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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
September 3, 2013 No. 765
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COLLEGE NEWS
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HARL COMMONS AND GLOBAL CAFÉ NOW OPEN
Harl Commons, a new student-centered space in Curtiss Hall located on the east side of the builing, is now open. In addition to The Global Café and its adjacent seating, Harl Commons features two locations for student meetings, a public computer bank, lounge seating, study tables and men’s and women’s restrooms.
THE STORY BEHIND GLOBAL CAFÉ’S COFFEE
Customers who purchase a cup of coffee at the Global Café in Curtiss Hall are drinking high-quality, fair trade coffee grown by farmers in Uganda. CALS will donate 50 percent of its café commission to the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, a college program helping farmers and families in rural Uganda. So, drink a cup and make a global connection.
FEEDING THE WORLD SEMINAR SERIES BEGINS SEPT. 5
The fall 2013 seminar series, “Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress,” begins Sept. 5 at 3:40 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. Gerald Klonglan, professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology, will present “Rural Development in Tanzania.” The annual seminar series is sponsored by the M.E. Ensminger International Chair in Animal Agriculture and the Raymond and Mary Baker Chair in Global Agriculture.
BACON EXPO TICKET SALES BEGIN SEPT. 6
Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 6, for the Iowa State University Bacon Expo. The family-themed event will be held Oct. 19 in the Scheman Building Courtyard at the Iowa State Center from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be 1,200 admission tickets for sale at $8 each. The goal of the event is to provide an alcohol-free, fun atmosphere for bacon enthusiasts and showcase the student organizations and educational opportunities in CALS. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-bacon-…
ROGER BRUENE CAREER SERVICES SUITE DEDICATED
The renovated office suite of the CALS Career Services was dedicated Aug. 31 to honor Roger Bruene, the former director. In 1975 he became the first full-time director of the Office of Career Services in the college. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/college-agriculture-and-life…
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE
Registration is open for the 2014 Entrepreneurship Agribusiness Executive Conference, hosted by ISU’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative. The conference, scheduled for Feb. 18-19 at the Gateway Hotel and Convention Center in Ames, will promote discussions on issues related to leadership and strategic innovation in agribusiness. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/registration-opens-2014-entr…
CALS UNDERGRADUATES PRESENT AT CONFERENCE IN EDINBURGH
Dylan Clark, senior in global resource systems and environmental science, and Deepak Premkumar, senior in economics and global resource systems, conducted research in Tanzania during the summer of 2012. They are presenting that research at the European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium in Edinburgh, September 9-13. The conference website is: http://www.livingplanet2013.org/
WINNING TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR 4-H CULINARY CHALLENGE
Youth from across the state showcased their skills in the kitchen during the 2013 Cook This! 4-H Culinary Challenge at the Iowa State Fair. Winners have been announced for each of three age divisions. The first place senior-level team will have their recipes tested in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen and featured in Successful Farming magazine. In addition, each winning team member who enrolls in an academic program in CALS or the College of Human Sciences will receive a $500 scholarship.
GLEASON NAMED FELLOW FOR PLANT PATHOLOGY SOCIETY
The American Phytopathological Society named Mark Gleason, plant pathology and microbiology, a fellow during its joint meeting in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 11. This is in recognition of distinguished contributions to plant pathology or the society.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Sept. 10: CALS Convocation, 4:10 p.m., Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall
Sept. 23: Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, 8 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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INTERNAL COMPETITION: OBAMA–SINGH 21ST CENTURY KNOWLEDGE INITIATIVE
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development is accepting pre-proposals for the Obama–Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative. This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships between U.S. and Indian institutions of higher education. Funded projects will support the program’s goals of encouraging mutual understanding, facilitating educational reform, fostering economic development and engaging civil society through academic cooperation. Proposals are eligible in the fields of energy, climate change and environmental studies; education and educational reform; public health; and sustainable development and community development. ISU can submit one proposal. Pre-proposals should be submitted to Chitra Rajan (rajanc@iastate.edu) by Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.
