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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Nov. 12, 2012 No. 726
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COLLEGE NEWS
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NEW FACULTY MEMBERS JOIN ABE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has added new faculty members working in food safety and grain quality and in manure management and water quality. Gretchen Mosher, a researcher in food safety and grain quality, joined the department in August with duties in teaching and research, and also serves as the department's director of undergraduate services. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/1057/. Daniel Andersen works with livestock producers on manure management and water quality matters. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/1058/
VIDEO SHOWS HOW FSHN'S SENSORY TEST LAB HELPS COMPANIES, CONSUMERS
Companies like Hy-Vee contract with ISU's Sensory Test Lab in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition to survey Iowans and find out which food items are most liked by the average consumer. In a video, Ken Prusa explains how the lab works, using scientific research to help companies create products. More: http://www.hs.iastate.edu/multimedia/?embed=370
XIN ON ALTERNATIVE HEN HOUSING STUDY
The Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply has finished the first phase of a two-year study on alternative housing systems for laying hens under commercial American farm conditions. Hongwei Xin, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the Egg Industry Center, has been one of the scientists working on the study, in addressing tradeoffs between systems in the environmental research, one of five areas in the study. More: http://www.feedstuffsfoodlink.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=...
KALEITA TO SPEAK ON ADVANCES IN PRECISION AG AT NOV. 14 WEBINAR
The Iowa Learning Farms' monthly webinar, to be held Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 11:30 a.m., will feature Amy Kaleita, agriculture and biosystems engineering. Kaleita will offer a snapshot of the cutting edge and future needs of precision agriculture. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/advances-precision-agriculture-...
SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE POSTER PRESENTATION, DEC. 5
A poster presentation and reception for this semester's Science With Practice participants will be held Dec. 5, 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the Kildee Atrium. Science With Practice is an experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture sponsored by CALS and the ISU Agricultural Endowment.
CULINARY SCIENCE CLUB TO NAME FINALISTS FOR CHILI CONTEST
Our Iowa magazine is sponsoring a chili cook-off and has asked ISU's Culinary Science Club to make and taste the recipes submitted and name the finalists. Erica Beirman, coordinator of the culinary science program and club advisor, said this project will allow the students to showcase their food preparation skills, sensory skills, knowledge of food and what makes combinations unique. Finalists will be invited to campus to make their recipes for the judges, which will include Beirman.
STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS CALS ONLINE LEARNING
The Brenton Center sponsored a student essay contest for National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 5-9. The student essays addressed how online learning has helped them reach their goals. The center also posted daily Facebook trivia questions about CALS distance education programs, a "where do you learn" photo contest and the Brenton Center's AgOnline 2012 Teacher of the Year. More: http://www.agde.iastate.edu/.
LATEST ISSUE OF SOCONNECTION AVAILABLE ONLINE
The latest issue of Soconnection, published by the Department of Sociology, is available online at http://www.soc.iastate.edu/connection.html
AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE: NEXT ISSUE SET FOR NOV. 26
Ag and Life Sciences Online will break next week for Thanksgiving. It will resume Monday, Nov. 26. Happy Thanksgiving!
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Nov. 18-19: Iowa Organic Conference at the University of Iowa, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/10-23-2012/conference-address-future...
Nov. 28-29: Integrated Crop Management Conference, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/integrated-crop-management-conf...
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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CALS TRAVEL SUPPORT FOR NSF REGIONAL GRANTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 11-12
CALS will provide up to $850 each for up to four CALS faculty members to attend the National Science Foundation Spring Regional Grants Conference in Arlington, VA, on March 11-12, 2013. The conference, hosted by Howard University, provides key insight into competitive grant funding at NSF. Travel support will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis, with preference given to individuals who have not recently received CALS travel assistance for a grantsmanship workshop. Interested faculty should contact Joe Colletti via email (colletti@iastate.edu) by Friday, Nov. 16. More: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach.jsp
DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR EPA GRANT APPLICLATIONS
The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the deadline for proposals to the Environmental Education Regional Model Grant Program (Solicitation EPA-EE-12-01). The new application deadline is Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The purpose of the EE Regional Model Grant Program is to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and to provide the skills that participants in its funded projects need to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment. More: http://www.epa.gov/education/grants/index.html
OSPA TO CLOSE DURING WINTER BREAK
The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration will close from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. The OSPA main phone line (4-5225) will be monitored on Dec. 26-28 and Dec. 31. Faculty or staff may also email grants@iastate.edu for award-related matters, and ospa-proposals@iastate.edu for proposal-related matters. Both email accounts will be monitored. Goldsheets for proposals due between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1 and with budgets of $2 million or more should reach OSPA by Dec. 3. Goldsheets for proposals with budgets of less $2 million should reach OSPA by Dec. 17. More: http://ospa.iastate.edu/news/ospa-news.php?id=9
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SP@ISU BROADER IMPACTS EVALUATION WORKSHOP
