College News
Professor Named to Lead Biocentury Research Farm
Lawrence Johnson, professor of food science and human nutrition, has been named director of the BioCentury Research Farm, a biorenewables production and processing research facility under construction west of Ames.
Egg Industry Center Hosts First Issues Forum April 8
Topics of interest to the nation's egg industry will be discussed April 8 at a forum hosted by Iowa State University's Egg Industry Center. Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will make welcoming remarks followed by research sessions.
Farm Op Club First in National Contest
The Farm Op Club's team was first in the National Post-Secondary Agriculture College Quiz Bowl and was first for the Crop Specialist Award at the National Post-Secondary Agriculture Students convention last week in Hershey, Pa. Other team awards included a second place for the Beef Livestock Specialist Award and third place for the Soil Science Specialist Award.
Animal Scientists Earn Professional Groups' Recognition
The Midwest American Society of Animal Science/American Dairy Science Association conference presented awards to graduate students and alumni. Graduate students Patricia Anderson, Nick Boddicker and Pete Lammers won all three of the innovative research and teaching awards. Grad student Rafael Nafikov received the Young Dairy Scholars Recognition and Innovation in Dairy Research Award. Danielle Bowen Gorbach won the Graduate Ph.D. Oral Competition. Young Animal Scientist Awards were presented to animal science alumni: Bryon Wiegand, who earned a doctorate in 2000, won the Outstanding Teaching Award; and Galen Erickson, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1995, won the Outstanding Research Award.
Video Highlights Research in Seed Science
Gary Munkvold, plant pathology professor, is highlighted in the most recent research video. Munkvold researches diseases that affect the production and utilization of seeds and the management of mycotoxigenic fungi in corn. Munkvold is the Seed Science Center Endowed Chair and chair of the Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business. The research videos highlight the role Iowa State plays in scientific and technological advances in agriculture, life sciences and related fields. The videos can be seen on the CALS home page and on ITunesU.
CARET Meetings Include Congressional Visits
The Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) meetings early this month included visits with Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. Iowa's CARET representatives Sally Stutsman and Donald Latham were accompanied by Endowed Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Vice Provost for Extension Jack Payne in the visits. The effort is meant to enhance national support and understanding of the land-grant university system's food and agricultural research, extension and teaching programs. A report on Iowa State's research, teaching and extension activities was prepared to share with Congressional officials and staffs.
Distance Ed Teachers to be Recognized at April 13 Reception
The College in conjunction with the Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer will host a reception April 13 acknowledging the service and dedication of the faculty who are teaching courses at a distance. A social gathering will follow the program in the Curtiss Hall Rotunda. Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Associate Dean David Acker will provide remarks. The reception will begin at 4:10 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall Auditorium. Contact Carrie Brus, cbrus@iastate.edu, to RSVP no later than April 6.
Teaching in Digital Age Topic of April 30 Seminar
The animal science department will host a seminar April 30 about how to teach to electronically savvy students, titled, “Theirs and Ours; Implication of How Today's Students Process Information Into Knowledge and the Impacts on Classroom Dynamics.” Faculty and staff are invited to the session at 3 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. Larry Hamm, professor in the Michigan State University Department of Agricultural Economics, will be the presenter.
Deadlines and Reminders
March 27: Agriculture Weekend Experience applications deadline, contact: Laura Rosenbohm, 4-4319 or laurar@iastate.edu
April 20: Deadline for proposals for information technology projects to support instructional programs within the College
Communications Kiosk
University Editorial Style Guide on the Web
The university's online Editorial Style Guide offers tips for communication consistency. It provides information to help in writing for the campus and external audiences. The guide includes Iowa State University specific guidelines, abbreviations/acronyms, words to avoid, capitalization rules, frequently misspelled words and word usage tips. The Chicago Manual of Style and The Associated Press Stylebook provide the foundation for the guide.
