AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Jan. 23, 2012 No. 684
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COLLEGE NEWS
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PRESIDENT LEATH VISITS PLANT PATHOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
Tom Baum, chair of plant pathology and microbiology, hosted President Leath last week as he visited his new academic home on his first day of work. They toured department facilities and met students, staff and faculty. In addition to reviewing departmental statistics, Baum briefed the president on ongoing research projects and funding secured by the department to enable high-impact research. They talked about Extension efforts and discussed the department's commitment to undergraduate teaching by coadministering the microbiology undergraduate program with the Department of Animal Science.
KOZIEL AND HANSEN FEATURED ON MODERN MARVELS TONIGHT
Jacek Koziel, agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Stephanie Hansen, animal science, will be featured on the show "Modern Marvels: Stink" tonight, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. on the H2 network. Tonight's episode will explore how people deal with offensive odors. In Central Iowa, H2 airs on Mediacom on channel 251, DISH Network on channel 121 and DirecTV on 271. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/.
A HUNDRED EMPLOYERS AT SPRING CALS CAREER DAY FEB. 1
About 100 employers are expected to recruit students Feb. 1 at the CALS spring career fair to be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. "We are seeing companies and organizations that were not at our fall event attend the spring event," said Mike Gaul, director of CALS Career Services. "This is especially true for many of the natural resource-type organizations." A list of companies scheduled to participate can be found online. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/994/
SOCIOLOGISTS EARN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE GRANT
David Peters and Andy Hochstetler, sociology, have been awarded a $225,428 National Institute of Justice grant in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Corrections to study prisoner re-entry in Iowa. The researchers will assess the quality and appropriateness of rehabilitation treatment received by inmates in predicting their chances of becoming repeat offenders. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/994/
KARLEN LEAD AUTHOR ON CAST ISSUE PAPER ON ENERGY AND CROPS
Douglas Karlen, USDA National Lab for Agriculture and the Environment and a collaborator in agronomy, is the lead author of a new issue paper by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, "Energy Issues Affecting Corn/Soybean Systems: Challenges for Sustainable Production." More: http://www.cast-science.org/news/index.cfm/energy_flow_january_23rd_roll...
WORDPRESS IS TOPIC OF BRENTON CENTER LUNCH AND LEARN, FEB. 7
The Brenton Center's next Lunch and Learn will be held Feb. 7 at noon in 8 Curtiss Hall. It will offer an overview of WordPress and its function; cover basic steps for creating a WordPress website and blog; and explain how to use blogging in and out of the classroom. Stacy Noe, Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative, will be speaking. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. To attend contact Amy Pilcher, apilcher@iastate.edu, 4-1862.
NREM HELPS PRESENT FOREST STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE, MARCH 10
The 2012 Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference will be held March 10 at Sinsinawa Mound Center, Sinsinawa, Wis. (a few miles east of Dubuque). This is the 18th year for the conference, which annually draws 550 woodland landowners from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The conference is presented in partnership with ISU Extension and University of Illinois Extension; ISU's Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and University of Illinois' Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; and the departments of natural resources in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. The deadline to mail registrations is March 1. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/annual-forest-stewardship-confe...
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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ENROLL NOW FOR SPONSORED PROGRAMS EDUCATION SESSIONS
The Sponsored Programs Education and Certification Sessions program is offered jointly by the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration and Sponsored Programs Accounting. This 10-session training program covers topics related to the successful management of sponsored projects, including pre- and post-award functions, research compliance, technology transfer and related issues. SPECS training is appropriate for all administrative and support staff who assist principal investigators/project directors in managing sponsored projects. Sessions 1-5 will be held Feb. 21, March 6 and 20, and April 3 and 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sessions 6-10 will be held in the fall. Sign up by logging into AccessPlus and selecting HRS Training under the Employee tab. Enroll in the Sponsored Programs Education and Certification Sessions program under the Courses link. Deadline for enrollment is Jan. 27. Contact: Troy Nichols, tdnicho@iastate.edu, 4-8945.
NIFA CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS GLOBAL SEMINAR SERIES WEBINAR
NIFA's Center for International Programs will host the Global Seminar Series Webinar "Higher Education for Development: Lessons, Impacts and Vision for the Future," on Jan. 25, 11 a.m. to noon (CT). Tully Cornick will focus on the role that higher education plays as an "engine for development" and CIP's experience in forging partnerships amongst American and overseas colleges and universities to build human and institutional capacity. Individuals can join the webinar at http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/hedcip/. More: CIP@nifa.usda.gov.
