College News
U.S. News and World Report Features College
The America's Best Colleges issue of U.S. News and World Report features a story on the College of Agriculture. The article, titled Ag School Confidential, quotes students, faculty and administrators talking about traditional and nontraditional College programs, including the Ag 450 farm and study abroad opportunities. The magazine's Web site includes rankings, but not this feature. Iowa State tied for 85th in the magazine ranking of the nation's top schools.
Magazine Mentions College Again for Pork Story
Last week U.S. News and World Report had another College mention when it quoted Iowa State animal scientists Maynard Hogberg and Steve Lonergan about efforts to make today's leaner pork tastier (see External Voices below).
College Dates and Committed Updated
The College's calendar of important dates and deadlines has been updated for the new academic year. Also, the list of College committee appointment is up to date.
George Washington Carver Inducted into Hall of Fame
The Black Cultural Center at Iowa State and the Iowa African American Hall of Fame have posthumously inducted George Washington Carver, world-renowned botanist and agricultural chemist and College alumnus. The ceremony took place Aug. 12 at the Carver Center, Pioneer Hi-Bred International in Johnston. The colleges of Agriculture, Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College were represented at the event.
ISU Faculty Member Promotes Breadth of Agriculture Careers
Ag careers abound, says Levon Esters, Chicago native and faculty member in agricultural education and studies. Read a profile of Esters and his work with students and prospective students online.
New Members Selected to Serve on Biotechnology Council
College faculty Bryony Bonning, entomology, is a new member of Iowa State's Biotechnology Council. She joins Gloria Culver, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology; Anumantha Kanthasamy, biomedical sciences; and Brent Shanks, chemical and biological engineering, as new members serving three-year terms. The council makes recommendations to the vice provost for research on programs supporting biotechnology education, research and outreach.
AgComm Newsletter Seeks Faculty/Staff to Feature
Monthly publication of the AgComm newsletter, "AgComm ... something to talk about," will resume next month. Each issue will include a classroom spotlight section focusing on instructors who successfully integrate communication skill development activities into their technical courses. If you would like to be considered as a subject for this newsletter feature, e-mail Jennifer Hoyer, AgComm editor, at jlhoyer@iastate.edu.
Web Survey Launched for Iowa Food Stories
Do you have recipes for Iowa foods that evoke a "taste of place" you're willing to share? If so, folklorist Riki Saltzman wants to hear from you. Saltzman has received a grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to find and document place-based foods in Iowa. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/food2_081805.htm
ISU Professor Serves on European Union Food TRAceability Committee
Charles Hurburgh, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, is the only American invited to serve on TRACE, the European Commission's food traceability project, and CO-EXtra (CO-EXistence and TRAceability) committees. Both committees address issues related to food products moving through the supply chain. Hurburgh said using a differentiated marketing system in the United States would appeal to European and the Pacific Rim buyers importing either genetically modified specialty grains or non-genetically modified products.
Spanish Language Course Offered This Fall
A Spanish grammar and conversation course complemented with Latin American culture will be offered for beginners this fall semester. The course will be taught from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in 19 Curtiss on Mondays and Wednesdays from Sept. 19 to Nov. 9. Participants will use material and handouts brought by instructor throughout the course. They will become familiar with common expressions, use proper Spanish grammar and learn pronunciation. During the course, participants will be given assignments that will be discussed in class and will have conversations to encourage them to express themselves using Spanish. The cost of this course is $50 per student. To register, send a check or intramural form (payable to Global Agriculture Programs) with your name, department, phone number, and e-mail address by Sept. 16 to Eduarda Becerra, 104 Curtiss Hall or ebecerra@iastate.edu.
