Issue: 595

................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM HELPS FORMULATE RESEARCH AGENDA The College and ISU Extension hosted a forum March 2 titled "Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Production and Biofuels" for a day-long meeting that drew 54 participants to campus. Agricultural and environmental leaders were invited to assess the current state of knowledge on global and regional climate change trends, the effects on agricultural production systems and to consider policies needed to respond to projected long-term trends. CALS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS EARN LEADERSHIP AWARDS Seven CALS undergraduate students who have outstanding records of academic achievement and service to the ISU community recently have been selected for university leadership awards. They are: * Tyler Bauman, animal science Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award * Nicole Cortum, public service and administration in agriculture and sociology Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award * Lisa Tronchetti, agricultural business, economics and international agriculture W. Robert Parks and Ellen Sorge Parks Senior Scholarship * Dakota Hoben, agricultural business, political science and economics David W. and Ellen J. Raisbeck Leadership Award * Erich Hodges, dairy science and animal science David W. and Ellen J. Raisbeck Leadership Award * Justin Van Wert, agricultural business David W. and Ellen J. Raisbeck Leadership Award * Nathan Dobbels, agriculture and life sciences education Charles F. Frederiksen Leadership Award RESEARCH VIDEO: BIOMASS CROPPING SYSTEMS Lisa Schulte Moore, natural resource ecology and management, talks about coordinating systems research to strategically manage agricultural landscapes in a new CALS Research Video. She investigates the designs of landscape and land-use changes with a focus on enhancing ecosystems. Working with an interdisciplinary team of scientists, the group is developing an alternative biomass cropping systems and comparing them to conventional systems in terms of agronomic, economic and environmental performance criteria. DICKSON NAMED TOP EDUCATOR BY MEAT PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION James Dickson, animal science, has received the outstanding educator award from the North American Meat Processors Association at its annual management conference in Chicago. More HOME PAGE PROFILE: SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE STUDENT EMILY ZIMMERMAN Emily Zimmerman, a junior in biology and global resource systems from Marinette, Wisc., says the Science With Practice program is one of the best-kept secrets in the college. Refresh the page to see different stories. If you know students you think should be featured, contact Barb McBreen at barbmc@istate.edu, 4-0707.  CALS UNDERGRADUATES SHOWCASE RESEARCH AT THE CAPITOL ISU undergraduate students presented their research to legislators and others during the fifth annual Research in the Capitol, on March 25, in the rotunda of the State Capitol building in Des Moines. CALS students that participated are: Samuel Bird, global resource systems and economics; Jennifer Blaser, microbiology; Ximena Cibils-Stewart, biology and entomology; Rachel Kreis, horticulture; Yasaira Rodriguez, microbiology; Chris Thomson, animal science; and Emily Zimmerman, biology and global resource systems. IOWA FARMER TODAY CROPWATCH BLOG RESUMES The Iowa Farmer Today CropWatch Blog partnership with the CALS Corn and Soybean Initiative has resumed for the 2010 crop-growing season. The blog features weekly observation on Iowa crops from ISU Extension specialists, field agronomists and industry partners of the initiative. Joining the blog team this year are entomologist Erin Hodgson and plant pathologist Alison Robertson. In addition, a weekly print story summarizing each weeks blog posts is published in the papers print edition. Look for the first print story to appear in the April 3 issue of Iowa Farmer Today. HELPING FARMERS SELECT ENERGY-EFFICIENT FANS FOR SWINE BUILDINGS A new publication from ISU Extension explains the factors farmers should consider when selecting or upgrading fans for hog buildings. "Energy Efficient Fans for Swine Production" is part of a series of farm energy conservation and efficiency educational materials. BEEF PRODUCERS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN CO-PRODUCTS SURVEY Strategies being developed by Iowa Beef Center research team should allow beef producers to increase the amount of ethanol co-products included in their diets. The high sulfur content of ethanol co-products is one of the major factors limiting the inclusion level of ethanol co-products in cattle diets. Producers can help researchers by participating in a brief survey related to this research. FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR BOB HIBBING MARCH 31 A farewell reception for Bob Hibbing, animal science, will be held Wednesday, March 31, 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Kildee Atrium. ANIMAL PLANETS JEFF CORWIN TO SPEAK AT ISU APRIL 5 Wildlife biologist and TV host Jeff Corwin will discuss saving endangered species when he speaks at ISU on April 5. His talk, The Race to Save Earths Most Endangered Species, will be at 8 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium. The presentation, part of the universitys National Affairs Series and co-sponsored by CALS, is free and open to the public. CONNELLY TO SPEAK ON A NEW BIOLOGY AT APRIL 9 SEMINAR Thomas Connelly, Jr., executive vice president and chief innovation officer for DuPont, will speak at A New Biology seminar and planning workshop to be held April 9 in 1204 Kildee Hall. Connelly was appointed by the National Academies of Science to serve as co-chair for the Committee on A New Biology for the 21st Century. Sponsored by the Plant Sciences Institute, the Center for Integrated Animal Genomics and the Biotechnology Council. To reserve a space, contact Deanne Brill, dbrill@iastate.edu, 4-5255. BIGMAP SYMPOSIUM TO FOCUS ON GLOBAL FOOD, FEED AND FUEL Experts from around the world will gather to share current research and perspectives on seed trade and biotechnology innovation April 27-28 at the seventh annual symposium of the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products. Food, Feed and Fuel for the World: Seed and Biotechnology, will be held at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. HIGH TUNNEL PRODUCTION WORKSHOP OFFERED BY EXTENSION APRIL 29 Fruit and vegetable growers can learn more about high tunnel production at an April 29 workshop in Decorah. Current commercial fruit or vegetable growers, gardeners interested in expanding into commercial production and traditional farmers interested in diversifying may benefit from this workshop sponsored by ISU Extension, the Leopold Center, Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition and Four Seasons Tools. 2010 PLANT BREEDING LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13-14 The 2010 Plant Breeding Lecture Series is scheduled for May 13-14 in the Scheman Building. This years theme is The iPlant Collaborative. The lecture series is sponsored by the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding, the iPlant Collaborative and the Plant Sciences Institute. NEW EXTENSION WILDLIFE SPECIALIST JOINS NREM Rebecca Christoffel has joined the natural resource ecology and management department as Extension wildlife specialist. She enjoys setting up interactions between humans and wildlife, and studying the human response to those interactions. For people who have had little or only indirect contact with wildlife, these encounters are often the first step to nurturing an appreciation for natural resource conservation. MORE THAN 550 YOUNG RESEARCHERS AT STATE SCIENCE FAIR More than 550 sixth through 12th graders from across Iowa showcased their research during the 53rd State Science + Technology Fair of Iowa in Ames, March 26-27. The students competed for more than $70,000 in scholarships and prizes. CALS was a sponsor of the fair. DEADLINES AND REMINDERS March 31: New Course Development grant proposals due April 19: CALS Student Computer Fee Proposals due May 11: Midwest Biopolymers and Biocomposites Workshop ................................................... EXTERNAL FUNDING ................................................... NOMINATIONS DUE FOR AWARDS IN AGRISCIENCE AND LIFE SCIENCES The Christopher Columbus Foundation has partnered with the American Farm Bureau Federation to sponsor the 2010 Agriscience Awards. Two scientists will each receive a $25,000 Distinguished Agriscience Scientist Award plus $25,000 in research funds. Nominations for the agriscience awards are due April 6. The foundation has also partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to sponsor an award for innovation in the field of life sciences. One recipient will receive the $25,000 Chairmen's Distinguished Life Sciences Award and $25,000 in research funds. Nominations for the life sciences award are due April 13, 2010. FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu April 14: Letters of intent due for the following Agriculture and Food Research Initiative programs. * Foundation Program: Food-borne Pathogen-Plant Interaction (Foundational Program) * Reducing Food Allergies by Improving Food Quality (Foundational Program) * Engineering Approaches for Improved or Alternative Management Systems to Safeguard Animal Welfare (Foundational Program) * Improving Sustainability by Improving Feed Efficiency of Animals (Global Food Security) April 20: CO2 Utilization; three to five awards up to $500,000, three to five awards up to $1 million, 20% cost share, $5.6 million total anticipated funding. April 24 (letter of intent): National STEM Education Distributed Learning; 24 to 37 awards, five types of awards, $10.75 million total anticipated funding. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5487&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5487&WT.mc_id=USNSF…; April 28: University Turbine Systems Research Program; five awards, $2.5 million total anticipated funding. May 3: Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Research; 15 awards up to $1.05 million, $4 million total anticipated funding. May 10: Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program; $4,500 to $258,000 per award, $516,000 limit per institution, $3.6 million total anticipated funding for FY2010. May 17 (letter of intent): Next Generation Genetic Association Studies; five to eight new grants, five-year awards not to exceed $9.5 million over the project period. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-11-006.html"></a> May 21: North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Pre-Proposals for Professional Development Projects; awards up to $75,000 for three years, $360,000 total funding. May 24 (letter of intent): Decadal and Regional Climate Prediction using Earth System Models (EaSM); NSF, USDA, and DOE, 20 to 30 awards, $45 million to $50 million total anticipated funding for FY2010. More: <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10554/nsf10554.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…">http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10554/nsf10554.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&am…; June 1: Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program; up to $350,000 for one year, $1.5 total funding for FY 2010. June 3: Smith-Lever Special Need Program (innovative Extension education); 100% cash match required, $460,000 total anticipated funding for FY2010. June 15 (letter of intent): Modeling of Infectious Disease Agent Systems (U01); four awards, up to $500,000 (direct costs) per year for five years, $3.5 million total anticipated funding for FY2011. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-11-002.html"></a> June 16: Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Research (R21); awards up to $275,000 (total direct costs) over two years. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-138.html"></a> June 16: Exploratory Cancer Prevention Studies Involving Molecular Targets for Bioactive Food Components (R21); awards up to $275,000 (total direct costs) over two years. More: <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-088.html"></a> ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS Do not follow an organizations full name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set off by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it. (The Associated Press Stylebook, 39th ed., 2004) ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... NIFA WEBCAST DISCUSSING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE The March 23 webcast by Roger Beachy, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has been added to the NIFA Web site. Still to come are individual program area Webinars. These are being recorded and will consist of slides with audio. AUTHORS' RIGHTS AND COPYRIGHT TRANSFER AGREEMENTS Authors' rights and copyright transfer agreements will be the focus of a library seminar on April 7, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. in 192 Parks Library. Learn more about reading, understanding and amending publisher copyright transfer agreements to maintain the rights important to your research results and to allow for maximum exposure to your research. ................................................... EXTERNAL VOICES ................................................... ISU OFFERS TOP-NOTCH ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREES "Iowa State University offers a solid educational value with in-state tuition close to $6,000. ISU offers several eco-degree programs such as natural resource ecology and management, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, environmental science and environmental studies." Mother Nature Network, "10 Schools that Offer Top-notch Environmental Degrees for Under 10K," March 10 ........................................................ AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ........................................................ EDITOR Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu Phone: (515) 294-5616 SUBSCRIBE 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 jstewart@iastate.edu. To unsubscribe, send "Ag and Life Sciences Online unsubscribe." Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.