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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
July 22, 2013 No. 759
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COLLEGE NEWS
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STORIES: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF FARMING
The latest issue of the college’s alumni magazine, STORIES in Agriculture and Life Sciences, featuring research, education and extension programs related to farming is available at: http://stories.cals.iastate.edu/
CALS STUDENT SELECTED FOR OXFAM AMERICA’S CHANGE INITIATIVE
Rebecca Chamberlin, a junior in global resource systems, is one of 50 students nationwide selected for Oxfam America’s CHANGE Initiative to provide relief against hunger and poverty. Oxfam America is an international development organization working in 90 countries. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-studen…
AGRONOMY STUDENT NAMED CARGILL GLOBAL SCHOLAR
Cargill and the Institute of International Education announced that Rebecca Clay, a junior in agronomy, has been selected as a Cargill Global Scholar in this inaugural year of the program. The Cargill Global Scholars program provides financial support and leadership development opportunity to undergraduate students from around the world. More
ISU PART OF TEAM HONORED FOR SWINE NUTRITION RESEARCH
ISU is part of a team that has received the 2013 North Central Region Excellence in Multistate Research Award presented by the North Central Regional Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. The swine nutrition research team has researched and helped solve problems related to swine nutrition, pork producers’ profitability and distribution of high-quality pork products to consumers worldwide. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-part-team-honored-excell…
COMPANIES SPIN OFF FROM CENTER FOR BIORENEWABLE CHEMICALS
Two companies launched by discoveries at an engineering research center based at ISU have won business development grants to help them commercialize their biorenewable technologies. Researchers at the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals developed the technologies. Basil Nikolau, Francis M. Craig Professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, is deputy director of CBiRC. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2013/07/19/cbircspinoffs
FIELD DAYS OFFER IDEAS FOR GARDENERS
ISU Research and Demonstration Farms will host a series of Demonstration Garden Field Days beginning today, July 22. Among the plants featured at the gardens will be a colored pepper trial, grafted tomatoes, raised tomato beds and “giant” vegetables and flowers. Cindy Haynes, horticulture, will lead the field days. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-field-…
NAIR SHARES RESEARCH ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION WEBSITE
A new Sustainable Vegetable Production website has the latest research for fruit and vegetable growers. Results, publications, videos and other resources generated by research conducted by Ajay Nair, horticulture, and his lab team are posted on the site.
RESEARCHERS STUDY PRECISION NUTRITION
Niche market swine producers may soon have data to precisely match the nutrients in feed with the needs of their pigs. John Mabry, animal science, is working with the Iowa Pork Producers Association to study the nutritional needs of pigs raised for niche markets. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-researchers-study…
DAIRY STUDY STRIVES FOR EFFICIENCY
Diane Spurlock, animal science, and George Washington Carver interns Morgan Garvey and Micah Rollie, are conducting research on cattle to understand how cows can be more efficient in converting feed into milk. They spoke with CALS Communications Office intern Danniel Arriaga, a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines who is also part of the George Washington Carver Internship program. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2013/perfect-cow
MORE THAN 400 FREE PASSPORTS FOR CALS STUDENTS SINCE 2006
In 2006, CALS began a program to provide free passports to students applying to study abroad during an academic year who were “first-time travelers.” Over the last seven years, 410 students and 1 faculty member have received free passports through the program. The 2012-13 academic year was record breaking for the CALS Study Abroad program, with 378 students participating in study abroad opportunities.
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER INTERNS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
The largest class of George Washington Carver interns is busy on the ISU campus getting hands-on research opportunities during the eight-week program. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/video/view/id/zycwPu7CKH0
RETIRED AGRONOMY PROFESSOR KENNETH FREY DIES
Kenneth Frey, distinguished professor emeritus in agronomy, died July 14. He was 90. Frey served on the faculty for 40 years and was recognized both nationally and internationally as a plant breeder. In 2007, ISU established the Kenneth Frey Endowed Chair in Agronomy, currently held by Thomas Lubberstedt. Inurnment will be with his wife, Ann, in the ISU Cemetery.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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CHANGES FOR STARTING NSF PROPOSALS IN FASTLANE
Currently, FastLane allows applicants to start a new proposal by copying from a previously submitted proposal or by using a previously created template. Starting Aug. 2, applicants will only be able to copy proposals submitted under the current version of the National Science Foundation Grant Proposal Guide. Also, applicants will no longer be able to create and save templates in FastLane. The standard process for creating a new proposal remains unchanged. More: http://goo.gl/xN9qLV
EPA WEBINAR ON SBIR GRANT PROGRAM
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold an informational webinar for small businesses interested in applying for a Small Business Innovation Research contract under EPA's current Phase 1 solicitation. Research areas include water; innovation in manufacturing; waste; air quality; homeland security; and the People, Prosperity and the Planet Special Funding Opportunity. The webinar will be held on July 23 from 10 to 11 a.m.
