Issue: 696

................................................... AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE ................................................... The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter Iowa State University April 16, 2012 No. 696 ................................................... COLLEGE NEWS ................................................... VEISHEA: CALS SPONSORS FRIDAY, APRIL 20, ON CENTRAL CAMPUS CALS is sponsoring a campus cookout on Friday, April 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring pizza and carrots. The Forestry Club/Society of American Foresters will also hold its annual tug-of-war versus the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers at noon. VEISHEA: VISIT CALS DEPARTMENTS, CLUBS AT VEISHEA VILLAGE, APRIL 21 Here are selected activities and location of CALS student and department exhibits: * Agricultural Systems Technology Club "“ Some of the newest agricultural equipment will be on display outside of Davidson Hall. * Block and Bridle "“ Come and see live farm animals! There will be activities for kids and students. * CALS Student Council "“ Selling t-shirts. Stop by to win a free prize. * Culinary Science Club "“ Sample gourmet popcorn, caramel corn, Cyclone popcorn, ranch popcorn and strawberry lemonade made by the ISU Culinary Club, 200 MacKay Hall. * Dairy Products Evaluation Club "“ Selling Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy fresh cheese curds and panna cotta (farm cooked cream custard) with fruity cyclone swirls, 209 MacKay Hall. * Dairy Science Club "“ Choose from six flavors of homemade ice cream and an opportunity to milk a cow. * Department of Agronomy "“ Sweet Soil Treats, play with plants, discover where your food comes from, pick up some popcorn, dig in the dirt, find out how Kool Aid is linked to clean drinking water, and watch water underground. * Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management "“ Watch live timber sports, perfect your fishing skills, learn about conservation of our natural resources, have your face painted or eat cotton candy. * Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Graduate Student Organization "“ Offering a diversity of started native prairie plants for sale, north entrance of Bessey Hall. * Food Science Club "“ Fudge flavors include Four Seasons Fudge Fountain (traditional chocolate), Chocolate Mint Campanile, Peanut Butter Parade, The Cyclone (chocolate with peanuts, marshmallows and candy-coated chocolate pieces) and White Chocolate Cyberry (raspberry). 206 MacKay, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. * Forestry Club/Society of American Foresters "“ Will be conducting timbersports demonstrations. * Horticulture Club "“ See a display of horticultural crops and see photos of club activities. There will also be a tour of the new Horticulture Hall features. * Seed Science Center "“ From red-striped hats to "Things" and Cats! Some of your favorite storybook personalities will take you on a zany adventure through the wonderful world of seeds. HARRISVACCINES NAMED COMPANY OF THE YEAR The Technology Association of Iowa named Harrisvaccines, Inc. the Iowa Life Sciences Company of the Year at its seventh annual Prometheus Awards dinner on April 11. Harrisvaccines is an ISU start-up company formed six years ago by Hank Harris, animal science. LOY NAMED DIRECTOR FOR IOWA BEEF CENTER Dan Loy, who has led ISU's Iowa Beef Center in an interim capacity for two years, was officially named director this spring. Loy joined ISU as an extension beef specialist in 1982 and has been involved in a variety of research, teaching and extension opportunities since then. VIDEO: ISU MICROBIOLOGIST ON LEAN FINELY TEXTURED BEEF Jim Dickson, animal science, explained the science behind lean finely textured beef at a forum on April 10. The Block and Bridle student club and the animal science department sponsored the forum. Video of other speakers at the forum can also be found at this link. SLIDE SHOW SHOWCASES LEAN FINELY TEXTURED BEEF FORUM The ISU Block and Bridle Club and the animal science department hosted "The Truth: Lean Finely Textured Beef" on April 10 in the Farm Bureau Pavilion. The forum attracted more than 400. Brady McNeil, president of the ISU Block and Bridle Club, was the host at the event. FRUIT CROPS DAMANGED BY COLD TEMPERATURES Two nights of cold temperatures across Iowa took a toll on fruit crops according to ISU horticulture experts Ajay Nair, Paul Domoto and Nick Howell. Howell, superintendent of the Horticultural Research Station, doesn't expect much of an apple crop because of the freeze, and said there was significant damage to the station's vineyard and strawberries. AG SPECIALISTS ADDED TO ISU FARM RESEARCH PROJECT ISU Research and Demonstration Farms and ISU Extension and Outreach have hired two agricultural specialists to expand the ISU Farmer Assisted Research and Management project. Micah Smidt and Zachary Koopman will work at the Northern Research Farm near Kanawha and the Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy Farm near Boone, respectively. ANIMAL SCIENTIST PUBLISHES PAPER IN OPHTHALMOLOGY JOURNAL Jason Ross, animal science, was part of the team that developed a pig to use as a model to study retinitis pigmentosa, a human disease that can lead to blindness. Ross began the project when he was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Missouri, making the genetically modified cells that were used to create the pigs, and continued with the project when he joined Iowa State in 2008. He is the lead investigator listed in the journal paper announcing the development, which was published in the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.11-8784). INTERNET-BASED LESSON PLANS RELEASED FOR PIZZ-A-THON Eldon Weber, a retired faculty member from the agricultural education and studies department, has released new Internet-based lesson plans for the Pizz-A-Thon program he developed while at ISU. Kids trace pizza back to its origin and consider all the careers involved in its journey from the farm or greenhouse to their plate. The Virtual Pizz-A-Thon meets the required learning standards in the Iowa core requirements, and is also flexible enough to be used with 4-H, boys and girls clubs and scout troupes. More: http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=144383 UNDERGRADUATES SHOWCASE RESEARCH AT ISU, APRIL 17 ISU students will share more than 100 research projects during the university's sixth annual Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression on Tuesday, April 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union. CALS students include: * Xiaoran Shang, biology and microbiology * Sagar Chawla, global resource systems and biology * Michael Khan, microbiology * Alejandra Navarro, animal ecology * Neo Mazur, global resource systems, sociology * Andrew Paxson, environmental science and environmental studies * Nate Looker, agronomy and global resource systems * Thiara Aleman, animal science * McKenna Hansel, animal ecology * Sarah Hart, animal science * Robert Manatt, forestry * Deirdre Green, industrial technology * Courtney Nelson, animal ecology * Nathan Sage, agronomy * Joshua Moline, microbiology * Lauren Mitchell, dietetics * Brooke Bodensteiner, biology * Terry Lund, biology * Liam Vincent, agricultural business and agronomy More BIGMAP'S NINTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM APRIL 18 ISU's Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products will welcome experts from industry, government and academia to discuss the role of regulation in biotechnology and genetically modified agriculture production for a symposium titled "Agricultural Biotechnology Regulation, Trade and Coexistence." This is BIGMAP's ninth annual symposium and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. April 18 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center, Ames. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/apr/bigmap CALS SPONSOR OF FFA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, APRIL 23-24 The 84th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference will be April 23-24 at the Iowa State Center in Ames. CALS is a major sponsor for the event, which includes space in the career fair and the awarding of eight $500 scholarships. Dean Wendy Wintersteen will receive an honorary degree and will be recognized for the overall program support. The College is sponsoring a barbecue to feed more than 2,700 students. CALS students will present workshops for high school students, and CALS Ambassadors have organized more than 50 tours for FFA students and classes so they can experience ISU. More: http://www.iowaffa.com/stateconvention.aspx OUTDOOR CHANNEL TO AIR STUDENT TIMBERSPORT COMPETITION APRIL 29 The Forestry Club participated in the 60th Midwestern Foresters Conclave in Tomahawk, Wisc. this weekend. The team took fourth place and also had some individual winners. Travis Maak, a senior in forestry, kept his title as the match-split defending champion. Laura Helmich, a senior in forestry, and Hannah Howard, a junior in forestry and animal ecology, won the Jill and Jill's log roll. Helmich also placed second in the Women's Underhand Chop competition. Justin Edwards, a senior in forestry, placed third overall in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series Collegiate competition. Edwards and the women's double bucksaw team with Traci Ott, a freshman in animal ecology, and Howard will be aired on the Outdoor Channel on April 29 at 3 p.m. HORTON TO RETIRE FROM RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS A retirement reception will be held for Patricia Horton, account clerk with ISU Research and Demonstration Farms, on May 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. (comments at 2:45) in 142 Curtiss Hall.   GAMMA SIGMA DELTA HOLDS INITIATION, GIVES AWARDS The Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture held its initiation and awards ceremony April 12. The following awards and scholarships were presented along with three faculty initiates, 61 undergraduate student initiates, 64 graduate and veterinary medicine student initiates and one alumni initiate. Ann Marie VanDerZanden, horticulture, is the 2012-13 president, and Curtis Youngs, animal science, vice president. * Mission Award, Teaching "“ Phil Spike, animal science * Mission Award, Research "“ Jack Dekkers, animal science * Mission Award, International "“Robert Rust, animal science * Alumni Award of Merit "“ Deborah Diersen-Schade, Mead Johnson Nutrition * Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture "“ Douglas Kenealy, animal science * Sophomore Scholarship "“ Brent Sexton, animal science * Senior Scholarship "“ Joseph Thomas, animal science LEOPOLD CENTER REPORTS ON FOUR COMPLETED PROJECTS The Leopold Center website is featuring results from four recently completed projects on woody biomass, carbon sequestration, local food systems and renewable energy policy tools. NREM SPECIALISTS AND FACULTY PRESENT CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE About 40 people gathered at Big City Burgers and Greens in downtown Des Moines on April 3 to learn from ISU natural resource ecology and management specialists and faculty about headwater streams, watersheds and individual, neighborhood or larger scale actions to protect and enhance stream conditions. The program was a Science Center of Iowa Café Scientifique segment, recorded by Iowa Public Television. DEADLINES AND REMINDERS 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. ................................................... FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ................................................... SEMINAR ON UMN NANOFABRICATION FACILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES The College of Engineering will host a seminar, "Resources for Research in Nanoscience," by Jim Marti of the University of Minnesota's Nanofabrication facility. The seminar will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students interested in nanoscience and nanofabrication to learn about expertise and capabilities at the facility and the potential for collaboration. The seminar will be held on April 25 at 11 a.m. in the Alliant Energy Lee-Liu Auditorium.   