College News
Alumni Days Starts Thursday
Alumni Days 2009 will celebrate Iowa State's 50-year reunion class of 1959 Thursday through Saturday, May 14-16. The College will host a reception and tour for its alumni beginning 9 a.m. Friday at the Dairy Farm. Alumni Days also includes special recognition given to Gold Medal Club Members from the Classes of 1954, 1949, 1944, 1939, 1934, and 1929. More: http://www.isualum.org/en/events/alumni_days/alumni_days_2009/
Summer Hours Begin Today
College administration today began summer hours, which run from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Summer hours end Aug. 14.
Graduating Ag Ambassadors Honored
Graduating seniors were recognized Friday at Ag Cabinet meeting for their service as Ag Ambassadors. The students included: Jennie Hansen, food science; Josh Day, agriculture and life sciences education; Janelle Jamison, agricultural business; Keaton Krueger, agronomy; and Kayla Hendrix, biology.
Colelge Faculty Earn Promotions and Tenure
The promotion of 15 College faculty has been announced by the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. The list includes faculty who have earned tenure.
Alum Honored by Animal Science Department
Robert Kimm was honored last month with the Department of Animal Science's Hall of Fame Award, which is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to animal agriculture in Iowa. Kimm earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1965 and a master's degree in agricultural education in 1969. Kimm was the beef and sheep specialist at Hawkeye Community College. During his 31 years in that position he promoted the sheep industry, especially the Suffolk breed, worked to improve the performance and carcass traits and led the seedstock industry.
Iowa State Helps Research Jackrabbits
Iowa State students are researching the white-tailed jackrabbit, a species of hare that is declining in Iowa. The research began three years ago at the request of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
College Student Makes USA Today All-College Academic Team
Iowa State senior Clark Richardson received honorable mention in the 20th annual USA Today All-USA College Academic Team. Richardson graduated Saturday with a bachelor's of science degree in agricultural business and international agriculture and a bachelor's of arts degree in political science, economics and minor in Spanish.
Animal Scientist to Produce Vaccine for H1N1 Flu Virus in Swine
The H1N1 virus has been found in a Canadian swine herd, and an Iowa State researcher is ready to produce an H1N1 flu vaccine for pigs. "Now that H1N1 virus is in pigs, we're seeking funding to conduct a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate how rapidly we can produce an effective and safe vaccine for pigs," said Hank Harris, professor in animal science and veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine.
ISU Promotes Sustainability Via All-University Compost Facility
Iowa State has opened a composting facility that can handle more than 10,000 tons of organic wastes annually -- wastes that come from various campus sources. Located next to the ISU Dairy Farm, the facility is designed to handle solid organic waste in an environmentally responsible manner.
Deadlines and Reminders
May 14: Symposium to develop research collaborations for the Wildlife and Domestic Animal Disease Research Initiative, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Brenton Center, Room 8, Curtiss Hall, contacts: Sue Fairbanks, suef@iastate.edu or 4-7315, or Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu or 4-8842
May 18-19: Nutrition and Wellness Research Center vaccine symposium
June 3-5: 75th anniversary celebration of Iowa State statistics
June 9-10: Agricultural and Food Traceability Conference, Renaissance Savery Hotel, Des Moines, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/traceability/home.html
External Funding
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
May 29: Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC): Availability of Funds For FY2010; $8 million, 55 awards.
May 29: Emerging Markets Program (EMP): Availability of Funds for FY2010; $500,000 per award, $10 million available.
May 29: Quality Samples Program (QSP): Availability of Funds for FY2010; $75,000 per award, $2.5 million available.
June 29: Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program; $4.424 million available; $200,000 per grant.
July 1. Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP); $660,000 per award; $2 million available.
July 23: Research Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences (RCN); $1.7 million, 6 to 13 awards. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09554/nsf09554.htm
Grow Iowa Values Fund Grant Applications Due June 1
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development announced the fifth round of the grants program designed to expand the commercialization of ISU technology. The grants program is supported by Iowa economic development appropriations to the Board of Regents ("Grow Iowa Values Fund"). ISU tenured or tenure-tack faculty and staff at P17 or above are eligible to apply. Proposals should be submitted by email to industry@iastate.edu by June 1. Colleges will rank the proposals from their colleges and submit them to the Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development on June 15 for consideration by the Commercialization Team. Guidelines, review criteria, cover page and budget format are available online.