Deadlines and Reminders
Aug. 23: Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 10 a.m., near Lewis, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Aug. 23-24: Manure Management Clinic, Field Extension Education Laboratory near Ames Aug. 24: Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 2 p.m., near Greenfield, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Aug. 24: Science with Practice program informational meeting, 5 p.m., 8 Curtiss
Aug. 25: Western Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1 p.m., near Castana, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Aug. 29-30: Biobased Industry Outlook Conference, Scheman Building
Sept. 1: Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 9:30 a.m., near Kanawha, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 6: McNay Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 4:30 p.m., near Chariton, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 8: Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1:30 p.m., near Nashua, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 12: Armstrong Research and Demonstration Farm field day on high tunnels, 4:30 p.m., near Lewis, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 12-14: "A Conference to Reinvigorate Public Breeding of Seeds and Animals for a Healthy 21st Century Agriculture," Gateway Center, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2005/seeds_072705.htm
Sept. 13: Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 3 p.m., near Fruitland, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 14: Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 1:30 p.m., near Crawfordsville, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 15: Rhodes Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 6 p.m., near Rhodes, more: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings
Sept. 26-28: Workshop on hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and other water quality issues, campus
Communications Kiosk
Once in a Blue Moon
The phrase "once in a blue moon" refers to something that occurs infrequently, because occurrences of a blue moon are rare. Last week you may have noticed the full moon, but you may not have known it was a blue moon, at least by one of two definitions. The older definition is the third full moon that appears in a season that has four full moons, which is what happened last week. In May 2008, the next blue moon will occur. The newer blue moon definition is the second full moon in a calendar month. The last blue moon by the new definition occurred in July 2004. The next blue moon, by that definition, will occur in June 2007. Over the next 20 years there will be 17 blue moons, with an almost equal number of both types of blue moons occurring. (Infoplease, July 2004, by Borgna Brunner and Anne Marie Imbornoni, http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bluemoon1.html)
Infograzing
Springbrook Teaching Renewal Retreat Sept. 23 to 25
The ISU Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching will hold its Springbrook Teaching Renewal Retreat Sept. 23 to 25 at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center in Guthrie Center. The retreat is for faculty, staff and graduate students and the theme is, "Rethinking Learning Environments."
Reduced Rate for Faculty and Staff at World Food Prize Symposium
A special reduced rate of $125 is available to all university faculty and staff to attend the World Food Prize International Symposium Oct. 13 and 14 at the Des Moines Marriott Hotel. "The Dual Global Challenges of Malnutrition and Obesity" will be the topic of discussion at the symposium. For the third time, the symposium also will feature an open forum by The Board of International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) on Oct. 12 at no charge and open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Marriott focusing on "Agriculture and Nutrition: Roles and Links to Countering HIV/AIDS." More: http://www.worldfoodprize.org. Contacts: Keegan Kautzky, kkautzky@worldfoodprize.org, or Katie Petersen, kpeterse@worldfoodprize.org.
Faculty and Staff have Access to National Council for Science and the Environment
Iowa State is an affiliate member of the National Council for Science and the Environment, a nonprofit organization working to improve the scientific basis for environmental decision-making. It is endorsed by nearly 500 academic, scientific, environmental and business organizations. The university's affiliate membership includes benefits for faculty and staff, such as access to three online environmental news services: Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire and Land Letter. Contact: Elena Polush, 4-8493 or elenap@iastate.edu.
P&S Council Seeks Innovative Ideas for Recruitment and Retention
The P&S Council for Recruitment and Retention Grants has allocated $30,000 for this academic year to support the development of innovative projects which encourage students to attend and stay at Iowa State. All P&S employees are eligible to submit proposals. Recruitment and Retention Grant Proposals are due on Aug. 29.
Tips for Researchers Starting a Business in New Guidebook
A new handbook titled "System for Innovation" offers a guide for Iowa State faculty and staff interested in creating a technology-based business. It was written by an ISU subcommittee and is available through the Business Development and Assistance Team. Printed color copies of the guide can be obtained by contacting Lora Bierbaum, lora@iastate.edu or 4-8700.
External Voices
Too Thin Pigs aren't In
"Pigs aren't porky anymore. Instead, they're as lanky as marathon runners. While the pig's makeover is partly a triumphant tale of producers meeting demands for leaner, more healthful meat, there's a cautionary message here, too. Today's pigs all too often don't taste good. With pigs, unlike New York socialites, it really is possible to be too thin." Nancy Shute, Building a Better Pig, Aug. 15, U.S. News and World Report
Marginalia
ISU Contributes to Successful Charity Steer Show
At the Iowa State Fair, the 23rd annual Governor's Charity Steer Show raised $71,350 for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa and $2,200 for the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. "The Contender," a steer shown by Interim Dean Wendy Wintersteen, was sold to Tama Livestock for $2,900, plus a College of Agriculture scholarship. The Contender was raised by Brianna Gray of Toledo, who has two brothers who are College of Agriculture students -- Zebadiah, a junior in animal science, and Zane, a freshman in animal science. Animal Science Chair Maynard Hogberg showed "Toby," a steer that was sold for $1,700 to East Balt Bakery.
Next issue: Aug. 29
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@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 Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3680 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.