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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
April 9, 2012 No. 695
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COLLEGE NEWS
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PLANT PATHOLOGY GRADUATES CREATE RESEARCH ENDOWMENT
ISU alumni Esmail and Mary Zirakparvar have funded a research endowment in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology intended "to advance the excellence of research within the department to continue its world class reputation." Both earned plant pathology degrees at ISU.
ALUM SELECTED AS FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR
John Carlson, a professor in Western Illinois University's School of Agriculture, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar. He will spend August through December teaching at the Ryazan State Agrotechnological University in Russia. Carlson earned an ISU bachelor's degree in animal science and agricultural journalism in 1974, and a master's degree and a doctorate in 1977 and 1980, respectively, in animal breeding. More: http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=9720
BLOCK AND BRIDLE CLUB ORGANIZES EVENT ON BEEF, APRIL 10
The ISU Block and Bridle Club and the animal science department are hosting an event on "The TRUTH: Lean Finely Textured Beef" on Tuesday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Pavilion, Kildee Hall. Speakers include Governor Terry Branstad; Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds; Congressman Steve King; Jim Dickson, animal science; Janet Riley, American Meat Institute; and Nancy Degner, Iowa Beef Industry Council. More: Brady McNeil, president, ISU Block and Bridle Club, bmmcneil@iastate.edu.
INGELS PART OF WHITE HOUSE RURAL COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE
Chad Ingels, sociology and ISU Extension watershed specialist, was part of a roundtable last month coordinated by the White House Rural Council, which provides a forum for discussing how to support conservation work and create jobs in rural America. ISU, North Carolina State University and the Iowa Soybean Association were present on the panel. The roundtable participants discussed how programs to ensure water quality in rural communities are working and how to improve them. "I think by hosting the roundtable, the White House Rural Council realizes that one approach doesn't fit every state or watershed and they are willing to discuss other options that might fit into the next farm bill," Ingels said. More: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/19/white-house-rural-council-spo…
BBMB STUDENT NAMED GOLDWATER SCHOLAR
Sam Condon, a third-year student in the department of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, has been named a 2012 Goldwater Scholar. Condon is one of 282 U.S. sophomores and juniors this year awarded the undergraduate scholarship award in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/apr/GoldwaterScholar
LUNCH AND LEARN: NEW TOOL TO INCREASE INTERACTIVITY, APRIL 10
The Brenton Center's next Lunch and Learn will be Tuesday, April 10, at noon in 8 Curtiss Hall. Terri Boylston, food science and human nutrition, will discus her use of Top Hat Monocle, a new tool she uses to increase student interactivity in and outside the classroom. To attend, please contact Amy Pilcher, apilcher@iastate.edu, 4-1862.
GPSA CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY, APRIL 11
The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture will convene its eighth annual research symposium on Wednesday, April 11, at 3:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the program, John Pesek, distinguished professor emeritus, will provide a historical perspective on the creation and development of the program. Doug Landis, professor of entomology at Michigan State University, will present the keynote address.
GAMMA SIGMA DELTA AWARDS CEREMONY, APRIL 12
The Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture will hold its annual meeting Thursday, April 12, at 5 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall Auditorium, with a reception to follow. In addition to announcing this year's award recipients, they will be initiating 123 new members.
ISU HELPS PLAN SYMPOSIUM ON POULTRY, LIVESTOCK DISEASE OUTBREAKS
The 4th International Symposium on Managing Animal Mortalities, Products, By-Products and Associated Health Risk will focus on emergency response to poultry/livestock disease outbreaks. The symposium is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. ISU is one of 22 partner universities and federal agencies involved in the symposium planning, and ISU agricultural engineer Tom Glanville is a member of the steering committee. Keynote speaker Heekwon Ahn did his post-doctoral work at ISU before joining USDA-APHIS and subsequently returning to Korea to do research for the Korean National Institute of Animal Science. The symposium is set for May 21-24 in Dearborn, Mich. More: http://umaine.edu/byproducts-symposium/
JOHNSON RECEIVES NEW PATENT
Lawrence Johnson, Center for Crops Utilization Research, and Nicolas Deak, a former post-doc for Johnson, were issued a patent on March 27 for "Vegetable Protein Fractionization Process and Compositions."
HORSE JUDGING TEAM COMPETES AT APHA
The ISU horse judging team, coached by Nikki Ferwerda, animal science, competed at the American Paint Horse Association Intercollegiate Horse Judging Spring Sweepstakes in Texas on April 2. The contest is the largest horse judging contest of the year with 25 senior college teams and 140 individuals competing. Monica Madsen, animal science, finished second in the halter division, second in reasons and fourth in the individual category. Team A finished second in performance and fourth in the overall team placings. Team B earned third in halter. Team A consisted of Madsen, Sarah Tenley, Brittney Nelson, Alexis Patinos and Taylor Kivell, all animal science majors. Team B consisted of Sara Pardall, Heather Smith, Liz Beatty, Megan Yonker and Marie Harris, all animal science majors.
DUNN IS FEEL TRAINING FACILITY COORDINATOR
Josh Dunn started March 1 as the Field Extension Education Laboratory activities coordinator. He is responsible for coordinating demonstration plots and scheduling training events at the 43-acre ISU Extension and Outreach facility.
BALD EAGLES SPOTTED AT RESEARCH FARM NEAR AMES
A pair of bald eagles was spotted last week at the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms in Boone County. Richard Vandepol, co-manager, reported that he has been at the farm for more than 30 years and this is a first.
