College News
College Advisory Council Holds Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the College of Agriculture Advisory Council was held last week. On Nov. 6, Interim Dean Wendy Wintersteen led a group of board members of tours of the Center for Crops Utilization Research; demonstrations of agricultural projects in the Virtual Reality Applications Center; and a visit with students in ACES, the learning community in Maple-Willow-Larch. That evening, the board was updated on the past year in fundraising by Rich Bundy, executive director of development. On Nov. 7, Board Chair Roger Underwood led a day-long meeting that included updates on the College's programs and discussions on recruitment, curriculum, economic development and research and extension. Business Dean Labh Hira also briefed the council on progress of the College of Agriculture dean's search committee, which he chairs.
Career Services Features Alum of the Month
The College of Agriculture Career Services is featuring young alumni as a way of providing advice to students searching for a job. Mike Gaul, career services director, said the words and experiences of recent graduates may connect with students still in college. He is picking alumni who showcase the diversity of career choices available as well as those who were actively involved with internship and leadership opportunities on campus. November's alum is Amanda Dight, a foodservice territory manager for Hormel Foods. October's alum was Greg Deim, who works in product development and support (precision agriculture technologies) for The Mosaic Company. The first selection in September was Laurie Hueneke, a senior tissue commodity specialist for Medtronic Inc.'s Cardiac Surgery Division.
College Enjoys Second Best Year for New Gifts
The generosity of alumni and friends of the College of Agriculture was on full display last year. Giving to the College exceeded $19 million, making 2004-2005 the second best year ever for new gifts and gift commitments. Highlights included a $10 million commitment to endow the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods; a $1.5 million commitment to establish the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative; and $2.38 million in new scholarship support for undergraduate and graduate students. College donors numbered 4,084, an increase of more than 33 percent from the previous year and more than double the number from four years ago.
New Endowed Faculty Positions Created in College
Over the next two years, five new endowed faculty positions will be filled in the College of Agriculture, bringing the total of endowed positions to 17.
Forum on Sustainability of Energy Crops Wednesday
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, a Forum on the Sustainability of Energy Crops will be held in 2245 Coover featuring Tad Patzek of the University of California-Berkeley and Bruce E. Dale of Michigan State University. Patzek is the author of two recent papers examining the thermodynamics of corn ethanol production and the sustainability of corn ethanol and soy biodiesel production. Dale is involved in research that seeks to increase the efficiency of corn ethanol production. The forum, which will run from 2 to 4 p.m., is co-sponsored by the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture and the Office of Biorenewables Programs. For more information: Krysta Nibe, 4-7936 or krystajo@iastate.edu.
Dec. 6 Budget Forum Sponsored by Curriculum Committee
The College of Agriculture Curriculum Committee invites faculty and staff to a Dec. 6 forum to share ideas and concerns regarding the impacts of a new Iowa State University budget model on teaching and learning. The session will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Room 13 Curtiss Hall. Background on the new budget model is available online.
Entomology Department Hosts Online Auction
The Department of Entomology is hosting its Mostly Entomological Auction. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in entomology. More than 60 items are part of the auction, including insect origami pictures, historical prints and holiday gifts. The auction ends at 8 p.m., Nov. 28.
Fourth Annual Alison Ciancio Memorial Auction Underway
Friday, Nov. 18, at noon is the deadline for shopping an Internet auction to generate money for the Alison Ciancio Memorial Scholarship. Alison was a sophomore, majoring in animal science, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in 2002. The Dairy Science Club has established a memorial fund in Alison's memory to finance a scholarship that is awarded each year at the Dairy Science Banquet. The 2005 auction features a variety of donated items.
Economist to Address Think Tank on Animal Agriculture
The next Think Tank on Animal Agriculture on Nov. 21 will hear from Marty McVey, chief economist for AGRI Industries, discussing how corn availability will impact the animal industry of Iowa. It will begin with social time at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. in the Cardinal Room, Memorial Union. Register by noon Friday, Nov. 18, by e-mailing Julie Roberts, jrober@iastate.edu. Cost of the buffet will be $15, which is payable at the door.
Biosciences Alliance of Iowa Funds ISU Research
The Biosciences Alliance of Iowa (BAI) has awarded funding to two projects at Iowa State designed to advance the state’s bioscience industry. BAI awarded $700,000 to establish the Human Nutrition Wellness Research Center. The center will evaluate the safety and efficacy of new foods, food ingredients or dietary supplements developed by Iowa-based companies. A second project is a joint effort between Iowa State and University of Iowa researchers to create a high-throughput facility to develop animal models of human diseases.
Rothschild Appointed Guest Professor at Chinese University
Max Rothschild, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture, was recently named guest professor of Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China. The appointment is for three years. The honor was granted on a trip to China that included visits to other agricultural universities in Nanchang and Beijing.
Technological Changes Mark 10 Years of Distance Education
The Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer in the College of Agriculture opened 10 years ago. When the center was dedicated in November 1995, faculty and staff used videotape and fiber optics to deliver distance education classes. Today, the classes are web-based and students receive taped classes on CDs.
Farming that Improves the Environment
All those dried up stalks, husks and cobs left in cornfields after harvest could be a key to enhancing the environment, say Iowa State researchers. Robert Brown, Bergles Professor in Thermal Science, will lead a team of researchers studying the idea. The team also includes Randy Killorn, Iowa State professor of soil science.
Extension 4-H Youth Building Sponsors Service Project
Staff in the Extension 4-H Youth Building are sponsoring a food pantry service project for the upcoming holidays that coordinates with ISU Extension week being celebrated across Iowa. The items will be donated to Mid-Iowa Community Action Inc. and Bethesda Community Food Pantry. Suggestions for donations include non-perishable, unopened, unexpired food items; personal hygiene items; household supplies; infant needs; and gift certificates for grocery stores. Items can be dropped off at the Extension 4-H Youth Building during the workday through Friday. Contact Elaine Edwards, 4-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu.
Deadlines and Reminders
Nov. 15: Block and Bridle Club cheese and sausage sale, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Curtiss Hall rotunda
Nov. 15: AgComm workshop on student self-assessment tools, noon to 1:15 p.m., Room 8, Brenton Center, RSVP Cheryl Abrams, 4-5872 or cabrams@iastate.edu
Nov. 15: Deadline for applying for most College of Agriculture and university awards
Nov. 29: Lecture, "Is Humanity Sustainable," William Rees, professor and former director of the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, 7 p.m., 207 Marston Hall
Dec. 1: Deadline to participate in Iowa Center for Botanical Supplement Research competitive renewal, contact: Diane Birt, center director, at dbirt@iastate.edu
Dec. 7: Deadline to order Block and Bridle gift sets of cheese and sausage, order forms are available at 120 Kildee Hall, contact: ssc@iastate.edu or 4-1865.
Communications Kiosk
The Storm's Wrack May Rack the Budget
To wrack is to severely or completely destroy, a storm-wracked ship. Wrack is also a noun denoting wreckage, the storm's wrack. To rack is to stretch beyond capacity, as in to rack one's brains. (The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition 2003)
Infograzing
4-H Invites Workshop Ideas for Summer Conference
"Feel the Pulse" is the theme for the 2006 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference to be held June 27-29 on the ISU campus. Faculty are encouraged to submit workshop topics that will showcase the university and help recruitment efforts. Workshop proposals are due Jan. 6. Contact Brenda Allen, bsallen@iastate.edu or 4-1567.
Agricultural Water Security White Paper Issued
The CSREES has prepared the Agricultural Water Security White Paper in response to a topic suggested by the Land Grant University Partnership Working Group. This paper introduces a new initiative to secure adequate water supplies for domestic water consumption, ecosystem services, recreation and aesthetics while meeting the needs of food and fiber production.
Global Developments Grant Applications Sought
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks proposals for its Global Development Alliance Grant program. Organizations are invited to form public-private alliances that support USAID’s international development objectives. Applications may be submitted throughout the fiscal year, but it is recommended that applicants submit concept papers to Mission/Washington operating units by Dec. 16.
External Voices
Drucker on Learning
"We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn."
-- Peter Drucker, business theorist and management consultant, who died Nov. 11 at age 95
Marginalia
New Food Preparation Produces Scientific Cuisine
The latest trend in fine dining is sometimes described as "scientific" or "hypermodern" cuisine, a style of cooking that borrows aggressively from industrial food preparation and applies it to gourmet fare. Technology Review reported that one of the best-known innovations is "sous vide" (in French "under vacuum"), in which ingredients are vacuum-packed in plastic bags (called Cryovacking), and then cooked in warm water at low temperatures, often for very long periods. Using a low cooking temperature preserves the essential structure of the ingredients, says sous vide proponent Michael Voltaggio, chef de cuisine at Dry Creek Kitchen in Sonoma County, Calif. The technique is not new, but it's evolved as one of the favorite techniques of hypercuisine practitioners, who also are breaking new ground by consciously altering the chemical structures of proteins, starches and fats to produce new food experiences. In addition to sous vide, chefs are flash-freezing sauces, emulsifying unusual combinations of oils and juices and beating vegetable broths into airy froths that embody hypercuisine's "food as entertainment" philosophy. (Technology Review, October 2005)
Next issue: Nov. 21
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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