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COLLEGE NEWS <br>
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CALS ADDS BUDGET UPDATES PAGE TO WEB SITE<br>
A CALS Budget Updates page is now live, including information from the Dec. 15 open forum with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Two more CALS-LAS open forums are scheduled for Jan. 14 and Jan. 26.
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LAWRENCE NAMED CALS ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR EXTENSION<br>
John Lawrence, economics, has been named CALS associate dean of extension and outreach and director of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources, effective Feb. 1, 2010. Lawrence will replace Gerald Miller who is stepping down from the post, and retiring at the end of March 2010. More
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STUDENTS BECOME ALUMS FOLLOWING DEC. 19 COMMENCEMENT<br>
About 200 College students joined the ranks of alumni Saturday after being recognized at the CALS convocation. Nathan Upah, animal science, delivered remarks to the convocation as senior class representative. The Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council presented awards to: Kevin C. Davis, horticulture major, for distinguished service; Michelle Elizabeth Euken, agricultural business, outstanding ambassador of agriculture; and Mallory Ann Breuker, food science, leadership excellence. Amanda Nicole Snodgrass, who graduated magna cum laude in horticulture and environmental studies, represented the College as student marshal at commencement.<br>
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STUDENT AMBASSADORS RECEIVE AWARDS<br>
Four CALS students received Ambassador awards at the Dec. 17 cabinet meeting: Nathan Upah, animal science, is attending graduate school at ISU; Adam Mahan, agronomy, is attending Texas A&M for plant breeding; Greg Weis, agricultural studies, will be working as an agronomist for Northern Country Co-op; and Renae Weis, agricultural business, will be working in supply, planning and logistics for Pioneer. <br>
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LEOPOLD CENTER STUDY COMPARES LOCAL, NON-LOCAL FOOD PRICES<br>
Research conducted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture shows few differences in price for Iowa-grown vegetables, eggs and meat when compared to similar non-local products. Rich Pirog, associate director, says the study points to an opportunity for growers who extend their production season by using greenhouses or high tunnels, and market their harvest at competitive prices. More: <a href="http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2009/121409_prices.html">http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2009/121409_prices.htm…; <br>
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IPIC COMPILES RESOURCES FOR PORK PRODUCERS<br>
The Iowa Pork Industry Center has compiled a list of resources for producers who want information and assistance with production, financial, economic and legal issues.
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U.S. PORK CENTER OF EXCELLENCE INTRODUCES NATIONAL SWINE NUTRITION GUIDE<br>
The National Swine Nutrition Guide will be distributed and explained at a series of regional conferences beginning in February. The guide consists of nutrition fact sheets, nutrient recommendation tables and diet formulation and evaluation software. The guide, funded by a United Soybean Board grant, was developed in collaboration with land-grant universities, agri-businesses and the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence.
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IOWA FARM AND RURAL LIFE POLL RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE<br>
The 2009 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Summary Report, PM 2093, is now available from ISU Extension. One of the major topics examined this year was the choice of farming as an occupation. Farmers with adult children were asked to share their thoughts about the factors that influenced their kids’ decisions to either become farmers themselves or to follow another career path.
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THOMPSON NAMED AAAS FELLOW<br>
Michael Thompson, agronomy, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is studying the environmental applications of soil science, including the molecular-scale interactions of organic chemicals with soil minerals and organic matter.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE SET FOR JAN. 11<br>
Ag and Life Sciences Online will take two weeks off for the holidays (and furlough days). It will resume Monday, Jan. 11. Happy holidays!<br>
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DEADLINES AND REMINDERS<br>
Jan. 14: CALS-LAS Budget Open Forum, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union.<br>
Jan. 26: CALS-LAS Budget Open Forum, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Great Hall, Memorial Union. <br>
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EXTERNAL FUNDING<br>
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GRANTS.GOV MAINTENANCE OUTAGE JAN. 9<br>
Grants.gov will be off-line for 59 minutes Jan. 9, from 00:01 until 1 a.m. eastern time to implement a forms production build. The entire Grants.gov system will be unavailable during this time.<br>
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CHANGES TO NIH APPLICATIONS EFFECTIVE JAN. 25<br>
Applications intended for due dates on or after Jan. 25 require the use of new forms and instructions. The changes apply to all competing applications (new, renewal, and resubmission or revision). Other resources include a video overview, FAQs, and Training and Communications Resources.<br>
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CALS LISTS PROPOSAL DUE DATES DURING WINTER BREAK <br>
Because many campus units will be operating with reduced hours and/or staff during the winter break, PIs may need to plan for additional lead time to help ensure timely preparation of budgets, routing of gold sheets, and proposal submission. To help in the planning process, CALS has compiled a list of due dates for competitive funding opportunities from several federal funding agencies.
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FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS<br>
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu<br>
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Jan. 5 (letter of intent): Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (R25); five awards, up to four years per award, costs for Summer Institute programs limited to $300,000 for Year 1, $350,000 for Year 2, $375,000 for Year 3, and $350,000 for Year 4, $1.5 million total anticipated funding for FY2010. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-10-019.html">http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-10-019.html#</a> <br>
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Feb. 12: NIH Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (K25); three- to five-year projects, size of individual awards will vary. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-062.html">http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-062.html#</a> <br>
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Feb. 16: NIH Small Research Grant Program (R03); $100,000 direct costs over two years. More: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-064.html
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Feb. 17: Economic Research on the Joint Contributions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Unemployment Insurance to the Nation's Social Safety Net; $500,000.
