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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. 19, 2011 No. 681
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COLLEGE NEWS
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CALS' NEW GRADUATES SHARE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
At the CALS graduating senior convocation on Dec. 17, students used the opportunity to share their plans for the future and thank family members for their support. A few examples: * Hoping to be an ambassador to China someday. * International travel courses were the most memorable ISU experience. * Planning to make sure you have the best quality trees growing in your yard someday. * Moving to Texas to work in a veterinary lab, plus her favorite microbe is hypsibius dujardini, the water bear. * Graduating with 162 credits and one degree. * Looking for a career in natural resources, and provided attendees with his phone number in case anyone knows of a job.
MACDONALD NAMED CALS INTERIM ASSISTANT DEAN FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Ruth MacDonald, chair of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, will serve as the College's interim assistant dean for graduate programs, effective Jan. 1. The 25 percent appointment will be in addition to her responsibilities as department chair. As assistant dean, MacDonald will work to enhance all aspects of CALS graduate programs, including recruitment, grants activity focused on graduate student research and education, and representing the College in university-level discussions and policy development on graduate programs. She also will work closely with Senior Associate Dean Joe Colletti and the College's diversity programs officer (see item on that search below).
COLLEGE SEARCH FOR DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICER; APPLICATION DEADLINE JAN. 16
The College is seeking a new diversity programs officer, with a proposed start date of March 1, 2012. A vacancy announcement is posted on the university jobs site (Vacancy ID# 11105), https://www.iastatejobs.com/applicants/jsp/shared/Welcome_css.jsp, with an application deadline of Jan. 16. The three-quarters time P&S position will be responsible for leadership and oversight of diversity initiatives and programs in the College, including CALS' George Washington Carver summer internship program.
GRADUATING SENIORS HONORED FOR EFFORTS AS CALS AMBASSADORS
Two graduating seniors were recognized for their service as CALS Ambassadors last Friday at the CALS Cabinet meeting. Justin Saenz, public service and administration in agriculture, and Britney Heim, agriculture and life sciences education, were given certificates from Dean Wintersteen for their efforts with the student ambassadors, who help in many ways to recruit new students. Saenz will return to his native Texas to look for employment. Heim has been hired by Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville.
ISU, USAID PRESENT INTERNATIONAL SEED REGULATION PAPER
Representatives from ISU and the U.S. Agency for International Development presented a policy paper in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 14 to agriculture policy leaders worldwide. On the program was Joe Cortes, global program leader for the Iowa State Seed Science Center. The briefing was targeted to policymakers and donors interested in agriculture sector reform aimed at enabling seed sector growth, which is an important part of international agricultural growth. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/dec/manjit
USAID INTERNSHIP SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Results from the CALS Career Services 2011 summer internship survey are now available online. More than 95 percent of the 80 survey participants said they would recommend the internship to fellow students. More: http://www.career.ag.iastate.edu/news/new-2011-summer-internship-survey
COMPOSTING IMPROVES ISU FARM BIOSECURITY
Following a successful composting trial at the ISU swine breeding farm in 1999, a similar project began eight years ago at the ISU swine teaching farm. Swine farms manager Jay Lampe says composting has eliminated two potential sources of disease outbreaks at the farms: rendering and fuel trucks entering the property, and that aids in keeping biosecurity at a high level. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/composting-helps-swine-farm-imp...
VANDERZANDEN NAMED CELT DIRECTOR
Ann Marie VanDerZanden, horticulture, has been named director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Associate director of CELT and its interim director since Aug. 1, VanDerZanden also will serve as co-director of the learning communities program with Doug Gruenewald, program manager in student affairs. More: http://www.inside.iastate.edu/2011/1215/celt.php MORRIS
TO LEAD REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CENTER
Joe Morris, natural resource ecology and management, has been named director of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center. Morris has been associate director of the center since 2000. His new post is effective Jan. 1. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/991/
DOWNING ELECTED TO BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY PRESIDENTS
John Downing, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, was recently elected to the board of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, an organization of presidents, presidents-elect and recent past presidents of approximately 60 scientific organizations. Downing will begin a two-year term on Jan. 1. More: http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/
GDCB FACULTY MEMBER ELECTED AAAS FELLOW
Steven Rodermel, genetics, development and cell biology, is one of five at ISU to be honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/dec/AAASFellows
FARM BUREAU HONORS RETIRED AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
Stewart Melvin, emeritus professor and former department chair of agricultural and biosystems engineering, was honored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation for his years of water quality work. He was presented with the organization's Distinguished Service to Agriculture award at its annual meeting. Melvin joined Iowa State in 1971 after earning bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in agricultural engineering. He served as interim chair and then as chair of the department from 1994 to 2001. More: http://www.iowafarmbureau.com/article.aspx?articleID=48677
EEOB STUDENT EARNS NATIONAL CONSERVATION FELLOWSHIP
Lauren Sullivan, a doctoral candidate in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, was selected as a TogetherGreen fellow from The National Audubon Society and Toyota earning $10,000. Sullivan earned the fellowship through her work restoring a four-acre corn plot (located west of the corner of Ontario and Hyland in Ames) back to native prairie. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/dec/sullivantoyota
CALS STUDENTS SERVE ON IOWA CORN COLLEGIATE ADVISORY TEAM
Four CALS students have been named to the second Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board: Adam Bierbaum, senior in agronomy; Brent Drey, freshman in agronomy; Kyle Fischer, junior in agricultural studies; and Evan Sieck, senior in agricultural business. Also chosen to return from the inaugural team are: Alyssa Foster, junior in agricultural and life sciences education; Andrew Lauver, senior in agricultural studies; and Logan Lyon, junior in agronomy. More: http://www.iowacorn.org/index.cfm?nodeID=30321&audienceID=1&action=displ...