Infograzing
Science Council Forum Set for June
The Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is organizing a Science Forum June 16 and 17. It will be held in partnership with the Alliance of CGIAR Centers and Global Forum on Agricultural Research, co-sponsored and hosted by Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. The Science Forum 2009 will be the first in a series of biennial science forums to be organized as part of the Science Council's drive to mobilize science towards CGIAR goals and objectives. The 2009 Forum will focus on innovative science and the arrangements that can help to mobilize it more effectively to address poverty alleviation and sustainable natural resource management. More: http://www.scienceforum2009.nl
Sessions for Employees Focus on Health
Several sessions on healthy lifestyles are scheduled this week for ISU employees. On Wednesday. March 25, "Healthy Days in Convenient Ways," will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 8 Curtiss. Register by contacting Sally Barclay, 4-9625 or barclay@iastate.edu. You may bring your lunch. On Thursday, March 26, "Healthy Eats at the MU" includes cooking demonstrations by ISU Dining Chef Everett Phillips with Registered Dietitian Sally Barclay sharing the health benefits. Two sessions are scheduled for noon and 12:30 p.m. in the Gold Room, Memorial Union. Seating will be on space available basis. On Friday, March 27, the session "Finding Ways to Consume Healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids" will be noon to 1 p.m. in 0331 Palmer Building. Register by contacting Sally Barclay, 4-9625 or barclay@iastate.edu. You may bring your lunch.
Iowa Soybean Association Trade Trip to China Begins Today
The Iowa Soybean Association is hosting a trade mission to China from today, March 23, to April 3. This trade mission will include Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, ISA President John Heisdorffer, ISA President-Elect Delbert Christensen and ISA CEO Kirk Leeds. China is the top customer for U.S. soybean exports. This trip will focus particularly on the southern part of the country and efforts to build relationships with key customers there. Karen Simon, ISA director of communications, will be filing reports from the trip in a blog.
Aging Conference Set for April 3
The Rural Aging Conference: Living and Aging Well will be held in the Scheman Building April 3, hosted by Iowa State in collaboration with the Iowa Consortium on Aging Programs. More: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/ruralaging/home.html
Nutrition and Wellness Research Center Symposium May 17-19
The Nutrition and Wellness Research Center at Iowa State will host its third annual symposium May 17 to 19 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. The theme for the meeting is, "Vaccines, Immunity and Well-Being." The deadline for registration is May 1.
External Voices
Make Iowa Renowned for Scientific Research
"Hard times require returning to the basics, re-emphasizing and refocusing state strengths. A former University of Iowa president used to note that Iowa and its universities were world-renowned for the three "R's": "readin', 'ritin', and 'restlin'." I would add a fourth "R": research. Iowa has become the "eyes and ears" of science as well as creative writing and presidential politics. At the University of Iowa are the world's top two researchers on macular degeneration - Edwin Stone and Gregory Hageman - and the most renowned cochlear-implant innovator - Bruce Gantz. Likewise, Iowa State University is one of the world's most important centers for plant and animal research and metallurgy. ... In no other field are state resources leveraged so significantly. Our universities receive almost half a billion dollars a year in public and private grants and contracts. Scientific research protects, lengthens and provides perspective to life. Don't shortchange it." Jim Leach, Iowa congressman from 1977 to 2007 is a visiting professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University (Big ideas for Iowa, Des Moines Register, March 15)
Marginalia
Quirky Regional Dictionary Nears Finish
If you don't know a stone toter from Adam's off ox, or aren't sure what a grinder shop sells, the Dictionary of American Regional English is for you. The collection of regional words and phrases is used by linguists and authors, according to an Associated Press article. After five decades of wide-ranging research, the dictionary team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is nearing completion of the final volume, covering "S" to "Z." The project did not start in earnest until 1965, when English professor Frederic Cassidy dispatched workers to 1,000 carefully chosen U.S. communities. The dictionary project has about a dozen workers and a $750,000 annual budget. Cassidy died in 2000, still looking toward publication of the final volume. His tombstone reads: "On to Z!" (Ryan Foley, Associated Press, March 22.)
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor
Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Website: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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