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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 16, 2013 No. 767
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COLLEGE NEWS
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RECORD ENROLLMENT FOR CALS…AGAIN
For the second year in a row, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has set a new record for enrollment. This fall we have 4,291 undergraduates, an increase of 10 percent, and 692 graduate students, an increase of 6 percent. In a message to the college, Dean Wendy Wintersteen addresses why students are attracted to our college and how we are working to proactively support and welcome the increasing student enrollment. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2013/cals-record-enrollment-again
OCT. 1 DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS ON GUIDELINES FOR WORK IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
CALS has extended the deadline for comments on a draft set of guidelines for the work of faculty, staff and students in agricultural development activities in developing countries. The new deadline for submitting comments is Oct. 1. All comments should be emailed to cals@iastate.edu.
HONEYMAN HONORED FOR RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mark Honeyman, animal science and agricultural education and studies, was presented the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research at the college’s fall convocation on Sept. 10. Honeyman was recognized for creating and leading a research and demonstration program on alternative swine and beef cattle production systems for Iowa, and his work as coordinator of the Iowa State Research and Demonstration Farms. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-profes…
CARPENTER HONORED WITH FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Susan Carpenter, animal science, was presented the Rossmann Manatt Faculty Development Award at the college’s fall convocation on Sept. 10. Carpenter plans to use the stipend provided by the award to develop new interdisciplinary research efforts that examine host-virus interactions at the genomic level. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-profes…
THREE SOIL SCIENTISTS RECOGNIZED WITH DEAN’S CITATION
Three soil scientists from the Department of Agronomy were recognized with the Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Contributions at the college’s fall convocation on Sept. 10. Lee Burras, with assistance from Tom Fenton and Jerry Miller, has worked for several years to update the Corn Suitability Rating. The first CSR, published in the early 1970s by Fenton and others, was a landmark piece of research to create an index to rate Iowa soils for potential row-crop productivity. The new version is now being implemented and remains a trusted resource for Iowans, grounded in science with improved transparency and consistency.
ISU IN THE FOREFRONT OF AIR EMISSIONS RESEARCH
A first-of-its-kind study by ISU scientists is seeking to fill the information gap that exists on air emissions from swine facilities. Funded in part by the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Hongwei Xin, agriculture and biosystems engineering, and his research team have been quantifying ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from a 4,300 sow breeding, gestation and farrowing facility located in central Iowa since January 2011. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-forefr…
SENIOR IN ANIMAL SCIENCE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP
Karl Kerns, senior in animal science, was awarded the 2013 Murray Wise Associates Agriculture Entrepreneurship Scholarship. Kerns was selected to receive the $10,000 award because of his interest and aptitude for entrepreneurship, his involvement in ISU’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative program and his service as a member of the student advisory team. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/10000-murray-wise-scholarshi…
CALS WELCOMES GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POST DOCS, SEPT. 18
CALS welcomes new graduate students and new post-doc students at an event Sept. 18 in 224 Curtiss Hall. There will be a brief college presentation from 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. followed by a student panel discussion. Dinner will be provided in Harl Commons, in the lower level of Curtiss Hall, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Students can meet other students, faculty and directors of graduate education. Please RSVP to Ruth MacDonald (ruthmacd@iastate.edu) by Sept. 16.
FEEDING THE WORLD SEMINAR SERIES CONTINUES SEPT. 19
The fall 2013 seminar series, “Feeding the World: Are We Making Progress,” continues Sept. 19 at 3:40 p.m. in the Ensminger Room, 1204 Kildee Hall. James Roth, distinguished professor and the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health, and Executive Director of the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics at ISU, will present “Zoonotic Disease and How It Affects Food Security and Human Health.” 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.
JENSEN AUTHORS CAST REPORT ON ANIMAL FEED vs. HUMAN FOOD
Helen Jensen, economics, is one author on a task force that has prepared a new CAST issue paper titled “Animal Feed vs. Human Food: Challenges and Opportunities in Sustaining Animal Agriculture Toward 2050.” The report will be released Sept. 23.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CONSORTIUM TO BE HELD OCT. 1-2
Global Food Security Consortium, a Presidential Initiative centered at ISU and CALS, is holding its first workshop Oct. 1-2 at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. The program will address interdisciplinary, comprehensive and innovative approaches to the problems of global food security through focused research efforts in five platforms: germplasm and seed systems; climate resilient healthy crops; climate resilient healthy animals; post-harvest and utilization; and policies, regulations and trade. This holistic strategy addresses each link in the food value chain, considering plants and animals together in a unified systems approach to help feed the world. To attend, contact globalfoodsecurity@iastate.edu.
