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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
March 7, 2011 No. 641
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COLLEGE NEWS
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ISU'S FIRST "SCIENCE BOUND" GRADUATE TO SPEAK TONIGHT, MARCH 7
Charles Stewart Jr., research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego and first graduate of Science Bound, ISU's program to increase the number of ethnically diverse Iowa youth pursuing science, technology, engineering and math careers, will speak tonight, March 7, at 8 p.m. a the Memorial Union Great Hall. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/feb/LecturesStewart
CARET MEETINGS INCLUDE CONGRESSIONAL VISITS
The Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) meetings last month included visits with Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. Iowa's CARET representatives are Sally Stutsman and Donald Latham, who serves as CARET's national chairman. They were accompanied by Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Jerry Miller, ISU's interim vice president for extension and outreach. 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. Reports on Iowa State's research, teaching and extension activities were prepared to share with Congressional officials and staffs and are available online.
TWO NEW STUDENT PROFILES ON CALS WEB PAGE
Matt Hansen, a junior in agricultural business, is featured on the college's web page with information about his biofiltration research. Hansen did the research as part of the Science With Practice program, which links faculty and staff with students interested in hands-on research. Hansen's brother, Dan, also was featured on the page last year. Renee Zbynski, a senior in agricultural and life sciences education, shared her experiences about her internship at Reiman Gardens. To view both profiles go to http://www.ag.iastate.edu and refresh the page to view different stories. If you know students who would be candidates for the College's web page contact Barb McBreen, barbmc@iastate.edu or 4-0707.
PORK CENTER OFFERS eXTENSION RESOURCE LIBRARY
The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence provides content for the "Hogs, Pigs and Pork" Resource Library through eXtension. The online library provides information for producers, veterinarians, agribusiness professionals, educators, students and consumers. eXtension, part of the Cooperative Extension System, is an interactive learning environment delivering researched knowledge from land-grant university researchers and educators across the U.S.
FORESTRY ALUM APPOINTED MINISTER OF KOREA FOREST SERVICE
Don Koo Lee, who received his master's degree and doctorate in forestry from ISU in 1975 and 1978 respectively, is the newly appointed minister of the Korea Forest Service. It is the first time in the history of the Korea Forest Service that its Minister is from the academic sector.
PROJECT EXAMINES LAND TENURE, SUSTAINABLE AG
A two-year study of sustainable agriculture and land tenure in Iowa has analyzed legal questions relating to Iowa farmland ownership and the transfer of land to a new generation of owners. The Leopold Center and Drake University's Agricultural Law Center announced the results of the joint project and created a new website. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2011/030211_land.html
SOY COOKING COMPETITION FINALS, MARCH 8
Finals of the first "Soy You Think You Can Cook" competition, sponsored by Soyfoods Council, ISU Dining and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, is Tuesday, March 8, in the Memorial Union Sun Room and South Ballroom. Participating teams will begin cooking at 12:40 p.m., with judging at 2:05 to 2:45 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. Teams vying for the $420 first prize are:
* Krazy Kooks "“ Kayla Marsha and Kendall Olson, culinary science
* Soy Sistas "“ Amanda Pudlik, Elise Fiscus and Cassie Miller, culinary science
* Soy Random "“ Alex Sash, food science, and Sammy Mila, culinary science
* Soy Beautiful, Soy Delicious "“ Cindy Spading, dietetics, and Melissa Hansen, culinary science
BIGMAP SYMPOSIUM AT GATEWAY, APRIL 19-20
The 2011 BIGMAP Symposium will be held April 19-20 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. This year's symposium is focused on the consideration of social and technical needs for sustaining diverse opportunities in crop production. Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary for USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area and USDA Chief Scientist, will be speaking on Wednesday morning, April 20. Woteki was dean of the college from 2002 to 2005. Registration is free to ISU faculty and graduate students as long as seats are available. More: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html
RESEARCHERS RECEIVE APS EDITORS PICK OF THE MONTH
The American Phytopathological Society Editors pick of the month for the February issues of "Plant Disease" and "Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions" went to ISU plant pathologists and other ISU researchers. Emmanuel Byamukama, Alison Robertson and Forrest Nutter Jr. authored "Quantifying the Within-Field Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Bean pod mottle virus in Soybean" for Plant Disease. Ajay Pandey, Chunling Yan, Chunquan Zhang, Heidi Horstman, Yeunsook Lee, John Hill and Steve Whitham, plant pathology; Michelle Graham, agronomy; and Olga Zabotina, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, authored "Functional Analysis of the Asian Soybean Rust Resistance Pathway Mediated by Rpp2" for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. More: http://www.apsnet.org/publications/emails/apsupdate37.htm
WINNING INNOVATION TEAM TAKES NEW LOOK AT CHUTES
After one week of collaboration, 17 teams entered the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative's third annual Agricultural Innovation & Value Creation Competition on Feb. 28. The challenge was to present alternative uses for optical sensor technology. The winning team presented a SmartChute design that automatically shuts gates as cattle move through chutes. The team's members are all majoring in agricultural and life sciences and education, they include Michael Koenig, a junior, Alyssa Louwsma, a junior, Stuart McColloh, a sophomore, and Holden Nyhus, a junior.
