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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
December 9, 2013 No. 778
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COLLEGE NEWS
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GRS STUDENTS PRESENT SENIOR PROJECTS TONIGHT
Eighteen Global Resource Systems students present their senior projects tonight, Dec. 9, 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall. The Global Resource Systems major prepares students to work on complex global resource issues through leadership positions in international non-governmental organizations, global businesses, government agencies engaged in international trade and development, and globally engaged foundations, educational institutions and volunteer organizations. The major emphasizes global and cross-cultural engagement while equipping students with strong technical competency in a resource area of their choosing.
CALS DEVELOPMENT OFFERS TRAINING SESSION DEC. 12 ON GRANTS AND DONATIONS
CALS Development Office is hosting a training session for faculty and administrative staff to highlight how research grants, corporate donations and in-kind donations are documented both within the College and at the ISU Foundation, why they matter to our College and what reporting systems you can use to track your departmental and research funds. The training is Thursday, Dec. 12, 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Memorial Union South Ballroom. Breakfast refreshments provided. Please RSVP to Sarah Behounek Kassen, 4-9332, sbkassen@iastate.edu.
ARTHROPOD CENTER APPROVED BY BOARD OF REGENTS
The Board of Regents approved ISU’s request for the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies at its December meeting. The National Science Foundation funded an industry-university cooperative research center that will explore new strategies for managing insect pests that devastate crops and harm human health. Led by ISU and the University of Kentucky, the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies will be established with $800,000 over five years from the NSF. Bryony Bonning, entomology, will be the center’s director. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-university-kentucky-lead…
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP PRESENTED TO KERI JACOBS
The Iowa Institute for Cooperatives has provided support for an endowed professorship presented to Keri Jacobs, an assistant professor who studies cooperative economics. Jacobs, who also serves as an extension specialist, was presented the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Endowed Economics Professorship at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 26. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/endowed-professorship-presen…
ISU SCIENTISTS TEAM UP TO KEEP NITRATES ON FIELDS
Keeping nitrogen fertilizer on farm fields, to support optimum crop growth, and out of streams and rivers is no simple formula. It’s complex. “Think writing a novel versus writing a recipe,” said Matthew Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering. Helmers is working with teams of scientists who are field-testing promising strategies using a systems approach. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-scientists-team-k…
SCHNABLE SPEAKS AT LAUNCH OF PLANT SCIENCE REPORT
The American Society of Plant Biologists launched an innovative, community-driven report last week that envisions a 10-year research agenda for plant science and its impacts on food, fuel, feed, fiber, medicines and American competitiveness. Pat Schnable, distinguished professor in agronomy, was one of the speakers.
NEW OFFICERS FOR CALS STUDENT COUNCIL
New officers recently were elected for 2014 for the CALS Student Council. They are:
* Matt Kerns, sophomore in animal science, president
* Amanda Outhouse, junior in animal science, vice president
* Jenna Baldwin, sophomore in agricultural and life sciences education, secretary
* Morgan Sladek, sophomore in agricultural business, treasurer
NEW BANNER FEATURES SERVICE LEARNING STUDENTS FROM UGANDA
Two students from Uganda learned agricultural practices and entrepreneurial skills at Iowa State this fall as part of a program with the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Uganda’s Makerere University. George Kiwanuka is from a fishing community, and Moureen Mbeiza comes from a farm in eastern Uganda. They have graduated from Makerere University’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2013/ugandan-students-experience-…
VIDEO FEATURES BROWN ON CORN-BASED ETHANOL AND BIOFUELS
Robert Brown, Iowa Farm Bureau Director of ISU's Bioeconomy Institute, talks in a new video about what the public should better understand about corn-based ethanol. He also addresses the future potential for biofuels to positively impact the environment and how ISU research leads the way in putting agriculture to work for energy and biobased products. Brown, who is an Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering, the Gary and Donna Hoover Chair in Mechanical Engineering and director of ISU's Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies, discusses the topics in a video on the CALS website. The page includes videos of more information about Iowa State’s biofuels efforts.
PURCHASING LOCAL FOOD ADDS NEARLY $9 MILLION TO ECONOMY
A new Leopold Center report shows that institutional purchases of local food added nearly $9 million to the Iowa economy in 2012. The findings are part of an evaluation of the Regional Food Systems Working Group that supports local food systems in 90 of Iowa’s 99 counties. This was the first statewide effort to measure impacts associated with local food, from sales by farmers and purchases by grocery stores, restaurants and dining services to job creation in the local food sector.
CALS STUDENT SELECTED FOR SUPER BOWL INTERNSHIP
Josh Lenz, senior in horticulture, has been selected for Toro’s Super Bowl Internship. He will be working at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. This is the first outdoor, cold-weather Super Bowl to be held Feb. 2, and the plan is to put a bubble over the entire field to work on it the week before the game. Lenz works for the ISU athletic department and is a full-time student. One student is selected each year from a nation-wide competition. The 2013 intern was also an ISU student – Kevin Hansen. More: http://iaturf.blogspot.com/
ISU SPEAKERS PART OF WEATHER EXTREMES SYMPOSIUM, DEC. 11
The economic impact of adapting to weather extremes in Iowa is the topic of a symposium to be held Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Des Moines. Speakers from Iowa State include Chris Anderson, climate science program; Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms; Rick Cruse, agronomy, Iowa Water Center; and David Swenson, economics. Sponsors include the climate science program and Iowa Water Center at ISU. More: http://ppc.uiowa.edu/forkenbrock/extreme-weather
SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE POSTER PRESENTATION, DEC. 11
A poster presentation and reception for this semester's Science With Practice participants will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science With Practice is an experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture sponsored by CALS and the ISU Agricultural Endowment.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES: BLOCK AND BRIDLE SELLING SUMMER SAUSAGE AND CHEESE
An online form is available for the Block and Bridle Club’s annual holiday summer sausage and cheese sale. Orders will be accepted through Dec. 11. The summer sausage is made on campus in the Meat Lab and the cheese (one pound blocks of Colby jack, cheddar and pepper jack) is from Wisconsin. Money raised will be used for club trips, and shows and sales hosted by the club. For more information: isussandc@gmail.com.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES: AG COMMUNICATORS SELLING CALENDARS, COOKBOOKS
“Our Iowa” calendars and cookbooks are being sold by the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow for $10 a piece through Dec. 13. Items may be purchased in 206 Curtiss Hall. Proceeds go towards club activities and sending members to the National ACT Convention.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES: FORESTRY CLUB SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES
The Forestry Club is holding their annual Christmas tree fundraiser at the Reiman Gardens’ Maintenance Building Parking Lot. Sales are: Friday, Dec. 13, 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 15, 12 to 6 p.m. Proceeds go towards club activities and student development.
SAVE THE DATE: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CONSORTIUM, SPRING 2014
The Global Food Security Consortium spring symposium will be held April 29 to May 1, 2014, at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. This year’s theme is Closing the Yield Gap.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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BROADER IMPACTS TEXT ANALYSIS WORKSHOP HANDOUTS ONLINE
The documents for the Broader Impacts Text Analysis Workshop, presented by Elena Cotos, are available online. SP@ISU facilitated the collection of 105 funded and unfunded NSF proposals from ISU faculty. Cotos used corpus linguistics techniques to analyze the quality of the writing and integration of broader impacts plans within proposals. More: https://apps-spisu.sws.iastate.edu/events/view/id/56
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/
Jan. 6, June 27 (letter of intent): NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5501&WT.mc_ev=click
Jan. 24: NOAA 2014 NMFS-Sea Grant (Ph.D.) Fellowships in Marine Resource Economics.
Feb. 4: EPA Environmental Education Model Grants; regional grants $75,000 to $200,000, 25 percent cost share.
Feb. 4 (abbreviated proposals): NISS Measurement Grant Program (PMGP); $150,000 over three years.
March 4: EPA Systems-Based Research for Evaluating Ecological Impacts of Manufactured Chemicals; regular and early career awards.
April 6 (letter of intent): NIH Botanical Dietary Supplement Research Centers (P50); one application per institution; $1.25 million direct costs. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-14-001.html
May 27 (letter of intent): NIH Center for Advancing Natural Products Innovation and Technology (U41). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AT-14-006.html
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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WAYS TO SHARPEN YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
The team at Business Wire has come up with some tips to make you a better communicator:
* Commit to commenting. Be active by “liking” and commenting on posts you read.
* Refine your elevator pitch. Practice, edit, repeat.
* Get involved with an industry organization. Don’t just attend events—join a committee, serve on the board or simply volunteer your time as you can.
* Share your experiences. If you have no time to sit on a board or a committee, offer to speak at one of their programs on a topic you know matches the interests of their members.
* Be an active listener. Multi-talking, while great in so many ways, contributes immensely to our eclipsed attention spans. Make an effort to listen more closely.
For the full list: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/15606.aspx#
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INTERNAL VOICES
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SMIDT: MANAGING NORTHERN RESEARCH FARM
The Northern Research and Demonstration Farm in Kanawha has a new superintendent, ISU alumnus Micah Smidt. Kanawha’s research farm was opened in 1931 and is Iowa State’s oldest research farm. “My responsibilities are to manage the research farm as a farmer would manage their farm,” Smidt said in the Dec. 4 issue of the Iowa State Daily. “Along with making sure the crops get planted and harvested, I will be working with researchers managing their trials. I will be overseeing all activities at the Northern Research Farm and employees, setting up field days and maintaining the farm.” More
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MARGINALIA
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GIFTS THAT HELP STUDENTS TAKE THE NEXT STEP
The Iowa State University Foundation has released a set of videos that focus on gifts that support students in “taking the next step.” Two of the videos feature CALS students: Brian Castro, senior in nutritional science, and Deepak Premkumar, senior in economics. More: http://www.Foundation.iastate.edu/shoes
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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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