...................................................
COLLEGE NEWS
...................................................
MORE SPOTS ON BUS TO USDA GRANTS WORKSHOP
A group of 36 from the colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine are set to participate in the Sept. 18 USDA/CSREES Grants Workshop in Roseville, Minn. The colleges are paying the registration fees and the College of Agriculture is providing the bus transportation. There are a few spaces on the bus. The registration fee for the workshop is $75 prior to Sept. 4, after that the fee will be $90. Contact: Elena Polush, 4-8493 or elenap@iastate.edu. More information about the workshop is available at: http://www.maes.umn.edu
AG COMM ORIENTATION SET FOR MONDAY
New faculty and graduate teaching and research assistants in the College of Agriculture are encouraged to attend the Ag Comm Workshop orientation, to be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday in Room 8 Curtiss Hall. This program focuses on the college’s communications across the curriculum effort. Participants will learn skills and activities that they can use to improve teaching and enhance student learning. A light meal will be served at about 6 p.m. RSVP to Cheryl Abrams 4-5872 or cabrams@iastate.edu.
DEAN WOTEKI TO SPEAK AT FOOD SAFETY CONSORTIUM SYMPOSIUM
Risk assessment will be the topic of the Food Safety Consortium Symposium on Oct. 15 at Kansas State University. Dean Woteki will begin the session with an introduction to risk assessment. Speakers from the United States and Canada will cover the science of risk assessment, consumer and industry perspectives and communicating risk through the media. Deadline for registration is Oct. 1. The registration fee is waived for Iowa State employees.
ISU STUDENTS SHARE DELIGHTS OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD
Iowa State students in residence halls enjoyed a locally grown meal Labor Day. Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) helped coordinate the food, from its network of 24 Central Iowa farmers, served in Friley, Maple-Willow-Larch and Knapp-Storms. The ISU Student Organic Farm contributed organically grown yellow onions. Rick Hartmann, PFI staff member, said the organization hopes to help students understand that food produced locally tastes better, saves energy and supports the local community. Amy Best, a student in the Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Program, volunteers her time to promote the use of local food systems on campus. "We can make positive steps in sustaining our communities and farmers through simple eating choices," Best said. For more information contact Hartmann at hartmann@practicalfarmers.org.
BIOINFORMATICS FACILITY TO OPEN SEPT. 3
The new Bessey Hall Bioinformatics Facility will have a grand opening at 10 a.m. Tuesday outside the facility at 469 Bessey. It will provide students, faculty and staff with resources for bioinformatics-related educational and research activities.
EXTENSION SAFE FARM SERIES WINS AWARD
The Iowa State University Extension Publication series "Mystery Club" (Pm-1841a - Pm1841f) received a blue ribbon in the ASAE Educational Aids Competition. The editorial team consisted of Chuck Schwab, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Lynn Graham, human development and family studies; and Laura Miller, Leopold Center. The international competition of educational aids is sponsored by the ASAE P-208 Extension Committee and is judged by agricultural engineering peers. Only 16 entries were awarded blue ribbons out of the 54 entries submitted. The series also won the Outstanding Professional Skill Award in writing from Agricultural Communicators in Education.
FIVE COLLEGE PARTICIPANTS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
Participants from the colleges of agriculture, education, liberal arts and sciences, family and consumer sciences, business and other units on campus began the teaching and learning grant writers' workshop with last week’s orientation. Greg Miller, ag education and studies; Steve Jungst and Jason O'Brien, natural resource ecology & management; Brad Skaar, animal science; and Georgeanne Artz, economics are among the 18 participants. David Morrison, grant writers seminars and workshop consultant, leads the group. This year workshop is jointly sponsored by the College of Agriculture, Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs and Center for Teaching Excellence.
BATTLE OF THE BULGE -- BEEF CATTLE STYLE
Beef cattle are an important link in the food chain. They turn roughage and grains into highly digestible complete protein, energy, minerals and vitamins. But researchers at Iowa State University say beef cattle can be made a more efficient link in the food chain by managing fat. Learn more in "Agriculture in Action."
NEW DIRECTOR FOR ISU'S CENTER FOR DESIGNING FOODS
Paul Flakoll, a leading clinical nutrition biochemist at Vanderbilt University and a College of Agriculture animal science alum, has been named director of Iowa State's Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition (CDFIN). His appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2003. CDFIN is a research center in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Agriculture and the Plant Sciences Institute.
FARM SAFETY ISN'T JUST FOR FARMERS ANYMORE
In observance of the 59th annual National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 15-21, ISU Extension and Farm Safety 4 Just Kids based in Earlham, have launched a public service campaign, "One Child At a Time." The campaign focuses on the bottom-line contribution of farm youth safety programs: saving lives. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2002/aug02/aug0253.html
ISU CENTER TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) has been chosen to administer a $400,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to work with rural community colleges on economic development and access to higher education. The center will work jointly with the Southern Rural Development Center on the Rural Community College Initiative to increase educational access for equitable economic development through a partnership of extension, community leaders and community and tribal colleges, according to Cornelia Flora, Iowa State sociologist who heads the NCRCRD. For more information: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2002/aug02/aug0243.html.
