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COLLEGE NEWS
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COLLEGE'S UNIVERSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED
The 2007-08 university award recipients in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences have been selected. The university award recipients will be formally announced in Inside Iowa State in the fall, shortly before the fall convocation on Sept. 22. The College's recipients are:
- Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Joseph Sebranek, University Professor, professor of animal science and food science and human nutrition
- University Professor: Jack Girton, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- University Professor: Gail Nonnecke, professor of horticulture
- ISU Award for Academic Advising Impact: Ebby Luvaga, senior lecturer, economics
- ISU Award for Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice: Palle Pedersen, assistant professor of agronomy
- ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research: Robert Jernigan, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Louis Thompson Distinguished Undergraduate Teacher: Steven Hoff, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering
- P&S Excellence Award: Mark Shour, extension program specialist, entomology
- P&S Outstanding New Professional Award: Lara Moody, extension program specialist, agricultural and biosystems engineering
- P&S Outstanding New Professional Award: Stacey Noe, program coordinator, Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative
- P&S Research Award: Philip Gassman, assistant scientist, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
- Regents Award for Faculty Excellence: James Russell, professor of animal science
NEW PLACEMENT SURVEY FINDS 98 PERCENT WORKING OR STUDYING
About 98 percent of College graduates who earned undergraduate degrees in the 2006-2007 academic year were employed or studying for advanced degrees, according to the latest placement survey that examined the graduates' first jobs. The Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services office completed the survey in January. About 71 percent of bachelor's graduates took their first jobs in Iowa. For students who earned master's graduates, 96.8 percent were working or studying further. For those who earned doctorates, 98.2 percent were employed or engaged in further education.
AGRONOMY STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL CROP JUDGING COMPETITION
The ISU Crops Judging Team won first and second at a national agriculture competition in Texas. The students competed in three North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) contests held April 16-18. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/news_detail.php?var1=639
MEAT JUDGING TEAM COMPETES IN INTERCOLLEGIATE CONTEST
The ISU Meat Judging Team competed at the 2008 Southeastern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest April 18-19. Team members included: Tonina Desimone, Bonsall, Calif.; Laura Rosenbohm, Peoria, Ill.; Garrett Skaar, Story City; Isaiah Spath, Hampton; Jordan Steen, Garner; and Crystal Wagner, Le Mars. The team finished first in pork judging; third in beef grading, overall beef and total reasons; fifth in overall contest placing, beef judging, specifications; seventh in total placing; and eighth in lamb judging. Individual awards included: Wagner, first in beef grading and overall beef; Desimone, first in total reasons, third in pork judging, fourth in beef judging, seventh in overall beef and 10th in total placing; Skaar, first in pork judging; and Spath, seventh in beef judging and ninth in total reasons.
SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE POSTER SESSION WEDNESDAY
The Science With Practice poster session will take place Wednesday, April 30, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. The 19 participants this semester will display posters showing their activities this semester. Those attending can come and go as they please.
CARVER SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ATTRACTS 16 STUDENTS
The College's George Washington Carver Internship Program has six high school students and 10 undergraduate students scheduled to participate on campus this summer. Mentors in nine departments will work with the students. The internship program pairs students with mentors to promote an environment where students will gain research experience that assists them in making educational and career decisions and also to attract underrepresented students to Iowa State. It was created in 1993 and has had students intern in every department in the College as well as in the colleges of Human Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences, and with the USDA's Agriculture Research Service and National Animal Disease Center.
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR GLOBAL RESOURCE SYSTEMS FACULTY COORDINATOR
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has begun an internal search for a faculty coordinator for the new major in Global Resource Systems, a newly created college-wide, interdisciplinary and interdepartmental undergraduate major. Applicants should e-mail a letter of application, curriculum vita and evidence of teaching effectiveness to agdean@iastate.edu (pdf format preferred). Applicants must also submit evidence of support from his/her department chair for their application. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For a copy of the GRS proposal contact: David Acker, associate dean, dacker@iastate.edu.
PLANT SALE FEATURES STUDENTS' WORK
Horticulture students will hold a plant sale from Wednesday to Friday, April 30 to May 2, in the horticulture greenhouses. Perennials, bedding plants and hanging baskets that students worked on this semester as part of their coursework will be on sale from noon to 4 p.m. each day.