CALS YOUNG ALUM OF THE MONTH, CHELSEY MESSERSCHMIDT
Chelsey Messerschmidt, clinical research assistant in theriogenology and reproductive medicine at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, graduated from ISU in December 2007 with a degree in animal science and is the CALS Young Alum of the Month. Her advice to current students: get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Summer internships are a great way to meet new people and try something different. More: http://www.career.ag.iastate.edu/alum/
CALS EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED AT 25 YEAR CLUB BANQUET
The 76th annual ISU 25 Year Club Banquet was held March 3. The following CALS faculty and staff were recognized for 25 and 35 years of service. The club was founded in 1915 to recognize long-term employees' service to Iowa State University. More: http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/hrs/node/256
25 Years:
* Eunice Bassler, Food Science and Human Nutrition
* Eun Kwan Choi, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
* Roxanne Clemens, Experiment Station
* John Dekker, Agronomy
* David Fisher, Animal Science
* Clark Ford, Food Science and Human Nutrition
* Karleen Gillen, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
* Jack Girton, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
* Mary Healey, Animal Science
* Lynn Henn, Iowa Crop Improvement/Committee for Ag Development
* Nicholas Howell, Research and Demonstration Farms
* Helen Jensen, Economics
* Lawrence Johnson, Center for Crops Utilization Research
* Thomas Jurik, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
* Lawrence Lockhart, Agronomy
* Robert Mazur, Sociology
* Vail Olson, Animal Science
* Kenneth Prusa, Food Science and Human Nutrition
* Kathleen Reitsma, Agronomy
* Brad Skaar, Animal Science
35 Years
* Stephen Barnhart, Agronomy
* Denise Bjelland, Global Agriculture Programs
* Mark Hanna, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
* Bernard Havlovic, Research and Demonstration Farms
* Stanley Henning, Agronomy
* Steven Jungst, Natural Resource Ecology and Management
* M. Douglas Kenealy, Animal Science
* James Lux, Agronomy
* William Meeker, Statistics
* Joseph Sebranek, Animal Science
* Philip Spike, Animal Science
* Henry Taber, Horticulture
* Betty Wells, Sociology
* Pamela White, Human Sciences Administration/Food Science and Human Nutrition
* Lester Wilson, Food Science and Human Nutrition
ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
The Department of Economics Update is a new alumni newsletter that is available in hard copy or for download at http://www.econ.iastate.edu/. More: Kristin Senty, ksenty@iastate.edu, 4-9849.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 6-7: Egg Industry Issues Forum
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EXTERNAL FUNDING
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APPLICATIONS FOR PSI TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH GRANTS DUE APRIL 22
The Plant Sciences Institute requests applications for innovative research by small, interdisciplinary teams pursuing innovative proof-of-concept projects involving plant science. PSI will support three to five projects with $50,000 to $60,000 per year, with possible funding for one additional year. ISU faculty, postdocs and P&S staff at level P37 or above, and federal government employees with appointments at ISU may apply. Applications are due April 22. Contact: Deanne Brill, dbrill@iastate.edu, 294-5255.
ISU PUBLICATION SUBVENTION GRANTS DUE APRIL 8
An endowment formed from the proceeds of the sale of the ISU Press provides grants to support the publication of meritorious scholarly writings and other worthy original works. ISU faculty and staff are eligible to apply, as are other individuals whose manuscripts deal with topics related to the state of Iowa and the surrounding region. Appropriate publication media include books, CDs, DVDs and the Internet. Applications are also accepted for series of publications edited by ISU faculty, staff or centers/institutes. Approximately $100,000 per year will be available and individual grants cannot exceed $20,000. Electronic applications (PDF format) are due April 8. Contact: Gaye Simonson, gmsimon@iastate.deu.
NC REGION SUN GRANT CENTER DOT PREPROPOSALS DUE APRIL 15
The newly released NC Region Sun Grant Center DOT RFA focuses on drop-in fuels, transportation logistics, and development of transportation infrastructure to support biobased industries. The pool of award dollars is approximately $1,000,000 to support projects up to three years in duration. Pre-proposals are due April 15.
FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu
April 6: Ad Hoc Requirements: Programme MC1 - Future Meat Controls Research - An Evaluation of Food Chain Information and Collection and Communication of Inspection Results for All Species.
April 13: ENGAGE: Learning to Solve Problems, Solving Problems to Learn (DARPA); STEM for Pre-K to Grade 3.
May 2: EPA Environmental Education Regional Grants; $15,000 to $100,000, two per region, 25 percent cost share.
June 5: Diet Composition and Energy Balance (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-152.html
June 16: Pilot and Feasibility Clinical Research Studies in Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (R21); $275,000 direct costs over two years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-151.html
June 20: Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2011 (Release 2); 150 awards, $150,000 each, PI must be small business, university researchers would be collaborators. More: http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503361
July 22-27: NSF Faculty Early Career Development Awards and Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11690/nsf11690.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT…
Due dates vary by topic: Institute of Education Sciences: Education Research Program. More: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-03-03/pdf/2011-4821.pdf
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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BRING VS. TAKE
The distinction may seem obvious, but the error is common. The simple question is: Where is the action directed? If it's toward you, use "bring" (bring home the bacon). If it's away from you, use "take" (take out the trash).
The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., 2003.
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INFOGRAZING
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SP@ISU BROADER IMPACTS WORKSHOP, MARCH 8
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and "Strengthening the Professoriate at ISU" are sponsoring a workshop on the broader impacts portion of an NSF grant proposal. Scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room, the workshop will focus on various components of the broader impact criterion and programs on campus that can partner with faculty to develop successful broader impact plans. Presenters include: Michelle Soupir, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Leslie Hogben, mathematics; Jean Goodwin, English; and Fredric Janzen, ecology, evolution and organismal biology. Cookies and refreshments will be provided; attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.
CHANGE EXPERT DISCUSSES HIGHER EDUCATION'S NEXT ERA, MARCH 9
A one-hour presentation this Wednesday, March 9, will kick off a university-wide effort to prepare for dramatic changes coming in higher education. Donald Norris, president and chief scientist of Strategic Initiatives Inc., will present "The Future of Learning, Research and Collaboration: Implications for Facilities" at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in 1148 Gerdin Business Building.
EXTENSION WEEK AT IOWA STATE, MARCH 21-25
President Geoffroy and Executive Vice President and Provost Hoffman have proclaimed March 21-25 as Extension Week at ISU. A number of activities are planned, including a visit from Cy on central campus on March 21, free breakfast snacks on central campus, 7:45 to 10:15 a.m. on March 23, and a daily scavenger hunt around campus for ISU Extension prize packages.
SCIENCE OF GENEROSITY'S DOCTORAL DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS
The Science of Generosity Initiative at the University of Notre Dame has announced a new doctoral dissertation fellowship in the social sciences to support research on the science of generosity. Five one-year doctoral dissertation fellowships of $25,000 each will be awarded for the 2011-12 academic year. Applications are due March 31. More: http://generosityresearch.nd.edu/
SUBMISSIONS FOR ISU ALUMNI CALENDAR DUE APRIL 1
Information to be included in the 2011-2012 ISU Alumni Calendar of Events is due to Carol Thorson by April 1 (cthorson@iastate.edu). You may also mail your events list to Thorson at the Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave., or fax 4-9402. Due to space limitations, not all events will be included, but every attempt will be made to cover a wide range of campus activities. Inclusive dates are Aug. 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012. The calendars will be available in July.
EVPP UPDATES WEB PAGES RELATED TO ACADEMIC PERSONNEL
The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost is updating and reorganizing web pages related to academic personnel, including:
* Salary Support for Recruiting and Retaining Tenured and Tenure Eligible Faculty
* Extension of the Tenure-Clock: Guidelines for Contract Extension and Renewal
* Guidelines for Non-Tenure-Eligible Research Professor Appointments
* Professional Development Opportunities
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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LEARNING A MINORITY LANGUAGE OPENS DOORS "“ AND HEARTS
"When you acquire a new language, you acquire a new set of references, catchphrases, punch lines, songs"”all the things that enable you to connect with the people. And the smaller the community, the deeper the connection. Speakers of D-list languages often feel misunderstood; a foreigner who understands"”gets the allusions, reads the poets"”not surprisingly becomes like family. All languages open doors; minority languages also open hearts." In the March 2011 issue of Smithsonian, Thomas Swick writes that the reasons for learning languages are numerous. While marquee languages definitely serve their purposes, he adds that when you learn a minority language you become a member of a select group"”a linguistically exclusive club. And with membership comes privileges.
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu
(515) 294-5616, http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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