PRODUCERS AND IOWA BENEFIT FROM FORAGE AND PASTURE EDUCATION
Iowa beef producers are raising more beef from fewer forage acres after putting into practice forage and grazing management education offered by ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Beef Center. Producers said the practices they implemented as a result of the programs had provided a median economic value of more than $1,000 per operation.
LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM FINISHES THIRD
The ISU Livestock Judging Team finished third at the National Barrow Contest on Sept. 9. Brent Boland, senior in animal science, finished with high individual overall honors. Team members include Boland; Brad Johnson, senior in animal science; Brett Johnson, senior in agricultural studies; Tyler Krug, senior in agricultural systems technology; Rich Nichols, senior in animal science; and Willie Weis, junior in animal science.
DAIRY JUDGING TEAM PLACES FIFTH IN WISCONSIN
The ISU Dairy Judging Team competed in the 20th annual Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Viroqua, Wis. on Sept. 15. ISU placed second in Guernseys, fourth in Brown Swiss, fifth in Holsteins, fourth in Oral Reasons and fifth overall, out of 15 teams competing. Amanda Franck, senior in dairy science, placed second in Guernseys and third overall. Team members include Franck; Megan Righi, senior in dairy science; Emily Simon, junior in dairy science; and Logan Worden, senior in dairy science. Lee Kilmer and Christen Jackson, animal science, coach the team.
CALS DRAWING FOR 2013 ISU UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN
CALS faculty, staff and students who contribute to United Way by Sept. 30 can participate in a drawing for a TV, Okoboji Grill gift card and Reiman Garden passes. Send an email to Carla Persaud at cpersaud@iastate.edu with subject line “I contributed to United Way.” The email message should state name and campus address only; gift amount is not to be disclosed. Winners will be notified on Oct. 2.
DONATE BOOKS FOR CALS UNITED WAY BOOK SALE
Donations of paperback/hardcover books, comic books and DVDs are being collected in 138 Curtiss Hall (Carla Persaud), 1210 Molecular Biology (Diane Jepsen), and 2102 Molecular Biology Building (Linda Wild). Two separate book sales will take place on Oct. 2 in Curtiss Hall and Oct. 3 in the atrium of the Molecular Biology building. All proceeds go to the 2013 ISU United Way Campaign. Contact Carla Persaud at cpersaud@iastate.edu or 4-1823 with questions.
DONATE ITEMS FOR CALS UNITED WAY ONLINE AUCTION
CALS is collecting items through Oct. 9 for the fourth annual United Way online auction. Contact Carla Persaud at cpersaud@iastate.edu or 4-1823 with a description of your items. The college-sponsored auction will run Oct. 10-16, with proceeds going to the ISU United Way Campaign.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Sept. 23: Pesek Colloquium on Sustainable Agriculture, 8 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall
Oct. 3: Beef Nutrition Research Showcase
Oct. 15: Proposals due for CALS Online Course, Certificate and Program Initiative
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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GRADUATE COLLEGE RECRUIT GRANTS
The ISU Graduate College is launching a new grant program to increase efforts at the departmental, unit or interdisciplinary program level to recruit underrepresented graduate students. Faculty members from any ISU academic department or interdisciplinary program are eligible to apply. RECRUIT will award grants up to $2,000 each. Proposals are due Sept. 30. More: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/diversity/faculty/recruit_grants.php
RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH TRAINING – NIFA, NSF and NIH
In April 2013, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research as a condition for grant awards. By accepting a NIFA award, the grantee assures that program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and any staff participating in the research project receive RCR training and oversight. RCR training is also required by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Information about how to meet the RCR requirements of each agency is available from the ISU Office for Responsible Research.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING VISUALIZATION CHALLENGE
The International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge, cosponsored by the National Science Foundation and the journal Science, was created to celebrate the grand tradition of science visualization and to encourage its continued growth. The spirit of the competition is to communicate science, engineering and technology for education and journalistic purposes. Winners will be selected in five categories: photography, illustration, posters and graphics, games and apps, and video. The winning entries will appear in a special section of Science and be hosted at ScienceMag.org and NSF.gov. In addition, each winner will receive a one-year online subscription to Science and a certificate. Entries are due by Sept. 30.