STUDENTS INTERACT WITH PROFESSIONALS AT ROUNDTABLE EVENT
Five agricultural entrepreneurs from across Iowa were featured at the 11th Ag Entrepreneurs Roundtable event on April 2: Jason Hocker, DVM for AMVC; Robert and Janis Kazimour, RFK Transportation; Rona and William Wyant, Fireside Winery; Tom and Katelyn Decker, Farmers Best Popcorn; and Norm Wagoner, Agrilead. CALS students participated in rotating roundtable discussions in an informal setting allowing students to talk candidly with entrepreneurs about their journey. The event was sponsored by the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. More: Carly Cummings, AgEI, carlyc@iastate.edu, 4-1802.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 18: Ninth annual BIGMAP Symposium, http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/bigmap/home.html
April 25: Science with Practice Poster Presentation, 12 to 1:30 p.m., Kildee Hall Atrium.
April 25: Retirement celebration for Helen Olson, 2 to 4 p.m., 224 Curtiss Hall.
April 25: CALS Workshop on Promotion and Tenure, 3:10 to 4:30 p.m., Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall.
June 28: Iowa Swine Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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EPA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEBINARS
EPA's Office of Environmental Education will host three webinars to help kick-off a new EPA initiative called Environmental Education in Action. The webinars will be held on April 17-19 and will showcase environmental education programs and resources, including grant projects funded by OEE. Preregistration is required. More: http://www.epa.gov/education
NIH NIAID FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES LIST
A list of current funding opportunities from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/ann/pages/opps.aspx. A list of foundations and other funding sources is available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/ann/pages/found.aspx.
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/
May 1 (establish eligibility): Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Program in Biomedical Research. More: http://www.hhmi.org/research/competitions/
May 15: USDA Rural Health and Safety Education; $200,000 for one year.
May 30: USAID Climate-Resilient Ecosystems and Livelihoods Grant "“ Bangladesh
June 5: NIH Toward an Improved Understanding of HDL Function (R01).
June 13 (letter of intent): NIH Partnerships for Interventions to Treat Chronic, Persistent and Latent Infections (R21/R33). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-12-020.html
June 16 and Oct. 16: NIH NCI Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program for Cancer Research (NCI Omnibus R21). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-145.html
?June 19 (letter of intent): Genomic Medicine Pilot Demonstration Projects (U01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-12-007.html and Genomic Medicine Pilot Demonstration Projects Coordinating Center (U01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-12-007.html ?
July 2: NIH Role of the Microflora in the Etiology of Gastro-Intestinal Cancer (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-140.html
Aug. 18 (letter of intent): NIH U.S.-China Program for Biomedical Collaborative Research (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-12-021.html
Sept. 25: NIH Centers of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (P01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-151.html
Apr. 5, 2017: DoD Sensor Innovative Research; $50,000 to $1 million per award; $24.9 million overall program ceiling.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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PRACTICABLE vs. POSSIBLE vs. PRACTICAL
These terms differ in shading. What is "practicable" is capable of being done; it's feasible. What is "possible" might be capable of happening or being done, but there is some doubt. What is "practical" is fit for actual use.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010
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INFOGRAZING
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SPRING FOOD DRIVE RUNS THROUGH APRIL 12
Feed the Need! ISU Student Volunteer Services is sponsoring its annual spring food drive. Collection boxes for non-perishable food items are located in Curtiss Hall, Kildee Hall, LeBaron Hall, the Memorial Union, College of Design, Carver Hall, Parks Library and Hamilton Hall. All donations go to Students Helping Our Peers, a student run food pantry on campus, and Mid-Iowa Community Action, a nonprofit organization that serves local families in five different counties in the Ames area.
ISU ON DISPLAY AT SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
ISU will participate in the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival to be held June 27-July 1 and July 4-8 on the National Mall. ISU's exhibit, "Transforming Communities: Design in Action," will mix advanced, interactive technology and old-fashioned, personal conversation to communicate multi-layered messages about the university's unique partnership between the College of Design and Extension and Outreach. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/apr/SmithsonianFolklifeFest
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INTERNAL VOICES
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PRESIDENT LEATH ON VISIT TO NASHUA
"I was impressed by the water quality research conducted at Nashua and how important it is to share that information with corn and soybean growers. It reflects the strength of Iowa State's partnership with the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association in addressing needs that are important to area farmers and communities." ISU president Steven Leath at the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association annual meeting on March 27.
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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TEACHING FUTURE SCIENTISTS TO TALK
"Our program is an experiment based on the premise that many scientists are not prepared to communicate with outside audiences. That may be true, but the greatest barrier to clear communication with the public is cultural, not technical, and the more daunting task is to impress upon researchers as soon as possible the need to acquire or retain broad communication skills." From an article co-written by Jack Schultz, director of the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center at the University of Missouri at Columbia, and Jon Stemmle, director of the Health Communication Research Center at the Missouri School of Journalism. More: http://chronicle.com/article/Teaching-Future-Scientists-to/131405/?sid=…
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MARGINALIA
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CAN COMICS HELP STUDENTS RETAIN INFORMATION?
Nick Sousanis, with the blessing of his advisers, is writing and drawing his dissertation in comic-book form. A student in interdisciplinary studies at Columbia University's Teachers College, Sousanis taught a course last fall about teaching and learning with comics. Sousanis says comics are increasingly being created and used in the classroom to help students retain information. More: http://chronicle.com/article/A-Comic-Dissertation/131393/?sid=at&utm_so…
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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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