and practical methods of controlling weeds: a weed seed destructor. Fitted to a combine, the weed seed destructor pulverizes and destroys seeds so they cannot germinate. More
Farm Progress Show: Plant Health Under a Microscope
To help growers improve their identification skills, plant disease and insect diagnostic specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach will have displays of common insects and plant disease issues at this year’s Farm Progress Show. Microscopes will be available and visitors can get a close-up view, while interacting with specialists who study the same insects and diseases on a daily basis. More
Farm Progress Show: Improving Monarch Habitat
At this year’s Farm Progress Show, specialists from Iowa State University and USDA will discuss recent efforts to increase the population of the monarch butterfly and resources to improve its numbers in the future. You don't need to own a farm to help these essential pollinators. Farmers, gardeners and anyone with an interest in helping monarchs thrive can get involved with resources provided by ISU Extension and Outreach. More
Farm Progress Show: Carbon Opportunities and Resources
Emerging opportunities for carbon markets and carbon sequestration have ISU Extension and Outreach agronomists, economists, livestock specialists and bioproduct researchers working to identify new opportunities and define the science of carbon as it pertains to agriculture. At the Farm Progress Show, a team of specialists will be on hand to help explain the latest in carbon science and answer questions from the public. More
Around the College
Lawrence-Dill Joins FFAR Board of Directors
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research has announced that Carolyn Lawrence-Dill has joined its board of directors. FFAR is a national organization focused on building public-private partnerships to fund research initiatives addressing challenges in food and agriculture. Lawrence-Dill is associate dean for research and discovery in CALS and serves as the associate director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. More
Sashital Selected to Join Biotechnology Council
Dipali Sashital, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, has been selected to serve a three-year term on Iowa State's Biotechnology Council. The council makes recommendations to the office of biotechnology on program activities supporting biotechnology research, education and outreach. More
Meet Phytopoet Sebastian Eugene Bartholomew
The Phytopoetry Project, a multimedia venture by Iowa State’s Integrated Pest Management program, features the mustached character of Sebastian Eugene Bartholomew. Adam Sisson, industry extension specialist, is Bartholomew, and Brandon Kleinke, media production specialist, provides video production. IPM is a branch of ISU Extension and Outreach, and its team works to provide resources and training to help promote pest management practices. More
CALS Online: Next Issue Sept. 12
CALS Online will not be published on Sept. 5. The newsletter will resume Monday, Sept. 12.
Calendar
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.
Aug. 30-Sept. 1: 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 town for the Farm Progress Show. More
Sept. 1: Graduate Student Welcome and Resource Fair
The CALS Office of Academic Innovation and Student Success is holding a welcome and resources fair for graduate students on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 1:30-3 p.m. in 1009 Lebaron Hall. Comments from CALS administrators and the Graduate College will take place at 2 p.m. Campus offices that support all aspects of graduate student life will be there to talk with students about their services. Contact Carla Harris at charris@iastate.edu for more information.
Sept. 1: Student Innovation Center Open House
The Student Innovation Center is hosting an open house on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 4-6 p.m. CALS will showcase student innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities available through the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program and other innovations from across the college. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend in 4227 and 4229 Student Innovation Center for door prizes, ice cream from the creamery and honey samplings.
Sept. 8: FSHN Fall Kick-Off Picnic
The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is hosting a Fall Kick-Off Picnic Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Food Sciences Building courtyard. Affiliated student clubs will have displays set up.
Infograzing
Fall ClubFest this Wednesday, Aug. 31
Fall ClubFest is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union. It is an opportunity for students to browse through clubs and organizations at Iowa State and learn how to get involved on campus. A volunteer fair featuring Ames nonprofits and agencies will be held the same day in the Memorial Union Campanile Room, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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.