ANIMAL SCIENTISTS RECOGNIZED BY POULTRY SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
Colin Scanes was named a Fellow and Jerry Sell received the American Poultry Historical Award during last month’s annual meeting of the Poultry Science Association (PSA). Sell has devoted the past two years of his retirement documenting the history of poultry science at ISU. Scanes has been an animal science professor at ISU since 1995. The Fellow nomination recognizes his leadership role in PSA and his contributions to poultry science.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Sept. 4: Biobased Products and Bioenergy Symposium, Iowa State Center, http://www.ciras.iastate.edu/IOF/agriculture.html
Sept. 4: Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1 p.m., near Crawfordsville
Sept. 4: McNay Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 3 p.m., near Chariton
Sept. 5: Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1:30 p.m., near Nashua
Sept. 6: Foreign Travel Grant Applications due, 138 Curtiss
Sept. 11: Pierre Lecture in Soil Science, 4:10 p.m., 2050 Agronomy Hall
Sept. 15: Instructional Development Project Proposals, deliver to Lynn Jones, 201 Curtiss
Sept. 20: Ag Council Steak Fry
Sept. 20-22: Family Weekend
Sept. 21: Family reception, 9:30-11 a.m., 220-240 Scheman Building
Oct. 4: From Discovery to Corporate Structure seminar series on tech transfer, 4 p.m., 1414 MBB, more information: Lisa Lorenzen, 4-0926 or llorenze@iastate.edu
...................................................
COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
...................................................
FREELANCE EDITORS AVAILABLE
The Ag Communications office has a list of freelance editors available to edit papers for a fee. Having someone review a research paper before it is submitted to a journal often pays off. Journal publications don't have the staff or time to rewrite papers or do numerous corrections. Example: The Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry Journal instructions state. "Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry does not have a technical editorial staff to rewrite manuscripts; therefore, contributions must conform to the accepted standards of English style and usage upon submission." The instructions also included this statement. "Authors not following ET&C style and format will experience a delay in publication." Both statements indicate the advantage of seeking the advice of a professional editor. For a list of editors contact Barb McManus at 294-0707 or bamcman@iastate.edu.
...................................................
INFOGRAZING
...................................................
SOYBEAN RESEARCH PRE-PROPOSALS DUE NOV. 1
The North Central Soybean Research Programs is seeking research pre-proposals for projects that that solve problems common to soybean growers in the 12 North Central States. Research about disease, production, improvement of soybean composition and soybean insects and nematodes are the areas of priority funding in fiscal year 2003. Pre-proposals are due Nov. 1. Josie Six in budget and finance, 4-8920 or jsix@iastate.edu can help prepare budgets required for the pre-proposals.
GRADUATE BIOTECH FELLOWSHIPS AVAILABLE
The Office of Biotechnology invites applications for graduate student fellowships from academic departments or interdisciplinary programs participating in Iowa State's biotechnology program. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Contact: Teri Peterson, 4-4779 or tlpeters@iastate.edu.
NOMINEES SOUGHT FOR NEW USDA ADVISORY BOARD
The USDA is looking for nominations to fill a new vacancy on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board, which was created by the newly authorized farm bill. Nominations are due Sept. 15. More info: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register…
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT GRANT PROPOSALS DUE SEPT. 13
The North Central Regional Integrated Pest Management seeks applications for its competitive grants program. Letters of intent are due Sept. 13.
...................................................
EXTERNAL VOICES
...................................................
BIOPHILIA: AN INNATE TENDENCY TO FOCUS ON LIFE AND LIFELIKE PROCESSES
“Who has not experienced the thrill of biophilia? You see a fine, fat maple tree ablaze with the sugared tannins of autumn, or the sun glittering on the Hudson River in an explosion of diamonds and for a moment you wish you were Julie Andrews: the hills are alive! But then you stumble through a bush and emerge covered with ticks. Or you watch a bunch of Hitchcockian crows maul and kill a baby squirrel. You try to tell yourself, c'est la guerre, there are too many squirrels anyway, but in fact you resent this chronic mouthiness of nature, these endless rounds of attack and snack, and you're grateful anew for four walls and DEET. Nature is a mother in so many ways, and that means you adore her and depend on her but at times she's pure Medea.” Natalie Angier, Adoring Nature, Till It Bites Us in the Back, New York Times, Aug. 20, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/20/science/earth/20ESSA.html?pagewanted=…)
...................................................
MARGINALIA
...................................................
CATTLE HAVE TO FIND NEW HOME
Neighbors of a Turkish woman in the city of Trabzon are relieved that she has begun selling the cows she kept in upstairs apartments. Health and safety officials had ordered the cows to be cleared out of the first and third floors of the building in the Black Sea port city. “The area has suffered a lot. Noise, smell and manure everywhere make a very ugly scene,” a city official told the Anatolian news agency. (Reuters, Aug. 29)
Next issue: Sept. 9 Deadline: Sept. 6
........................................................
AG ONLINE
........................................................
EDITORS
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu, and Brian Meyer, bmeyer@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
SUBSCRIBE
Ag Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag Online subscribe" to edadcock@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag Online unsubscribe."
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 1031 Wallace Road Office Building, Room 101, (515) 294-7612.