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. 31 (letter of interest): John Templeton Foundation - Foundational Questions in Evolutionary Biology; Evolutionary Origins and Dynamics and Evolvability, and the Evolution of Increasing Complexity, $200,000 per year for up to two years. More: http://www.templeton.org/node/1521
Feb. 13 (pre-application): Dept. of Energy - Genomic Science: Biosystems Design to Enable Next-Generation Biofuels Grant; $1M to $5M per award. More: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=138153
Feb. 17: NSF Energy for Sustainability. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026&WT.mc_ev=click
Feb. 17: NSF Environmental Sustainability. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501027&WT.mc_ev=click
Feb. 24 (pre-application): Dept. of Energy: Atmospheric Systems Research Program in the Climate and Environmental Sciences. More: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=139133
March 9: USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. More: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/organicagricultureresearchandextensioninit...
March 22: Dept. of Homeland Security STEM Career Development Grants; six to 10 awards, one application per department, one award per institution, $200,000 for undergrad scholarships, $500,000 for graduate fellowships. More: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=138893
April 10: NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12528/nsf12528.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
April 11: NIH Summer Institute for Training in Biostatistics II (T15); six awards, $248,000 per award for up to three years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HL-13-015.html
April 13 (letter of intent): UNC Pilot Grants for Gastrointestinal Biology Research; $30,000. More: https://cgibd.med.unc.edu/pilot.php
Dec. 31 (white papers accepted continuously): Naval Medical Research Broad Area Announcement for Naval Medical Research and Development Center-Frederick; infectious disease, noncommumicable disease, and combat casualty care, 100 awards, $100M total program funding. More: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=138693
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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KNOW HOW TO COMPLIMENT OR TO COMPLEMENT
A compliment is a flattering or praising remark (a compliment on your skill). A complement is something that completes or brings to perfection (the lace tablecloth was a complement to the antique silver). The words also are verbs: to compliment is to praise, while to complement is to supplement adequately or complete. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010.
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INFOGRAZING
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USDA MARKS 150TH ANNIVERSARY AT AG OUTLOOK FORM
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give the keynote address and moderate a historic plenary panel at the Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 23-24, in Arlington, Va. USDA is commemorating its 150th anniversary throughout 2012. Former secretaries of agriculture Ed Schafer, Senator Mike Johanns, Ann Veneman, Dan Glickman, Mike Espy, Clayton Yeutter, John Block and Bob Bergland have been invited to participate in the panel to discuss the future of agriculture in America. More: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contenti...
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INTERNAL VOICES
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DEAN WINTERSTEEN SPEAKS AT OPENING OF BRUNNIER EXHIBITION
Dean Wintersteen was one of the speakers for the opening reception last week of "Relationships: Spheres of Influence" exhibition in the Brunnier Art Museum, running from Jan. 10 to May 6, and featuring the work of College of Design faculty. Here is an excerpt from the Dean's remarks: "In the fields of science, we gain new insights primarily through our relationships . . . The complexity of 21st century problems means that innovation in modern research is defined by collaborations. You can say the same across our university. An interdisciplinary team of scientists works to improve food, health or the environment. A public-private partnership between the university and a community, business or organization leads to new opportunities. A collaboration of artists "” like those featured today "” allows us to experience our world and what "˜being alive' means, with fresh eyes"¦ This exhibition is an important example of how we can influence one other, in science and technology, in arts and humanities and in work and in life."
TAYLOR ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF CURRENT WEATHER
"I don't discount man-made impacts of climate change. But I would put the impact of climate change on our weather right now at no more than five percent." Elwynn Taylor, agronomy and agricultural meteorologist, at the Land Investment Expo on Jan. 20. More: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/21/isu-meteorol...
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MARGINALIA
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SHARING INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES OF FACULTY WITH THE COMMUNITY
In an effort to share the intellectual resources of their faculty with the community, the University of Evansville in Indiana has developed a new program called "Think Outside the Lunch Box." It brings university faculty to an off-campus venue to give brief talks about current issues and events. Each presentation is about 20 to 25 minutes long and is followed by a question-and-answer session. The talks are designed to be lively discussions of events and issues that shape our lives in direct and indirect ways. The most recent was a well-attended presentation titled "Ga$ Pain$," at which an economics professor evaluated the factors accounting for spikes in gasoline prices. More: http://chronicle.com/article/Think-Outside-the-Lunch-Box-/130328/?sid=at...
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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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