GRANTS.GOV SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE APRIL 28-29 Grants.gov Production and AT07 Training Environments will be unavailable on April 28 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time until April 29 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, for system maintenance. The Grants.gov Project Management Office suggests that no application submissions or activity take place during this maintenance period. The system will be back online on April 30. More: http://grants.gov/   USDA-NIFA TO COMBINE FY 2012/FY 2013 AFRI FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM RFA The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced plans to combine the FY 2012 and FY 2013 AFRI Foundational Program Request for Applications. The consolidated RFA will combine appropriated funds for the FY 2012 and FY 2013 Foundational Programs and will be called the FY 2013 AFRI Foundational Program RFA. The anticipated publication date for the RFA is Aug. 15. NIH: NEW SAMPLE APPLICATIONS FOR R21 GRANTS New information from the National Institutes of Health describes the purpose of R21 grants, provides samples of successful applications, and presents factors to consider when deciding whether to apply. R21 grants are intended to encourage exploratory and even high-risk research with the purpose of introducing novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools, agents, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research. R21s work best for investigators who want to complete a project with limited scope, such as a pilot or feasibility study. More: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/newsletter/2012/Pages/0411.asp…   PLANNED REVISION OF NSF MERIT REVIEW CRITERIA In January 2011, the National Science Foundation published a Federal Register Notice indicating intent to revise its Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. NSF plans to publish a second Federal Register Notice in April 2012 with information about specific changes that are necessary to implement recommendations regarding NSF's merit review criteria. Once the second notice is published, the public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to the PAPPG. NSF anticipates issuing the revised PAPPG in October 2012, with an effective date of January 2013. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/in132/in132.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_80 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 8 (letter of intent): USDA Common Bean Productivity Research for Global Food Security Competitive Grants; awards up to $2 million. May 14: USDA Special Research Grants Program - Pest Management Alternatives; 6 to 8 awards, $100,000 to $200,000 per award. May 21: USDA-AMS Farmers Market Promotion Program; $5,000 to $100,000. More: www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP   May 24: USDA Risk Management Education and Outreach Partnership Program; $20,000 to $999,000. June 1, Sept. 1, Dec. 1, March 1 (letters of intent): USAID FY2012 & FY2013 Development Innovation Ventures Annual Program Statement; $100,000 to $15 million. June 5: NIH Research to Action: Assessing and Addressing Community Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-153.html June 5: USDA-NIFA-AFRI - Integrated Approaches to Prevent Childhood Obesity; behavioral, social and environmental factors. Aug. 21: NSF International Research Experience for Students; 12 awards. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12831  ................................................... COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK ................................................... TOWARD vs. TOWARDS The preferred form is without the "“s in American English, with it in British English. The same is true for other directional words, such as upward, downward, forward and backward, as well as afterward. The use of afterwards and backwards as adverbs is neither rare nor incorrect. But for the sake of consistency, it is better to stay with the simpler form. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th ed., 2010 ................................................... INFOGRAZING ................................................... INAUGURAL IOWA FFA HERITAGE GALA, APRIL 23 In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Iowa FFA Foundation and the 40th anniversary of the Iowa FFA Alumni Association, agricultural education in Iowa is celebrating the Heritage of FFA. Join us for a social reception immediately following the First General Session on April 23 at 6:30 p.m., across the parking lot in the ISU Alumni Center.  Tickets are $35 if registered before April 18 and $50 at the door.  More: http://www.iowaffafoundation.org/heritagegala.aspx PROJECT LEA/RN WORKSHOP, MAY 9-10 The agronomy department is holding two PROJECT LEA/RN workshops on May 9-10, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in 233 Science II, and Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 233 Science II. For the May program, registration deadline is Friday, April 23, and participants must plan to attend both days. CALS faculty with teaching responsibilities and faculty members new to CALS within the last four years are encouraged to attend. Enrollment will be limited to the first 20 educators who register. More: Lisa McEnaney, lisakay3@iastate.edu STUDENTS AT TEXAS A&M STAND UP FOR AGRICULTURE Students in a variety of agriculture-related organizations at Texas A&M University have formed a new advocacy movement dedicated to promoting agricultural awareness to the students. Through educational events and media publicity, this movement works to promote a positive, educated understanding of American agriculture so that people may better understand just how vital it is to our nation, economy and way of life. View the video on the following link and let Jasmine Dillon, a graduate student in animal breeding in TAMU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, explain the campaign. ................................................... MARGINALIA ................................................... ISU RUNNERS REPRESENTED AT BOSTON MARATHON "Boston is the Mecca for marathoners. Only 10 percent of marathoners ever get to run Boston." Jonathan Wendel, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, and his wife, Kathleen Foster-Wendel, are competing in the Boston Marathon today. Two CALS students are running the Boston Marathon as well: Samuel Bird, a senior in global resource systems, and Claire Steinweg, a senior in environmental science. ........................................................ 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.