VIEW WINNING IMAGES FROM CALS AG STUDY ABROAD PHOTO CONTEST
Winners from the 14th Ag Study Abroad Photo Contest can be viewed online. The scenic and artistic quality winner is a photo by Amber Connett taken in Ghana. The cross culture winner is a photo by Caitlin Knutson taken in Sierra Leone. The ISU around the world winner is a photo by Holly Howard taken in rural China. More: http://www.agstudyabroad.iastate.edu/Photo_Contest/15th_photo_contest/th...
AGRONOMY STUDENT WINS FLEX FUEL TRUCK
Jordan Uthoff, a senior in agronomy from Cedar Rapids, won the 2011 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Flex Fuel truck at the ISU men's basketball game on Dec. 9. The drawing was the wrap up of the multi-sport, multi-media promotion showcasing the many ways corn benefits Iowa and Iowans. More: http://www.iowacorn.org/index.cfm?nodeID=30321&audienceID=1&action=displ...
STUDENTS ELECTED TO NATIONAL POSITIONS
Danielle Hamilton, a senior in agricultural and life sciences education, was elected president of the National Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization (http://www.nationalpas.org) and Logan Lyon, a junior in agronomy, was elected president-elect at the group's national meeting in November. Rachel Owen, a senior in global resource systems and agronomy, was elected national vice president of Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences at the American Society of Agronomy meetings this fall.
SCIENCE MEETS ART ON THE RIVER
The Skunk River Navy, a service project in ISU's freshman biology learning community, recently displayed student artwork and a commissioned sculpture all created from the collected trash. CALS students displaying artwork include J.C. Renteria, biology and animal ecology, and Toni Proescholdt, biology. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/dec/SkunkRiverArt
AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE JAN. 9
Ag and Life Sciences Online will take the next two weeks off for the holidays. It will resume Monday, Jan. 9. Happy holidays!
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Feb. 17: Deadline for Computation Advisory Committee call for proposals, http://www.cio.iastate.edu/committees/cac/proposals/2012-2013/cac_cfp_20...
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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NEW WEBSITE FOR USDA OFFICE OF CHIEF SCIENTIST
The USDA's Office of the Chief Scientist has launched a new website about USDA scientific topic areas and OCS programs and services. The OCS provides scientific leadership and prioritizes department-wide agricultural research, education and extension needs. Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, serves as the USDA Chief Scientist. More: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=OFFICE_OCS Â
OSPA WINTER BREAK HOURS
Dec. 19-21: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Proposals must be ready to submit no later than 3:30 p.m.) * Dec. 22: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Proposals due between 12/22/11 and 1/3/12 must be ready to submit no later than 2:30 p.m.) * Dec. 23 & 26: University Holidays * Dec. 27 - 30: CLOSED * Jan. 2: University Holiday Â
PLANT SCIENCES INSITUTE GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS FOR FALL 2012
The Plant Sciences Institute is accepting applications for fellowships to recruit outstanding graduate students to ISU. PSI's goal is to have four new Plant Sciences Fellows on campus starting in fall 2012. To be eligible, a prospective student must express an interest involving plant science and intend to seek a Ph.D. Each department or interdepartmental program may submit up to three applications to Deanne Brill (dbrill@iastate.edu) by Feb. 10. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/
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/
Jan. 12 (preproposal): Division of Integrative Organismal Systems. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503623&WT.mc_ev=click
Jan. 13: Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Type 2 and 3 proposals and Central Resource Project proposals. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741&WT.mc_ev=click
Jan. 13 (proposal briefs): NineSigma/Sara Lee Corporation, Enhancing the Flavor and Aroma Experience in Packaged, Processed Meats. More: http://goo.gl/DXT0T
Jan. 23 (letter of intent): Novel Technologies for Rapid and Sensitive Biomonitoring in Humans (SBIR [R43/R44]); proposal must be submitted by a small business. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-12-004.html
Feb. 5: Maternal Nutrition and Pre-pregnancy Obesity: Effects on Mothers, Infants and Children (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-061.html
Feb. 7 (letter of intent): Limited Competition: Planning Grants for Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in Global Environmental and Occupational Health (P20); each institutional partner may submit only on application as primary. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-12-001.html
April 24 (letter of intent): Partnerships for Development of Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Biodefense (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-12-017.html
April 25 (letter of intent): Research Dissemination and Implementation Grants (R18). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-063.html
May 28: Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Type 1 proposals. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741&WT.mc_ev=click
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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GUARD AGAINST HOLIDAY EMAIL OVERLOAD
Will you be monitoring and responding to work email over the holidays? Here are four email moves to consider:
* Broadcast your plans. Be sure to set an email auto-responder "away" message that makes it clear the days you'll be gone and who to contact in your absence.