CASE REGIONAL AWARDS GIVEN TO TWO PROJECTS
The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI has awarded a gold award for a College recruitment video that was produced by Barb McBreen, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications Service, and videographer Rod Fischer, Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer. The video highlighted student experiences such as study abroad, Science With Practice and internships. CASE also awarded a silver award for a Veishea advertisement that appeared in the Des Moines Register, which was coordinated by McBreen and designed by Heather Brewer of Juls Design. The awards were given to competitors in the region that includes institutions in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
ACE AWARDS GO TO COLLEGE COMMUNICATORS
The Department of Agronomy's "I'm an agronomist" marketing and recruitment campaign won a gold award and the Outstanding Professional Skill Award from the Association for Communications Excellence (ACE) in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sciences. The agronomy team members included Melea Reicks Licht, Bradley Miller, Tom Schultz and Julie Mangels. The Web site (http://www.ImAnAgronomist.net) is the centerpiece of the campaign that explains how agronomists are working to find solutions to the major issues facing the world today. Barb McBreen, Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications Service, and designer Mary Sailer also won a gold award in graphic design for the "WOW" display, which was designed for the 150th celebration. Andy Zehr, Agriculture and Life Sciences marketing, won a gold award for a prospective student direct mail program and three silver awards for a marketing campaign, web graphics and logo designs. ACE is an international association of communicators and information technologists working at universities, government agencies and research organizations in the public sector, as well as companies and firms in the private sector.
SCIENCE IN IOWA DAY ATTRACTS 61 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences held a Science in Iowa Day on April 22. It was a one-day recruiting event that brought 61 middle school students from Ames and Nevada to campus. They included 29 eight-graders from Nevada and 32 seventh- and eighth-graders from Ames. The event showed them science and research that is going on in their own backyard, that include topics in livestock production, nutrition, entomology, crops and machinery, Iowa's natural resources, genetics, food production and industrial technology. The primary organizers were Melody Carroll, agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Mickie Franks, CALS Student Services. The CALS Student Ambassadors helped out with logistics, shuttling the visitors from one location to another and providing campus tours. Barb Osborn, horticulture, provided the college welcome. (See related item in “External Voices.”)
FINAL INSTALLMENT OF COLLEGE'S POINTS OF PRIDE
The last five of the 150 points of pride related to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are online. These postings, in recognition of Iowa State's sesquicentennial celebration, coincided with 150 days of the 2007-2008 academic year. Education is this week's theme, with items related to AgComm, Science with Practice, distance education and national honors for two College faculty - Gail Nonnecke and Amy Kaleita. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/coa150/points_of_pride.php
AGRONOMY'S HORNBUCKLE WORKS WITH EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
Brian Hornbuckle, agronomy, is helping the European Space Agency learn more about soil moisture content. Details: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2008/apr/hornbuckle.shtml
ABE'S MICKELSON TO HEAD CELT
Steve Mickelson, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will be the next director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and co-director of Learning Communities. His appointment will begin June 1. He is taking over for Corly Brooke, who led the center for 10 years.
IOWA STATE COUPLE JOIN PEACE CORPS FOR SERVICE IN GHANA
Tammi Martin, administrative specialist in the Center for Crops Utilization Research, and her husband, Chris, an associate professor of art and design, will leave June 7 for two years in the Peace Corps. More: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2008/apr/martin.shtml
ABE'S BRUMM ON RETENTION, RECRUITMENT P&S FORUM PANEL
The May 2 Open Forum, sponsored by the Professional & Scientific Council, will showcase innovative and successful projects that received 2007-2008 Retention and Recruitment Grants. The forum will be held at the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center in the classroom facilities. The poster session will begin at 11:30 a.m. A panel discussion, "Retention Through Innovation and Collaboration", will begin at 12:10 p.m. and includes Tom Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering, faculty advisor and university academic advising committee co-chair. Light refreshments will be served and those attending also will be eligible for door prizes.