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. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Limited Competition: International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (U19); one application per institution, $350,000 over five years. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-TW-13-001.html
Oct. 31: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Achieving Healthy Growth through Agriculture and Nutrition.
Oct. 31: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Records for Life: A Design Contest that can Save Lives.
Nov. 1: 2014 NCR-SARE Youth Educator Grant; $2,000. More: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs
Nov. 13: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations.
Jan. 15: USDA Community Forest Program; up to $400,000 per award, 50 percent matching funds.
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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`WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS?’ CONSIDER MEDIA AUDIENCE
For scientists to successfully deliver a clear message it must be relevant to your audience. When talking to journalists, take it a step further and consider “their” audience. A journalist who works for the Wall Street Journal will have a different audience in mind than one who works for National Geographic. (Escape from the Ivory Tower: A Guide to Making Your Science Matter, 2010, pg. 106)
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INFOGRAZING
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JOHN DEERE ON CAMPUS TODAY, SEPT. 16
Today, Sept. 16, is John Deere Day on the ISU campus. In addition to Deere equipment, there is a tent on central campus and two tents near the Marston Water Tower. Refreshments will be provided at both locations and John Deere staff will be available to talk with students, faculty and staff. There will be educational presentations in classrooms across campus and opportunities to interact with professionals from various disciplines spanning multiple colleges. John Deere's goal is to strengthen the many relationships they have at ISU.
COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE FOR NOVEMBER WORKSHOP
A limited number of complimentary registrations are available on a first come, first serve basis for faculty, staff and graduate students to attend a workshop being held at the Gateway Conference Center in Ames on Nov. 4-5. “Science and Opportunities in Using Site-Directed Mutagenesis for Plant and Animal Improvement” is hosted by the newly organized Crop Bioengineering Consortium at ISU as an inaugural outreach activity. Send requests for complimentary registration to Jeff Wolt, jdwolt@iastate.edu.
JEFFERSON SCIENCE FELLOW PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Jefferson Science Fellow program is accepting applications for fellowships to be awarded in 2014. Each fellow spends one year at the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development for an on-site assignment in Washington, D.C. Assignments involve providing up-to-date expertise in the rapidly advancing science, technology, engineering and medical arenas that impact policy decisions. Each fellow’s salary and benefits are paid by his/her academic institution. In addition, fellows receive a per diem of up to $50,000 to cover local living expenses, and $10,000 is awarded for assignment-related travel. Applications are due Jan. 13. Max Rothschild, animal science, Iowa State’s first Jefferson Science Fellow (2011-12), is available to mentor faculty members interested in applying. He can be contacted at mfrothsc@iastate.edu or 294-6202. More: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Jefferson/PGA_048242
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INTERNAL VOICES
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WINTERSTEEN: FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IS BRIGHT
ISU is prepared and eager to help confront some of the world’s most pressing problems—providing food and fuel for a growing world population. That was the message delivered by Dean Wendy Wintersteen on Sept. 9 at the annual Rural-Urban dinner held at Consumers Energy in Marshalltown. The future of agriculture is bright, Wintersteen said. “We have 4,000 undergraduates and graduate students studying agriculture now. Compare this to approximately 1,800 we had in the 1980s when the state was in the middle of the farm crisis.”
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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CURTISS HALL TERRAZZO FLOOR TOPIC OF QUILTING BLOG
Jill Guffy, co-author of the Modern Quilt Relish blog, discussed the renovations in Curtiss Hall in her Sept. 10 entry, and the terrazzo floor in particular. “For me, it is a wonderful combination of organic and geometric shapes. The balance of modern warm and cool colors, light and dark values, set on a white background displays great radial movement. It tells a story of who lives here. I love it,” said Guffy. More: http://modernquiltrelish.blogspot.com/
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MARGINALIA
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DUST BOWL WORRIES SWIRL UP AS SHELTERBELT BUCKLES
In the 1930s, the Dust Bowl ravaged crops and farmland in parts of Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas disappeared. After the howling winds passed and the dust settled, federal foresters planted 100 million trees across the Great Plains, forming a giant windbreak—known as a shelterbelt—that stretched from Texas to Canada. Now those trees are dying from drought, leaving some to worry whether another Dust Bowl might swirl up again. View the full story on NPR news at : http://delmarvapublicradio.net/post/dust-bowl-worries-swirl-shelterbelt…
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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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