* Set a schedule. Decide in advance how frequently you'll check email while you're away (if at all) and put that information in the auto-responder as well.
* Consider declaring email bankruptcy in advance. You can write a message in your auto-responder that says something like: "Due to the high volume of email I will receive over the holiday break, I will delete all messages. If you really need me to see your message, please resent after the holidays or call me directly."
* Take a real break from email. Imagine you're on vacation in a place where there's no wireless service, or you're stuck in a power outage. Will the business"”and your job"”survive? If so, you can safely recharge without constantly checking mail.
Dave Johnson for CBS Money Watch, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57342715/guard-against-holiday-em...
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INFOGRAZING
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NASS ANALYSIS: IOWA AG A GROWING POWERHOUSE
According to the recently released Iowa Agricultural Statistics booklet, Iowa's cattle, hog and sheep producers' receipts grew by 20 percent last year, up to $8.32 billion. Information in the 136-page book is compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Iowa Field Office, a division of USDA. The book consists of five sections: general information, county information, crops, livestock and farm economics. More: http://www.iowafarmbureau.com/article.aspx?articleID=45814
THANK YOU, ISU EXTENSION AND OUTREACH
The recent ISU Extension and Outreach leadership summit began with a thank-you from Extension clients. View the video: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/content/thank-you-video
CENTRAL IOWA EXPO ANNOUNCES MAJOR GIFT FROM MONSANTO
Monsanto announced a $150,000 contribution to the Central Iowa Expo Site located off U.S. Highway 30, about 10 miles west of Ames. The financial support makes it possible to provide 160 acres of alfalfa to be used for equipment demonstrations during the 2012 Farm Progress Hay Expo at the Central Iowa Expo Site in June 2012. The same acres will then provide parking for the Farm Progress Show in August. More: http://www.visitames.com/news/details.aspx?rid=689
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CALS CONVOCATION SPEAKER THANKS FACULTY, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION
"There is no way we could have accomplished a degree at Iowa State University without the faculty, staff and administration! These people have helped us obtain the most expensive, priceless thing on today's market"¦ an education. It is these people who explained the citric acid cycle, over and over and over again. They responded to our frantic, questioning emails the night before an exam or project was due. Our advisors encouraged us to follow our educational dreams, even if it meant switching majors, minors or options five different times. It is these important people at Iowa State that have provided us with the knowledge we need to be successful in our careers." Ashley Dermody, agronomy, was the convocation speaker at the College convocation on Saturday, Dec. 17.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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GATES ON THE LEGACY OF NORMAN BORLAUG
"Some critics say the world's efforts to improve poor people's lives are doomed. But Dr. Borlaug is proof that large-scale progress is possible. He is a genuine hero, and his story should make us optimistic about the future." Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and a philanthropist whose foundation is helping carry on Borlaug's work in Africa. An article in the December issue of "Wallaces Farmer" highlights a new book on Norman Borlaug titled "Our Daily Bread," written by Noel Vietmeyer.
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MARGINALIA
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LOBSTER TRAP TREES CELEBRATE SEASON, ECONOMY
Festive monuments of engineering and local pride, lobster trap trees celebrate the season and affirm the local economy in towns along the northern New England coast. Beals and Jonesport, Me., have a tree that stands 60 feet tall and consists of 1,364 lobster traps. Rockland, Me., uses custom-built red and green traps for its lobster trap tree. A local arts group in Gloucester, Mass., invites children to decorate buoys as ornaments for their lobster trap tree. The ornaments are then auctioned off to raise money. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/us/new-england-asks-who-has-fairest-lo...
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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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