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March 1: Independent Scientist in Global Health Award (K02); three- to five-year projects, size of individual awards will vary. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-065.html">http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-065.html#</a> <br>
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March 9: Learn and Serve America Higher Education FY2010 (includes STEM component); 18 awards, $85,000 to $500,000, $6.8 million total anticipated funding.
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March 26: USDA/FAS Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program with China; U.S. teams with up to five scientists are exchanged for up to 15 days per team. Chinese Ministry of Agriculture covers expenses for in-country travel and per diem for visiting teams, U.S. participants are responsible for their airfare between the U.S. and China.
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March 19: Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes Program; 16 awards, $1.2 million total anticipated funding.
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INFOGRAZING<br>
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RETIRED PROFESSORS OFFER TO WORK FOR FREE<br>
The Dec. 13 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education reported on some colleges that have developed policies that encourage departments to take advantage of services offered by retired professors—not just teaching, but a range of departmental work. Retired professors, wanting to do their part to help universities weather budget cuts, are offering to come back and teach, write grants and do other work—free of charge. More: https://www.chronicle.com/article/well-work-for-free-say-retired-professors-but-colleges-struggle-with-how-to-use-them/
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IOWA 4-H YOUTH CONFERENCE PROPOSALS DUE JAN. 6<br>
"Set the Stage" is the theme for the 2010 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference, to be held June 29-July 1 on the ISU campus. One goal for the conference is to showcase the university and help in recruitment efforts. With 1,000 high school students from across Iowa attending, it is an opportunity for departments to share what they have available for potential students and make connections with future careers. Workshop proposals are due to Brenda Allen by Jan. 6, 2010, bsallen@iastate.edu, 4-1567.
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INTERNAL VOICES<br>
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SEBRANEK ADDRESSES GRADUATES<br>
“Iowa State has given you the information, the tools and the ability to learn and grow quickly into your new responsibilities. More than anything else, you have been taught how to learn. So remember, your graduate degree is not the end of your education, it is only the beginning.” Joe Sebranek, animal science, in his address at the graduate commencement ceremony, Dec. 18. <br>
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WHAT MATTERS NOW IS OUR POTENTIAL<br>
“Simply put, our inner potential is nothing more than a measure of how many times we’ve fallen and gotten back up, risen again to meet the challenge.” Nathan Upah, animal science graduate, in his convocation address at the commencement ceremony, Dec. 19.
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GRADUATES ARE THANKFUL<br>
About 200 students graduated on Saturday, Dec. 19. Of the students that submitted written information about their future plans, more than 25 percent are going into positions with a company in the food, agriculture or horticulture industry. More than 10 percent will be moving on to graduate school or veterinary, law or medical school. One student is preparing to serve in Afghanistan and several students used the opportunity to thank their family, friends and the college. Here are selected examples of their comments:<br>
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* Thank you mom and dad for your support.<br>
* Thanks mom and dad for pushing me and helping me get through the last 4.5 years.<br>
* Thanks to my husband for his courage and support in dealing with four years of panic attacks.<br>
* I thank my family for believing in me and for all of your support.<br>
* I would like to thank my family and friends for their love and support throughout my college experience.<br>
* Thanks to my fiancé, family and NREM professors for all their love and support.<br>
* Thank God for the success at Iowa State University.<br>
* Thanks to my wife, family friends, the College of Ag and Life Sciences and its faculty and staff for this great experience.<br>
* Iowa State took me to the next level and helped me land a great job.<br>
* Thanks to my family, faculty and staff that helped me get to walk across the stage today.<br>
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EXTERNAL VOICES<br>
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SEED SCIENCE CENTER SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH IICA<br>
“This collaboration between the IICA [Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture] development organization and the Iowa State University Seed Science Center is one that holds tremendous promise for the future. We believe it will greatly aid in ensuring food security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and hopefully will serve as a model for other regional organizations throughout the world.” Burnham Philbrook, USDA deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, in a special ceremony held Oct. 15 during the 2009 World Food Prize Symposium, where the IICA and the Seed Science Center signed a general agreement to promote joint actions for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector and the rural communities of the Americas.
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MARGINALIA<br>
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GRADUATES SHARE MESSAGES DURING CONVOCATION<br>
CALS graduates on Dec. 19 also provided other comments and messages during the CALS convocation, including: <br>
* I am a fourth generation alum pursuing a career in agricultural finance.<br>
* My favorite microorganism is Franciselia Tularensis.<br>
* I am the first in my family to graduate from college.<br>
* I am the only person to graduate in agronomy in 2009 from Leon, Iowa.<br>
* I am accepting a dream position as a design engineer.<br>
* I am living life to the fullest.<br>
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GINGERBREAD HAS STRENGTHS AS A BUILDING MATERIAL<br>
Two engineering students at the University of British Columbia have written a 32-page paper on gingerbread’s strength in compression, bending and tension. The fats used to make the gingerbread—butter, margarine and shortening—were variables that the engineers tested. They found that fats that made gingerbread tastier unfortunately also made it a weaker construction material. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Dec. 11
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE<br>
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EDITOR<br>
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu<br>
Phone: (515) 294-5616
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