College News
Magazine: ISU's Meat Science Program 'Top Echelon'
The December 2005 issue of Meat & Poultry Magazine featured animal science's meat science program in the "top echelon" of university programs. Instead of ranking top university programs as in past years, the magazine looked at what makes the high-ranking programs able to prepare their graduates. An article featured current meat science doctoral graduate student Jeff Sindelar in sections on the importance of scholarships and education and employment matters. Sindelar discussed the value of the scholarships offered by Iowa State and opportunities at the university, including international travel and exposure to the meat industry. Joseph Cordray, extension meat specialist, and Iowa State alumni also were featured . This is the fifth year Meat & Poultry Magazine has featured a report on university programs serving the meat and poultry industry. Iowa State was ranked as the number-one Meat & Poultry Science Extension Program in the nation last year.
Dean Wintersteen Visit Communities
Last week Dean Wendy Wintersteen completed community visits to Mason City, Fort Dodge and Webster City. In Mason City, she visited students in the Rockwell-Swaldedale High School and at North Iowa Area Community College; conducted local media interviews; and hosted an alumni reception. In Fort Dodge and Webster City, the Dean visited students in the Prairie Valley School District and Iowa Central Community College; met with research staff at Fort Dodge Animal Health; visited the Vera Sun Ethanol Plant; lunched with community leaders and extension staff at the Webster County Extension Office; and hosted an alumni reception in Webster City.
Graduate Student Follows in Carver's Footsteps
Jacquelyn Jackson is working on her doctorate in plant pathology studying virus replication. She is one of the few black doctorate candidates working in agricultural molecular biology in the United States, but one of several who have studied in the Iowa State laboratory. Jackson also is inspired by George Washington Carver and hopes to return to Alabama to teach at Tuskegee University, where she earned her master's degree in plant and soil sciences and agronomy and soils.
Agronomy Graduate Students Awarded Schuler Fellowship
Two Iowa State graduate students recently were awarded agronomy fellowships. Bryce Lemke, working on a doctorate in plant breeding, and Jordan Spear, master's degree candidate in plant breeding, have been named the recipients of the 2006 Josef F. Schuler Graduate Fellowship in Agronomy.
Food Safety and Biosecurity Discussion Thursday
Two College of Agriculture faculty members will address "Are We Doing Enough? Food Safety and Biosecurity Issues" on Thursday, Feb. 9. James Dickson, animal science, and past president of the International Association for Food Protection, and Charles Hurburgh, agricultural and biosystems engineering and food science and human nutrition, and professor-in-charge of the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, will present the discussion at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. The panel discussion is part of the National Affairs Series, "Defining Values in American Politics."
FFA Chapter Selling Chances to be Dean for a Day
A lucky student will get the opportunity to see what it's like to be a dean for a day. The Collegiate FFA Chapter is selling tickets for the chance to shadow Associate Dean David Acker. Students will attend meetings with Acker and he will attend classes with the student. The winner also will eat lunch with Acker and get to use his parking spot. Tickets will be sold from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in Kildee, Heady and Curtiss halls. Contact: ffaexec@iastate.edu.
A Supercomupter will Speed Study of Corn Genome
A $1.25 million IBM Blue Gene/L supercomputer has been installed on campus. The 73rd fastest supercomputer in the world will be used for assembling the corn genome, studying protein networks and computational biology. Patrick Schnable, agronomy, is a member of the supercomputing research team.
Deere Presents Tractor to ISU Faculty, Students
A new John Deere tractor will bring the latest equipment technologies into Iowa State classrooms and laboratories. The model 7920 tractor was presented by the Deere & Co. to the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in a ceremony today, Feb. 6, outside Davidson Hall.
USDA Collaborator Discovers Potential Danger in Rumen
Mark Rasmussen, USDA-ARS microbiologist and animal science department collaborator, and Steven Carlson, a veterinary medical officer at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, have discovered that an antibiotic-resistant strain of salmonella becomes especially virulent when tucked inside protozoa in the rumen of cattle. The Agricultural Research Service last week reported what it called a animal research "first": Disease-causing bacteria have been found to gain strength from interaction with the single-celled organisms that are naturally present inside animals. This finding suggests that the protozoa in animals' digestive tracts may be a place where dangerous bacteria can lurk and develop. Protozoa had never been thought of as reservoirs of disease in animals, according to Rasmussen. More: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb06/animal0206.htm
Leopold Center Supports Farm Bill Listening Sessions
The Leopold Center is funding six listening sessions throughout Iowa to gather comments for the next farm bill. The sessions are sponsored by the Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation, Center for Rural Affairs and League of Rural Voters. The meetings are nonpartisan, free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.
Alum's Book Tells Story of his Publishing Success
Agriculture alumnus Roy Reiman has authored a new book, "I Could Write a Book," that chronicles the growth of his company, Reiman Publications, and its revolutionary concept. Last week the Des Moines Register reviewed the book and Reiman's business career. Reiman earned a bachelor's in agricultural journalism in 1957.
On-Farm Gtant Applications Due Feb. 17
The ISU On-farm Research and Demonstration Grant Program seeks grant applications by Feb. 17. It is a new program of the College of Agriculture in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa. On-farm research is field research on a working farm, where the farmer actively participates in the research question, design, implementation, data collection, interpretation and sharing of the research. In some cases the research is driven by a particular farmer's needs, observations and questions, and in some cases by questions originating with the researcher. ISU faculty, staff and graduate students, either on- and off-campus, are eligible to apply. Annual one time grants up to $5,000 will be awarded. Awards to several producers proposing to work together may be up to $7,000 each. Contact: Rick Exner, 4-5486 or dnexner@iastate.edu.
Kenyan Scientist to Speak at Pesek Colloquium April 6
Calestous Juma of Kenya, professor of the Practice of International Development and director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, will be the speaker at the sixth annual John Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture. He will discuss, "Reinventing African Economies Reinventing African Economies: Technological Innovation and the Technological Innovation and the Sustainability Transition Sustainability Transition." Juma coordinated the UN Millennium Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation. The colloquium will be held April 6 with a reception at 6 p.m. and the seminar at 7 p.m. in Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building.
Deadlines and Reinders
Feb. 9: Grant-proposal workshop, focus on the National Science Foundation, 3 p.m., 1213 Hoover Hall
Feb. 10: Miller Faculty Fellowship Proposals due in 138 Curtiss
Feb. 15: College curriculum forum, 4:10 to 6:15 p.m., in 142 Curtiss Hall
Communications Kiosk
Need Publicity? Brenton Center Seeks Announcements
The Brenton Center invites College of Agriculture announcements to run on two plasma television screens on the ground floor of the Curtiss Hall rotunda. The display system provides a valuable resource to announce events such as student club meetings, notices of new course offerings, speakers or lecturers coming to campus, and career services or student services information. There is no charge. Announcements can be supplied in these formats: PowerPoint slides, still photographs, Flash movies, web page addresses and Quicktime and AVI movies. E-mail your announcements to: agchat@iastate.edu. Contacts: Rod Fischer, videoguy@iastate.edu or 4-9970, and Gaylan Scofield, ggs@iastate.edu or 4-0045.
A Systematic System isn't System
"Systematic" means according to a plan or system, methodical or arranged in a system. "Systemic" is limited in use to a physiological system, such as a systemic disease affecting several organs or by extension, other systems that may be likened to the body; as in "systemic problems within the corporate hierarchy." (Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2004)
Infograzing
ISU Budget Model Open Forum Feb. 13
An open forum to receive comments on the second report of the budget model development committee will be held 11 a.m. to noon, Monday, Feb. 13, in the Campanile Room, Memorial Union.
Research Grants Workshop Feb. 27 Focuses on NIH
The second in the series Effective Strategies for Developing Grant Proposals will be held at 3 p.m., Feb. 27, in 2115 Pearson. It will focus on grants of the National Institutes of Health. Researchers who have been successful in receiving NIH grants will speak.
Iowa Soybean Association to Sponsor Farm Bill Conference
The Iowa Soybean Association is sponsoring a conference Feb. 24 and 25, "Focus on Farm Policy: How The Next Farm Bill Will Affect Your Bottom Line." It will take place at the Gateway Center in Ames. The event will bring together authorities on farm policy, including current lawmakers involved in the farm bill process, architects of past farm bills and representatives from organizations that will influence the next farm bill. More: http://www.midwestagjournal.com/farmbill
Internal Voices
I've Thoroughly Enjoyed my Travels
"Although I've been busy, I've thoroughly enjoyed my travels. One of my favorite highlights so far was visiting a farm milking 400 water buffalo by hand. ... After visiting this farm, we got to sample buffalo milk and yogurt. ... I'll stick to the cow version."
--Lorilee Schultz, senior in agricultural business and economics, reporting on her internship in China (Des Moines Register, Feb. 2)
Marginalia
MTV Debuts University Channel
MTV has launched a new online station directed at college students. The station, mtvU, includes music videos, movies made by and for college students, games, news, and a range of other content targeting 18-to-22-year-olds. The station only works on PCs at this point, not on Macs, and invites viewers to submit their own content. According to an MTV new release, the target audience is college students because they are "the first adopters of new music, new technology and new trends." (New York Times, Jan. 31)
Next issue: Feb. 13
Ag Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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