Issue: 677

................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University Nov. 14, 2011 No. 677 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... BEGINNING FARMER CENTER TO WORK WITH VETERANS Returning veterans who want to purse farming and agricultural careers will find a growing resource in Iowa through a new, nationwide program. The Beginning Farmer Center, part of CALS and ISU Extension and Outreach, is beginning to work with California-based Farmer Veteran Coalition that works with Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who want a career in agriculture. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/nov/BFCvet HARPOLE PART OF WORLDWIDE NUTRIENT NETWORK The Nutrient Network, founded in part by Stanley Harpole, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, and involving collaborators at more than 70 sites on six continents, is taking a fresh, cooperative approach to global research. It was recognized in a recent edition of the journal Science for its new style approach to research. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/nov/harpolenutnet ISU RESEARCHERS LEAD NATIONAL PANEL FOR CARBON NEGATIVE ECONOMY A national panel led by ISU researchers is launching an effort to research and develop technologies that capture, use and sequester carbon while enhancing food production, ecosystems, economic development and national security. The 33-member National Panel for a Carbon Negative Economy recently met for the first time in Chicago. CALS panel members are: Bruce Babcock, economics; Bill Beavis, agronomy; Jill Cornelis, Bioeconomy Institute; Jill Euken, Bioeconomy Institute; Dermot Hayes, economics; David Laird, agronomy; Ken Moore, agronomy; and Martin Spalding, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/nov/carbonnegativepanel STUDENTS PRESENT FEEDING THE WORLD SEMINAR, NOV. 16 The third and final presentation for this semester's international seminar series, "Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress?" will be Wednesday, Nov. 16, noon to 1 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall.Â ISU students will present "Development Work in Rural Uganda: A Journey Through Student Learning." Gail Nonnecke, horticulture, Richard Schultz, natural resource ecology and management, and Thomas Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will facilitate the presentation. URBAN CONSERVATION FOCUS OF WEBINAR, NOV. 16 Wayne Petersen, urban conservationist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, will present the Iowa Learning Farms' webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at noon, through Adobe Connect. BRENTON CENTER LUNCH AND LEARN, NOV. 16 The Brenton Center's next Lunch and Learn will be Nov. 16 at noon in room 8 Curtiss Hall. Jeff Wolt and A.J. Kenny, agronomy, will discuss how they used Wikipedia in a risk assessment course, having students draft new Wikipedia entries that address elements of risk assessment problem formulation. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. Contact Amy Pilcher at apilcher@iastate.edu or 4-1862, if you plan to attend. iPLANT WORKSHOP NOV. 17-18 The iPlant Collaborative will hold a two-part workshop this week. Eric Lyons, iPlant, and Nirav Merchant, Arizona State University, will provide an introduction to iPlant resources on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2:10 to 5 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. A hands-on keyboard workshop will be held Friday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 1340 Molecular Biology Building. More: Volker Brendel, genetics, development and cell biology, vbrendel@iastate.edu FORESTRY CLUB SELLS CHRISTMAS TREES, NOV. 26-DEC. 11 The Forestry Club will be selling Christmas trees in the Reiman Gardens parking area on Nov. 26-27, Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 9-11. Hours are Fridays 3 to 8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 12 to 6 p.m. Balsam firs are $40 for a 6 to 7 foot tree or $45 for a 7 to 8 foot tree. Scotch and white pines are $25. Balsam fir wreaths will be sold for $15 (24" undecorated), $20 (24" decorated), $20 (30" undecorated) and $25 (30" decorated). More: Angela Stone, alstone@iastate.edu. HORTICULTURE CLUB TAKING ORDERS FOR POINSETTIAS The Horticulture Club is now taking orders for poinsettias grown in the new Horticulture Hall greenhouses. CALS faculty and staff received a copy of the Poinsettia Sale Catalog by email on Nov. 10. Order forms are due Nov. 25. Poinsettias will also be for sale in the Horticulture Hall greenhouse on Nov. 29, 4 to 6 p.m.; in Curtiss Hall first floor on Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; in Beardshear Hall ground floor on Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; in the Memorial Union on Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and at Reiman gardens on Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to noon. More: Trisha Nielsen, tnielsen@iastate.edu or Kellie Walters, kelliew@iastate.edu. CALS FACULTY FEATURED ON K-STATE RADIO PROGRAM As a follow-up to a special conference on climate change, two CALS faculty were featured on Kansas State University's Agriculture Today radio program last week. J. Gordon Arbuckle, sociology, looked at farmer perspectives on climate change and agriculture based on a new survey he conducted. Gene Takle, agronomy, discussed the science of climate change as it influences agricultural practices. Roger McEowen, Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, was also featured and talked about estate tax alternative for farm families. More (Nov. 9): http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/p.aspx?tabid=66 CATT CENTER ANNOUNCES WOMEN HONORED ON 2012 CALENDAR Four women representing CALS students, departments or programs will be honored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics on the sixth annual Women Impacting ISU calendar. Selected for the 2012 calendar are Molly Heintz, a senior in animal science, Alejandra Navarro, a senior in animal ecology, Sharon Bird, associate professor of sociology, and Shelley Taylor, assistant director of Global Agriculture Programs. More than 1,000 copies of the calendar will be distributed free after a reception on Jan. 