USAID-SIDA RFI: SECURING WATER FOR FOOD
The U.S. Agency for International Development and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Government (Sida) have issued a joint Request for Information for the upcoming solicitation for Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development. This program will focus on innovations that will improve water efficiency along the food value chain, thereby boosting food security and alleviating poverty. USAID and Sida anticipate making approximately $15 million available for projects when the final solicitation is released. Responses to the RFI are due Oct. 4. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=241500
BORLAUG FELLOWS GRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT
The U.S. Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security graduate research grant supports graduate students who are interested in developing a component of their graduate research in a developing country setting and in collaboration with a mentor from an International Agricultural Research Center or a qualifying National Agricultural Research System unit. U.S. citizenship is required, and applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. graduate program at the time of application. Applications are due Nov. 11.
SEPTEMBER TRAINING WEBINARS FOR CAYUSE 424
Evisions Product Support will offer three Cayuse 424 training webinars during September. Getting Started with Cayuse 424 will be held Sept. 17; Budgeting FAQs in Cayuse 424 (Updated) will be held Sept. 18; and Subcontracts in Cayuse 424 will be held Sept. 19.
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/
Oct. 17 (letter of intent): Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-257.html
Oct. 31: USFWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants; one-to-one match required.
Nov. 12: USDA Rural Community Development Initiative Utilities Programs.
Nov. 26: NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504673
Jan. 31: Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research. More: http://goo.gl/kZvXm5
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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COPE WITH FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
You can take the stress out of a presentation by researching your audience prior to the event, says Janine Popick, chief executive of a marketing firm, in an article for Advancement Weekly. Tips for combating a fear of public speaking include:
• Know your audience – what is their background, how technical are they, what industries or companies do they come from?
• Appreciate your expertise – people are attending your presentation to learn something.
• Properly prepare – spend time practicing and rehearsing your presentation.
• Have fun – let yourself have some fun and allow your personality to shine through.
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Aug. 26, 2013 issue of Advancement Weekly.
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INFOGRAZING
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OSPA DIRECTOR CANDIDATE RECEPTIONS, SEPT. 3 AND 9
Two candidates have been selected for campus interviews for the position of director of the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration. Informal receptions are planned so that faculty and staff can get to know the candidates. A reception for Valrey Kettner will be held Tuesday, Sept. 3, 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gold Room. A reception for Madison Gray will be held Sept. 9, 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in 3150 Beardshear.
GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 5
A graduate student orientation for incoming students is being held Sept. 5, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Reiman Ballroom of the ISU Alumni Center. University administrators and representatives from ISU service offices will be providing information and available for questions. Register online at the Graduate College website. Also, an online graduate student orientation guide is available at: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/orientation/
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INTERNAL VOICES
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WINTERSTEEN: THE REAL OPORTUNITY IS TO RETAIN STUDENTS
Dean Wendy Wintersteen was part of a panel on Aug. 30 hosted by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the importance of commonsense immigration reform for Iowa’s agriculture and rural communities. Long waiting periods for visas hamper the university’s ability to hire immigrants, many of whom arrived in the U.S. as students. “Retaining the brightest students…that’s the real opportunity for the United States,” Wintersteen said.
GAUL: GOOD TO SEE SALARIES INCREASE
Data compiled and released by ISU shows college graduates who major in agriculture are making more in their first year of work than their 2012 counterparts. Mike Gaul, director of CALS Career Services, said he’s particularly pleased with jumps in salary for recent graduates in agricultural education. “It’s really good to see those [salaries] finally move north,” Gaul said, especially because small-town agricultural programs without teachers are sometimes forced to abandon agriculture education altogether. More: http://www.agri-pulse.com/Report-shows-recent-ag-college-grads-making-m…
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION BLOG: TODAY WAS MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
"Today was my first day of school—for the 48th consecutive year. I've been starting classes around this time every year since I first set foot in Miss Martin's kindergarten class, back in 1966." In a blog for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Rob Jenkins, associate professor of English at Georgia Perimeter College, talks about the beginning of the school year being a time of excitement and anticipation. "Today's students, just like their counterparts from two or three or five decades ago, are a little nervous, a little overwhelmed, a little afraid, a little shy—but mostly just excited. And on the first day of class—any first day of class—that pretty well describes me, too." More: http://chronicle.com/blogs/onhiring/48-first-days/40787?cid=pm&utm_sour…
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MARGINALIA
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PHOTOGRAPHING THE FEMALE FACE OF FARMING
After working in the agricultural industry for 11 years, Marji Guyler-Alaniz and her camera are traveling the backroads of Iowa in search of women working the land. She has launched FarmHer, a website where she posts photographs of women farmers in order to document the important role women play in our agriculture system. More: http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/photographing-the-female-face-of-farmin…
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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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