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/
Aug. 14 (letter of intent): NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Program Projects (P01); investigator-initiated projects. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-13-266.html
Aug. 30: Iowa STEM Advisory Council – STEM Schools and Classrooms; PI must be private or public school district serving grades 6 through 12. More: http://www.iowastem.org
Sept. 10 (letter of intent): Concern Foundation; open to assistant professors in cancer research, $120,000 over two years.
Sept. 15: Understanding Parasitic Disease Transmission and Control Strategies to Improve Animal and Human Health (W. Africa); up to $250,000 per award, 25 percent cost share.
Sept. 16: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation – Sloan Research Fellowships; limit of three applications per department; computational or evolutionary molecular biology, economics, neuroscience and others. More: http://www.sloan.org/sloan-research-fellowships/
Oct. 2: NIH Broad Agency Announcement - Development of Vaccine Formulations Effective Against NIAID Priority Pathogens.
Feb. 20: NSF Energy for Sustainability. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026
White papers (continuous): DOD Naval Research Laboratory-Wide Broad Agency Announcement.
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INFOGRAZING
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ITALIAN COMPANY WANTS TO OPEN U.S. HEADQUARTERS AT ISU
An Italian company taking a shot at boosting the honeybee population wants to open its U.S. headquarters in Iowa. During a two-day trip to Iowa on July 15-16, BeesFree chairman Andrea Festuccia said, “Iowa has the right mentality because it’s focused on agriculture. Beekeeping is a huge part of agriculture.” BeesFree hopes to open an office at ISU’s Research Park.
GROWING FOOD IN A HOTTER, DRIER LAND
Gary Paul Nabhan, a research scientist at the Southwest Center at the University of Arizona and author of “Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land: Lessons From Desert Farmers in Adapting to Climate Uncertainty,” has written an op-ed in the July 21 issue of The New York Times. Nabhan talks about the heat wave currently blanketing the Western states and its impact on the quality and quantity of food produced there. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/our-coming-food-crisis.html?n…
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INTERNAL VOICES
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BANWART: UNDERSTANDING VALUE OF INTERNSHIPS
Haley Banwart, a sophomore in agricultural and life sciences education, is an intern at MaxYield Cooperative this summer. From organizing the 2014 calendar to event planning to conducting video interviews, she is expanding her skill set in the communications field. “During my first weeks as a freshman at Iowa State University I was already being encouraged and advised to seek out internships early on in my college career,” said Banwart in a “From the Field” blog she writes for MaxYield. “Now that I am about halfway through my internship with MaxYield I certainly understand the reason why this objective is so heavily preached at ISU. Not only have I developed and improved my communications skills, but I have also gained a better understanding of what opportunities are available for me in a future career.”
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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VILSACK: HONORING “TAMA JIM” AT TRAER HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The longest serving cabinet member in U.S. history is from eastern Iowa, and on his watch, the country made great strides in the modernization of agriculture and food inspection. James “Tama Jim” Wilson lived on a farm in Traer during his twenties and went on to be a member of Congress and serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1897-1913. Current Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack took part in a ribbon cutting for the “Tama Jim” exhibit at the Traer Historical Museum on July 20. “The willingness to expand agriculture production and also the trade implications of agriculture, food safety, he built a solid foundation upon which the current department is built, so it’s important for us to celebrate that as well,” Vilsack said.
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MARGINALIA
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A LOW-TECH MOSQUITO DETERRENT
Outsmarting bugs with a fan may be a little known strategy. But the method is endorsed by the American Mosquito Control Association. Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing a large fan on your deck can provide a low-tech solution. More in the July 15 issue of The Wall Street Journal: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/science/a-low-tech-mosquito-deterrent…
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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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EDITOR
Julie Stewart
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
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