LEOPOLD CENTER SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2008 SPENCER AWARD
Nominations for the 2008 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture are due May 15. The award honors Iowans who help family farms prosper and contribute to a vibrant rural community. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture administers the award. Learn more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2008/042308_spencer.html
ISU EXTENSION BOOK RECEIVES ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AWARD
“The Forest Where Ashley Lives,” a children's book published by Iowa State University Extension and developed by former ISU forestry program staff, has received an Education Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. Details: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/apr/122101.htm
IOWA STATE GRAD HIRED AT IOWA PORK INDUSTRY CENTER
Terry Faidley, the new Quality Management Systems (QMS) program coordinator at the Iowa Pork Industry Center, credits his educational experiences at Iowa State as an important factor in his eventual return as an employee. Faidley said instructors throughout his academic career at ISU were major influences on his career. Learn more: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/apr/152301.htm
IN THE NEWS: SUGAR BEETS FOR ENERGY PLANTED AT ISU FARM
The Muscatine Journal recently reported on sugar beet planting at ISU's Muscatine Island Research Farm. Heartland Renewable Energy has proposed building a plant in Muscatine to produce ethanol from sugar-based feedstock. More: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2008/04/17/news/doc48076ae209c7...
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 25: Lush Visions Symposium, Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall.
April 30: Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture research symposium, 2:10 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union
April 30: Promotion and tenure workshop for associate professors, 3:10 to 5 p.m., CCUR auditorium, 1951 Food Sciences building
May 10: College convocation for graduates, 8 a.m., C.Y. Stephens auditorium
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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A COMPLIMENT ISN'T SAME AS A COMPLEMENT
A “compliment” is a flattering or praising remark, as in, "a compliment on your skill." A “complement” is something that completes or brings to perfection, as in: "The lace tablecloth was a complement to the antique silver." The words are also verbs: To compliment is to praise, while to complement is to supplement adequately or to complete. (The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003)
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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SCIENCE IN IOWA DAY: COOL, FUN, INFORMATIVE
Presentations at the April 22 Science in Iowa Day (see item in “College News”) included the following, along with some feedback, in parentheses, received from the middle schoolers who attended:
- Ron Deiter, economics/agricultural business program, speaking on fun pricing in economics (“Favorite session because of the fun games”)
- Mike Stahr, Seed Science Center, on seed science and seed testing (“Learned a lot about various machines and testing”)
- Seth Mulder, senior in agronomy, on water underground (“Cool and fun”)
- Nancy Boury, microbiology program, on microbes on Iowa (“Really cool to see all the microbes inside the rumen of a cow”)
- Jacek Koziel and Lingshuang Cai, agricultural and biosystems engineering, on the nose ranger (“My hands smelled like ladybugs and popcorn butter the rest of the day”)
- Angela Tague, entomology, on the Insect Zoo
- Milton Allison, animal science, on "wild" rumen protozoa
- Denise Hix, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, on biodiversity scavenger hunt
- Amy Kaleita, agricultural and biosystems engineering, on remote sensing for environmental conservation
- Andrea Beatty, sophomore in agricultural education, on do-it-yourself agriculture
- Terri Boylston and Lester Wilson, food science and human nutrition, on the world of soy (“I didn't like the soy pudding”)
- Joel Coats, entomology, and Gretchen Paluch, graduate student in entomology, on natural products for insect control
- Jennifer Himmelsbach and Asli Isci, graduate students in agricultural and biosystems engineering, on fermentation
- Michael Cruse, graduate student in agronomy, and Bradley Miller, agronomy, on soils and the environment (“Fun and I learned the most”)
Another comment received was: “I loved them all because my horizons were broadened, I learned many things and I was also introduced to new things.”
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MARGINALIA
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AG BUSINESS CLUB HELPS STUDENTS GET THROUGH FINALS
ISU's Agricultural Business Club has been busy preparing and delivering “Study Buddy” packages ordered by parents to sustain their sons and daughters through Dead Week. The “care packages” consist of snack items and, perhaps more importantly, include messages of encouragement from parents, said Ron Deiter, club advisor and economics professor. The club delivers as many as 900 packages each Dead Week, and has been doing so for about 25 years. Proceeds from the on-campus deliveries go to the club and payments for off-campus deliveries go to those making deliveries to compensate them for their time and gas.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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