To assist investigators with their broader impacts effort for National Science Foundation grants, the Strengthening the Professoriate@ISU program is offering a broader impacts evaluation workshop on Nov. 28 at the Memorial Union. Sessions start at 10 a.m. and lunch is provided. Participants are asked to register by Nov. 14. More: http://apps.spisu.iastate.edu/events/view/id/34
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. 4 (letter of intent): NSF Cyber-Enabled Sustainability Science and Engineering (CyberSEES). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504829&WT
Dec. 13 (letters of intent): Doris Duke Foundation Conservation Research Program. More: http://www.ddcf.org/Programs/Environment/Funding-Opportunities/
Jan. 15: Smithsonian Institution - James Smithson Fellowship Program; U.S. citizens/permanent residents not more than five years beyond receipt of Ph.D. degree. More: http://www.si.edu/ofi/jamessmithson
Jan. 20, April 20, Aug. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Early-Stage Innovative Molecular Analysis Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-13-001.html
Jan. 20, April 20, Aug. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Early-Stage Development of Innovative Technologies for Biospecimen Science (R21). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-13-003.html
Jan. 20, April 20, Aug. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Molecular Analysis Technologies for Cancer Research (R33). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-13-002.html
Jan. 30: NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator-initiated research projects. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503626
Feb. 4: NSF Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation (S2I2) - Conceptualization Projects; typical grant $500,000 for one year. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13511/nsf13511.htm
April 25 (letter of intent): NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Predoctoral Training Program in Systems Developmental Biology (T32). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-019.html
June 1: NSF Hydrologic Sciences. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13684&WT
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INFOGRAZING
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PROJECT LEA/RN WORKSHOP SCHEDULED AT ISU FOR JAN. 8-9
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss learning and teaching theories and brain research at a Project LEA/RN (Learning Enhancement Action/Resource Network) workshop scheduled for Jan. 8-9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 233 Science II. The workshop will be led by Jan Wiersema, natural resource ecology and management and Project LEA/RN associate director. Enrollment is limited to the first 20 educators to register. More: Jan Wiersema, janw@iastate.edu.
MLK ADVANCING ONE COMMUNITY AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE NOV. 15
The deadline for nominations for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advancing One Community Awards is Thursday, Nov. 15. These awards are giving annually to faculty/staff, students and campus organizations that have demonstrated commitment to the principles and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More: http://www.provost.iastate.edu/what-we-do/diversity/mlk
STEM CONVERSATION SET FOR NOV. 16
Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen will hold a community conversation featuring science, technology, engineering and math education and economic development on Nov. 16 at Reiman Gardens. The Ames conversation is one of a series taking place across Iowa this fall. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/stem-community-conversation-set...
STUDENT DIVERSITY APPLICATIONS FOR USDA AG OUTLOOK FORUM
The deadline and criteria have changed for the 2013 USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Student Diversity Program. Submissions are now due Nov. 16. Also, there is now flexibility in the acquisition of recommendation letters, which can be written by professors. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate students. All potential applicants will be reviewed at the department/unit level and then at the college level, and if selected, a nominee will be provided the required college endorsement to accompany their application to the USDA review panel. More: http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/diversity/diversityprogram_combined.pdf
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INTERNAL VOICES
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STUDENTS ON LESTER WILSON'S ONLINE COURSES
The Brenton Center for Agricultural Instruction and Technology Transfer will award its first Ag Online Teacher of the Year award to Lester Wilson, food science and human nutrition, this afternoon, Nov. 12, at 4:10 p.m. in the Center for Crops Utilization Research Theater, room 1951 Food Sciences Building. The award recognizes how faculty have helped CALS distance education programs grow; enrollment has increased 40 percent over a year ago. Student nominations included the following remarks:
* "One of the greatest professors I have had in the four years here at ISU."
* "He understands that a student chooses to take online classes because they need a more flexible class when their schedules are already hectic. At the beginning of the semester I had a 3-month-old baby and no daycare and the flexibility of his class was perfect. I learned what the class objectives were at my own time thanks to his well explained lectures."
* "Exciting and interesting lectures with many examples. Print materials that go with the lecture and textbook materials making it easy to follow. Willing to answer questions and interact with students online. Demonstrations and extra video programs that help explain concepts and materials."
* "He is very thorough in his teaching and explaining. He is determined to not allow students to fail if they are willing to put in the effort."
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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EXTENSION PROGRAMS REMAIN RELEVANT AS THEY FACE NEW CHALLENGES
"We need extension today, more than ever, because our society is growing not only in size, but also in the nature and complexity of its problems. The recent and painful lessons of natural disasters, the threats of man-made catastrophes, of pandemic diseases, and the fragility of the technological systems on which our trust and welfare so blindly reside, give us reason to be concerned," said Waded Cruzado, president of Montana State University, in a speech at the annual conference of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. More: http://chronicle.com/article/Extension-Programs-Now-a/135734/?cid=at&utm...
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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