Communications Kiosk
Writing Tools Explained Through Podcasts
Podcasts detailing 50 writing tools is being offered by the educational iTunes U. Roy Peter Clark, of the Poynter Institute, shares tips from his book, "Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer." His web page on PoynterOnline includes an abbreviated list with links to more information.
Infograzing
Food Safety Regulation Forum Video and Audio Available
The Farm Foundation Forum, "The Future of Food Safety Regulation," held May 5 at the National Press Club, is available online. The two-hour forum may be viewed as a streaming video online. An audio file of the forum is on the Farm Foundation web site at: http://www.farmfoundation.org/news/templates/template.aspx?articleid=36…
External Voices
Student at Convocation Thanks College
"...What we will appreciate even more CALS, is all of the extra time and energy that all of your agricultural educators have been willing to give to help out us, their students. My classmates and I can attest to the willingness of numerous professors, instructors and advisors to go that extra mile which has definitely helped us reach this day. This has been an invaluable part of achieving our educational goals here at Iowa State."
--Cliff Dolbeare, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture and life sciences education, in his address to the College at Saturday's convocation
Marginalia
Plans and Quotes From Saturday's CALS Graduates
Several students wrote thank-you notes to friends and families, which were read by David Acker and Mike Gaul at the May 9 College Convocation. Others wished their mothers' a happy Mother's Day. Other quotes from students read on Saturday included:
- "Remind everyone that you can't contract swine flu by eating pork."
- "I learned more about myself in four years than most people do in a lifetime."
- "I had a wonderful four years and I'm looking forward to continuing my education."
- "Going back to school was the best decision I ever made and now I can pursue my passion for agriculture."
- "My future starts now and I'm ready for it! Go Cyclones!"
- "Thanks, mom and dad, for believing in me."
- "I have 317 reasons why I liked college, but now I'm excited about getting a job and I'm going to Disneyland."
- "Derek is out in four just like he promised Grandpa."
Some Employment Destinations For Saturday's Grads
A few of the employers named by graduating seniors on Saturday included:
Elanco Sales, Agriland FS, Monsanto, Three Rivers Co., Merschman Seed, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Cenex Harvest States, Hormel Foods, Maschoff, Christensen Family Farms, Beef Farms, Ultra Ova, Schreiber Foods, Land O'Lakes, Farmer's Cooperative in Ames, AgVantage FS Inc., Genex Inc., Dawe's Laboratories, Swine Genetics International, equine veterinarian, Holstein genetics, John Deere, Phoenix Construction Management, Heritage Trade, Phoenix Construction, Nationwide, Gavilon Grain, Nebraska Machinery Co., United Bank of Iowa, Farm Credit Administration, Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto, Ag Services, Becker Underwood, Baxter High School, Tyson Foods, Pinnacle, CupLab, Davis County Community School, Southern Minnesota Agronomics, Interglobe Genetics, Farmer's Cooperative in Fredricksburg, AgReliant Genetics, Beef Products Inc., Linn Coop Oil, New Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Wyffel's Hybrids, Polaris, Nebraska Machinery, Kiewit Construction, Peace Corps, City of Coralville, Blank Park Zoo, California Modoc National Forest, Bedell Cellars in New York, Ronald McDonald Camp, Allen Lawn Care, Earl May Nursery, Wing Haven Country Club in St. Louis, Heritage Landscape, Plaza Florist, the U.S. Forest Service and the Army.
Other Plans for Saturday's Grads
Several students are pursuing graduate degrees in several fields including agronomy and veterinary medicine at Iowa State and at other schools. Two students are going on to medical school and one student will be doing volunteer work overseas and then attending law school. A couple of students are starting their own businesses and 14 students are returning to the family farm or family business. Other students are planning to pursue careers in sustainable agriculture, the livestock industry, equine industry, animal care, seed research, biological sciences, the pork industry, horse racing, crop research, lean manufacturing engineering, park services and fisheries management.
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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Ag and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is e-mailed every Monday. To subscribe, send your name, e-mail address and the message "Ag and Life Sciences Online subscribe" to edadcock@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe."