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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Dec. 20, 2010 No. 632
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COLLEGE NEWS
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SEASON'S GREETING FROM THE COLLEGE
CALS wishes you season's greetings. View a short slideshow with a message for students, faculty, staff, alums and friends.
ABOUT 200 STUDENTS JOINED COLLEGE ALUMNI RANKS
Approximately 192 College undergraduates received their diplomas Saturday, Dec. 18, at the university commencement. Earlier in the day, at the College convocation, the graduates were recognized individually. Daniel Hansen, agriculture and life sciences education major, delivered the address to fellow graduates. The Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council presented awards to: Kelsey Sutter, agriculture and life sciences education, for academic achievement; Renee White, agricultural business, for distinguished service; Mikayla McDonald, animal science, for leadership excellence; Jessica O'Connor, agricultural education, for outstanding senior; and Rita Cook, agricultural business, for outstanding ambassador of agriculture. Cook also was chosen to represent the College as its student marshal at commencement.
AVERAGE VALUE OF IOWA FARMLAND INCREASES 15.9 PERCENT
The average value of an acre of farmland in Iowa increased 15.9 percent in 2010, according to an annual survey conducted by ISU Extension. Mike Duffy, economics, who conducts the survey, said the statewide average land value as of Nov. 1 this year was $5,064 an acre, up $693 per acre from 2009.
ACKER'S "EDUCATION FOR RURAL PEOPLE" BOOK RELEASED IN ITALIAN
The Italian language version of David Acker, CALS, and Lavinia Gasperini's publication "Education for Rural People. The role of education, training and capacity development in poverty reduction and food security," was released last week in Rome. Originally published in 2009, the Italian translation will make the book more accessible to university students and NGOs in Italy that are engaged in the United Nations Education for All initiatives. Published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, downloads are available free online. French and Spanish language versions will follow next year. The next book in the series will focus on human capacity development across FAO member countries.
FACULTY MENTORS NEEDED BY JAN. 14 FOR CARVER INTERNS
Faculty members interested in serving as mentors for the George Washington Carver Internship Program the summer of 2011, are asked to contact Aurelio Curbelo, acurbelo@iastate.edu, and fill out a form by Jan. 14. Mentors propose a research project that is put on the GWC Internship application website and from which applicants select their top three projects.
DO WIND FARMS FORCE BIRDS TO FLY THE COOP?
Stephen Dinsmore, natural resource ecology and management, is looking at whether wind turbines have an effect on bird communities, nests and bats living in the areas surrounding the turbines. He will gauge the impact of existing wind energy projects on birds and bats to better inform the placement of the turbines. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/dec/dinsmore
HERBOLD ELECTED TO P&S COUNCIL
The newest member of the Professional & Scientific Council is Erin Herbold, staff attorney for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. She assists the center director with development and conduct of educational programs in agricultural law and policy, including the Iowa Farm Income Tax Schools, farm estate and business planning, real estate and insurance seminars, and numerous other ISU Extension seminars. Herbold holds an Academic and Research seat on the Council.
FOR ALL CALS FACULTY
The Brenton Center is again making Camtasia Relay available to all CALS faculty free of charge. Camtasia Relay can be installed on any PC or Mac desktop or laptop. Camtasia Relay can be used to record your classroom lectures for students to review or to add interactivity outside the classroom. You can use it to record students' presentations for their ePortfolios. All lectures/presentations are maintained and archived on the Brenton Center's secure servers. Contact: Todd Vens, trvens@iastate.edu.
LATEST INFORMATION ON SULFUR IN CATTLE DIETS TO BE SHARED THROUGH WEB PROGRAM
Producers and scientists alike know that the amount of distillers grains that can be fed safely to cattle depends on the sulfur level in feed and drinking water. Recent research by ISU and University of Nebraska faculty members has provided some welcome news in this area. The information and recommendations will be shared through a Web-based program at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6.
STUDENTS ADDRESS BIORENEWABLE ISSUES
Students in Technology Systems Management 325 class were assigned the task of identifying a biorenewable problem or issue and proposing a solution. Students presented their solutions at a poster session on Dec. 13. Tom Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering, judged the posters.
NEW STUDENT PROFILE: B.J. BRUGMAN VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCOUT TEAM
B.J. Brugman, a junior in agricultural business, joined the women's basketball scout team as soon as he arrived at Iowa State. Brugman is involved in several activities and is serving as one of the general co-chairs for VEISHEA 2011. Read more about his experiences and view other student profiles at http://www.ag.iastate.edu. Refresh the page to view different stories. If you know of students who would be candidates for our web banner contact Barb McBreen, barbmc@iastate.edu or 4-0707.
ALUM TO SHARE 2010 SPENCER AWARD
Audubon County farm couple Vic and Cindy Madsen have earned the 2010 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture. The Spencer Award, administered by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, recognizes farmers, researchers and educators who have made a significant contribution toward the stability of family farms in Iowa. They will receive the honor on Jan. 7 during the annual conference of Practical Farmers of Iowa. Vic earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1969.
DECEMBER ISSUE OF FSHN NEWS AVAILABLE ONLINE
The December issue of FSHN News is available online. This is the newsletter of the Food Science and Human Nutrition department.
DECEMBER NOTES FROM THE LEOPOLD CENTER AVAILABLE ONLINE
The December issue of Notes from the Leopold Center is available online.
AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE JAN. 10
Ag and Life Sciences Online will take the next two weeks off for the holidays. It will resume Monday, Jan. 10. Happy holidays!
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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2010 OSPA HOURS DURING WINTER BREAK
Dec. 20"“21, open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dec. 22, open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dec. 23"“31, closed
Jan, 3"“7, regular schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During Dec. 27- 30, the OSPA main phone line (4-5225) will be monitored and researchers can email grants@iastate.edu regarding awards and ospa-proposals@iastate.edu regarding proposals.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
Dec. 15, 2011 (concept papers accepted on a continual basis): USAID Colombia Alliance Program; multiple projects, $8 million total anticipated funding.
Jan. 17 (letter of intent): Integrated Process Improvements for Biochemical Conversion of Biomass Sugars: From Pretreatment to Substitutes for Petroleum-based Feedstocks, Products and Fuels; one to three awards, $5 million to $10 million, 20% cost share for R&D.
Jan. 26: USAID Tanzania Collaborative Research and Capacity Building; one award, $24 million.
Jan. 28: 2011 Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI-CCPI). More: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-11-29/html/2010-29958.htm
Jan. 28: Agricultural Water Enhancement Program and Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. More: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-31279.htm
Feb. 3 (letter of intent): Genome Sequencing and Analysis Centers (U54); one proposal per institution, up to three awards, $45 million per year per award. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-10-015.html
March 4 (corrected due date): NSF and USDA/NIFA Disaster Resilience for Rural Communities; four to six awards for up to three years, $400,000 per project. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11510/nsf11510.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…
March 14: Ethics Education in Science and Engineering; one lead proposal per institution, no limit as non-lead collaborator, six to 10 awards, $3 million total anticipated funding. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11514/nsf11514.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…
March 16: Cyberinfrastructure Training, Education, Advancement and Mentoring for Our 21st Century Workforce (CI-TEAM); nine to 12 awards, $250,000 to $1 million, limit of two CI-TEAM proposals as lead institution. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11515/nsf11515.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…
March 18: Cancer Prevention Research Small Grant Program (R03); $100,000 (direct costs) over two years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-079.html
March 23: Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10) Grant (check on grants); 125 awards, $100,000 to $600,000 per award. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-082.html
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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LIKELY COMBINATIONS OF MULTIPLE PUNCTUATION MARKS
The use of more than one mark of punctuation at the same location usually involves quotation marks, em dashes, parentheses or brackets in combination with periods, commas, colons, semicolons, question marks or exclamation points. When an expression that takes a period ends a sentence, no additional period follows. When such an expression is followed by a comma, however, both period and comma appear. Neither a period (aside from an abbreviating period) nor a comma ever accompanies a question mark or an exclamation point. The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003.
* "I assure you, we shall never"”," Sylvia began, but Mark cut her short.
* Having entered (on tiptoe), we sat down on the nearest seats we could find.
* The study was funded by Mulvehill & Co.
* Her wallet contained U.S., Canadian and Bahamian currency.
* Her favorite songs are "Hello Dolly!" "Chicago," and "Come with Me."
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INFOGRAZING
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BE PREPARED FOR WINTER BREAK
If your department chooses to temporarily close, here are some tips for keeping your offices and buildings safe and energy-efficient
NIFA RECRUITING FOR PRINCIPAL SCIENTISTS
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is recruiting principal scientists to work in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Openings are available in the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment, the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability, The Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition and the Institute of Youth, Family and Community. More: http://www.usajobs.gov/
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH A WISE INVESTMENT
""¦agricultural research also promotes solutions for many of the nation's most pressing problems. Most Americans may not think of childhood obesity, environmental stewardship, energy security or even food safety as agricultural issues. But, by finding new ways to encourage healthy diets, produce and use bio-fuels, and improve safety practices in processing plants and restaurants, agricultural research is indispensable to solving these problems." Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, in an editorial in the Delta Farm Press, Dec. 1. More: http://deltafarmpress.com/government/ag-research-wise-investment-0
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MARGINALIA
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THE CHRONICLE VISITS COLLEGE TOWNS AROUND THE NATION
Lawrence Biemiller, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, hit the road this fall to get to know the people and places that make college towns unique, reporting on his journey in The Chronicle's "Postcards" blog. "I've driven 7,311 miles; met dozens of interesting and engaging people; enjoyed prairies and mountains and deserts; taken about 1,500 photos; filled 10 notebooks; and eaten very, very well." More: http://chronicle.com/blogs/postcards/7311-miles-of-drinking-from-the-fi…
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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