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. UPDATE FROM ISU RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS * A surplus farm equipment and machinery auction will be held Nov. 30 at the Curtiss Farm. The sale bill is available on the Lynch Auction website, http://www.lynchauction.com/. More: Tim Goode, (641) 751-0280. * Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms (Boone) "“ New fiber optic lines are being installed for high-speed Internet access and improved telephone service for the BioCentury Research Farm and the AEA farms. * Compost Facility "“ A new hoop barn was erected and will be used for compost research and winter composting. Amended soil is going to construction projects at Vet Med, State Gym, Jack Trice Stadium, Southwest Athletic Complex and the new athletic complex near the Towers. * Horticulture Research Station "“ Apple sales have been brisk and are nearly complete. Approximately 11 tons of winter squash were harvested, along with about 800 pounds of strawberries. About 200 Norway spruce trees have been transplanted to create new windbreaks. HORTICULTURE HALL MURAL NEAR COMPLETION A four-wall mural by Sticks founder Sarah Grant and her team of artists is being created this fall in the south foyer of Horticulture Hall. The on-site work began Sept. 12 with pencil sketching. In mid-October the images were burned into birch panels. The team currently is painting and hopes to wrap up its work next week. FINAL GOVERNANCE DOCUMENT ONLINE The final version of the college's governance document is online. The document has been revised to reflect the name change from the College of Agriculture to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, to reflect new policies adopted by the faculty senate in the last couple of years, and to clarify language to be consistent with university policy. AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE SET FOR NOV. 28 Ag and Life Sciences Online will break next week for Thanksgiving. It will resume Monday, Nov. 28. Happy Thanksgiving! DEADLINES AND REMINDERS Nov. 18: ISU Beef Nutrition Research Showcase, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Integrated Crop Management Conference Dec. 9: Food Safety Modernization Act webinar, 1 p.m. ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... OSPA OFFICE HOURS DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK During the week of Nov. 21-25, office hours for the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration will be consistent with the schedule posted by the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.Â Nov. 21-22 "“ 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 "“ 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24-25 "“ University Holidays, offices closed USING NIH NIAID NEW CONCEPTS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE Three times a year, the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease publishes new concepts that have been approved by the NIAID Advisory Council and may become funding opportunities. Even if the approved concepts don't become published research initiatives, investigators can use them to get a leg up on funding. More: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/newsletter/2011/pages/1109.asp… GETTING AN NIH GRANT FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH Researchers can use standard R01 solicitations or initiatives for innovation when applying for innovative research grants from the National Institutes of Health. A recent article offers advice on applying. More: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/newsletter/2011/pages/1109.asp… INTERNAL COMPETITION FOR CAMILLE DREYFUS TEACHER-SCHOLAR AWARD NOMINATIONS The Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program aims to strengthen the teaching and research careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences including biochemistry, materials chemistry and chemical engineering. The award is an unrestricted grant of $75,000 to each recipient, of which $7,500 is for departmental expenses associated with research and education. Institutions may submit one nomination for this award annually. Please forward nominations to Dorothy Pimlott (dpimlott@iastate.edu) by Nov. 28.Â The selected candidate will be asked to work closely with the ISU Foundation's Development Communications office to prepare the final proposal for submission to the Dreyfus Foundation. FUNDING INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEADLINE REMINDERS Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu Additional information is posted at CALS Funding Resources, http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/ Dec. 1 (letter of intent): USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants. Dec. 1: ROSES 2011: Land-Cover/Land-Use Change for Early Career Scientists (PhD no earlier than 2005); $100,000 to $1 million per year. More: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B21721E43-BCB6-7D94-10DE-5EA0F33D2401%7D&path=open Dec. 30 (letter of intent): NIH Director's Early Independence Awards (DP5). Two applications per institution are allowed. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-11-007.html January, various dates: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Three Grand Challenges in Family Health. Jan. 10 (preproposal): DOD Developer Tools for Medical Education Public Physiology Research Platform. Feb. 3: Mary Kay Foundation Cancer Research Program; 10 to 15 grants, up to $100,000 each. Feb. 5: Implications of the Economic Downturn for Health, Wealth and Work at Older Ages (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-009.html Feb. 6 and 21: NSF Smart Health and Wellbeing. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13451&org=NSF June 15: NSF INSPIRE pilot program - CREATIV: Creative Research Awards for Transformative Interdisciplinary Ventures. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12011/nsf12011.pdf ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... DIFFER FROM vs. DIFFER WITH "Differ from" is the usual construction denoting a contrast (the two species differ from each other in subtle ways). "Differ with" regards differences of opinion (the state's senators differ with each other on many issues). The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010 ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... MEETING ON COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, NOV. 15 Students of all majors and years are invited to an informational meeting on competitive international scholarships on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5:10 to 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gold Room. ISU coordinators for the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright and Boren Scholarships will describe the awards, selection criteria and the types of activities each supports. Applicants for the majority of these scholarships must be U.S. citizens; international students may be able to apply for the Rotary or Fulbright Scholarship through their home country. UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS eNEWSLETTER ONLINE The latest edition of University Museums' "Interpretations" newsletter is online and features articles about lost and found art on campus, the presidential portrait collection and ISU's 75-year-old public art collection. McNAIR SCHOLARS DIRECTORY ONLINE The Council of Graduate Schools and the Council for Opportunity in Education have released the 2011-2012 McNair Scholars Directory, which is designed to provide graduate schools with access to McNair Scholars who have expressed an interest in pursuing graduate studies. The directory includes McNair Scholars' names, contact information, undergraduate majors, areas of interest for graduate study and undergraduate research projects. It is available for download from COE's website under the McNair Scholars link. USDA REDUCES NUMBER OF AG STATISTICS REPORTS Last year, Wisconsin led the nation in mink farming, producing 833,430 pelts. Texas was the undisputed king of pansies, growing 1.8 million flats of the flowers. And no state harvested more hops than Washington, with 24,336 acres. This year? Who knows? Forced to cut its budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would eliminate or reduce the frequency of a wide range of agricultural survey programs and reports published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/business/government-counting-sheep-no… ................................................... INTERNAL VOICES ................................................... STUDENTS TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURAL WEEKEND EXPERIENCE The CALS Agricultural Weekend Experience gives students majoring in agriculture and life sciences the opportunity to interact with Iowa families in the agriculture community. This fall, 11 students participated in the AWE program. Carly Martin, the student intern in the CALS Communications Service, coordinated the program. The ISU Agricultural Endowment Board and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences sponsor AWE. * "I saw that farming is not as cheap as I thought it was. It made me realize that you never know how something is until you get out there and experience it, which is what this program has allowed me to do." Khadija Brown, a freshman in animal science pre-vet from Chicago. * "The weekend answered many of my questions with first hand examples like allowing us to use the equipment." Chawn McGrath, a freshman in animal science from Pennsylvania. * "This program is very beneficial for any student in the college of agriculture and life sciences. Whether a student has a farming background or not, it can give someone a new perspective on how farms are operated." Katelyn Gardner, a junior in public service and administration from Vinton. * "The AWE program showed me what a true Iowa family farm is like and it was interesting to see all the hard work and challenges that go along with farming." Kelsey Regan, a junior in agricultural biosystems technology from Davenport. More: http://communitynewspapergroup.com/articles/2011/11/10/cedar_valley_dai… JANZEN ON THE COMMERCIAL HARVESTING OF TURTLES "If we are not sure what's out there, we ought to err on the side of caution rather than exploitation. Once they are gone, they won't come back." Fred Janzen, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, on commercial harvesting of turtles. More: http://thegazette.com/2011/11/10/rising-prices-raise-concerns-over-hunt… ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... HOW MUCH TIME DO AMERICANS SPEND ON FOOD? Americans age 15 and older spent about 2.5 hours eating or drinking on an average day over 2006-08, according to the American Time Use Survey's Eating and Health Module, developed by USDA's Economic Research Service. Slightly less than half of that time (67 minutes) was spent eating and drinking as a primary activity, while the remaining time was spent in eating and drinking while doing something else considered primary, such as watching television, driving or working. Information on the time Americans spend in various activities, and in particular food-related activities, may provide some insight into why nutrition and health outcomes vary over time and across different segments of the population. A better understanding of these factors could improve programs and policies targeted at reducing obesity and improving overall nutrition. ........................................................ AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ........................................................ EDITOR Julie Stewart, jstewart@iastate.edu Phone: (515) 294-5616 Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/ 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." Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IowaStateU.AgLifeSciences Twitter: http://twitter.com/iastate_cals Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.