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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
January 21, 2014 No. 782
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COLLEGE NEWS
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HELMERS NAMED TO DEAN’S PROFESSORSHIP
Matthew Helmers, agricultural and biosystems engineering, has been named to the Dean’s Professorship in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. As holder of the professorship, Helmers will enhance his research and extension programs in agriculture and natural resources through technology demonstration and graduate student education. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/helmers-named-dean-s-professo...
RESEARCHERS SEQUENCE GENOME OF SOYBEAN FUNGUS
Researchers at ISU have generated a draft genome sequence of a soybean fungus that causes sudden death syndrome in soybeans. Madan Bhattacharyya, agronomy, is leading the project, which is funded by the Iowa Soybean Association and the Soybean Research Development Council. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-researchers-sequence-geno...
IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH CENTER LAUNCHES WEBSITE
A website for the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at ISU provides information on research projects underway to improve nutrient management practices on Iowa farms. The website is part of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy website. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isus-iowa-nutrient-research-c...
ISU ECONOMISTS USE WEBSITE TO ANSWER IOWANS QUESTIONS
The new "Ask an Economist" website at ISU is a tool the public can use to get answers to their questions on a variety of economic topics. John Schroeter, professor and interim chair of economics, says faculty members routinely receive emails with questions about issues, such as the U.S. debt level. The new website will make it easier for people to submit questions and make sure they are directed to the faculty member with the expertise to respond. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/15/askaneconomist
PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE SOIL EROSION
Ephemeral gully erosion, known to be a significant cause of soil loss from agricultural fields, is the focus of a USDA National Integrated Water Quality Program project led by Richard Cruse, agronomy. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-project-aims-reduc...
COOK RECEIVES YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF AMES AWARD
The Ames Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual award winners. Haley Cook, CALS communications service, will receive a Young Professional of Ames award at the Chamber’s annual event on Jan. 30. More: http://amestrib.com/business/ames-chamber-award-winners-announced
WEB BANNER FEATURES STUDENT'S ILLUSTRATION FOR JOURNAL COVER
Animal science senior Marley Dobyns’ illustration of a skeletal muscle is featured on the January cover of the Journal of Animal Science. The illustration was selected by the editor-in-chief to represent a collection of papers summarizing a symposium on muscle biology. To view the banner and story go to www.cals.iastate.edu.
FORMER ANIMAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR’S ARTWORK SERVES AS HIS VOICE
When a debilitating stroke robbed him of his ability to speak, Steven Nissen found a new way to express himself through art. Nissen, formerly a professor of animal science at ISU, will share this journey of self-rediscovery through an exhibition at the ISU College of Design’s Design on Main Gallery in downtown Ames, Jan. 24, 5 to 7 p.m. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/14/nissen-art
BEEF SALE TO BE HELD JAN. 25 AT HANSEN AGRICULTURE LEARNING CENTER
The Iowa State University Beef Sales Team is selling purebred Angus and Simmental heifers on Jan. 25 at the Hansen Agricultural Student Learning Center. The cattle were raised on the ISU Beef Teaching Farm. Heifer viewing begins at 9 a.m. Lunch is at noon followed by the auction at 1 p.m. For more information contact Marshall Ruble at (515) 460-2384, Molly O'Regan at (563) 380-7133 or Ty Sexton at (319) 461-0519.
AGRICULTURAL JOB FAIR SETS FOR FEB. 5
The spring version of the Agriculture Career Day at ISU offers a second chance for students who may have missed last fall’s record-breading job fair. The event is Feb. 5, 10 am. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union. About 10 percent of the employers scheduled to participate are new to the event. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-agricul...
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN DISCONTINUING GESTATION CRATES
Pork producers considering a transition away from the use of gestation crates will have to weigh plenty of options to find the right fit for their operations, according to James McKean, associate director of ISU’s Iowa Pork Industry Center. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/17/gestationcrates
GWC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM STILL NEEDS MENTORS
The George Washington Carver Internship program is still in need of mentors. The 2014 GWC Internship mentor application is available on the diversity website: http://www.diversity.cals.iastate.edu/. Under the faculty tab, click on “forms,” then “GWC mentor application.” All interested faculty members should complete the form as soon as possible. The student application process opened on Jan. 15. If you need more information on the internship program, contact Theressa Cooper at tncooper@iastate.edu.
`SAFE ZONE’ DIVERSITY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
The CALS Diversity Programs Office is investigating the possibility of hosting a Safe Zone training for CALS in Curtiss Hall. The purpose of the Safe Zone program is to eliminate homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism on the ISU campus by creating and encouraging safe and secure environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer or Questioning, and Ally (LGBTIQA) students, faculty and staff. Faculty and staff interested in participating should contact Theressa Cooper at tncooper@iastate.edu. A date and time will be coordinated among those who are interested.
BEGINNING FARMERS CONFERENCE CANCELLED
The Beginning Farmers Conference scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Scheman Building in Ames, has been cancelled.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Jan. 22-23: Iowa Pork Congress, Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, http://www.iowaporkcongress.org/
March 12: CALS Spring Awards Program, 4:10 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom
April 15-16: 2014 Egg Industry Issues Forum, Indianapolis, http://www.ans.iastate.edu/EIC/Forum.dwt
April 29-May1: Global Food Security Consortium Spring Symposium, Ames.
May 14: Food and Agriculture National Conference, Minneapolis
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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2015 HHMI INVESTIGATOR COMPETITION
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is holding a national competition to select new HHMI investigators from among top U.S. scientists. HHMI invites applications from researchers who investigate significant biological problems in all biomedical disciplines, including plant biology as well as in adjacent fields such as evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering and computational biology. Applications are due June 3. More: http://www.hhmi.org/inv2015.
BIOBASED INDUSTRY CENTER SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR POLICY-RELATED RESEARCH
The Biobased Industry Center is requesting grant proposals in the broad areas of sustainable feedstock and biobased-product supply, demand analysis and policy evaluation. Successful proposals will demonstrate high potential to produce research results that will inform and impact policy decisions and the development of bioenergy and bioproducts, including policies with an objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and impacts. Proposals are due March 3. Contact: Bruce Babcock (babcock@iastate.edu). More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/node/172
WORKSHOP ON WRITING SUCCESSFUL NSF CAREER PROPOSALS
The Office of the Vice President for Research will hold a workshop on preparing successful proposals for NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grants. The goal of CAREER grants is to help promising researchers build a foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. Recent ISU CAREER grant awardees will talk about their experiences in developing proposals, including their plans for the broader impacts, evaluation and other requirements of this program, and will answer participant questions. Graduate students and postdocs are welcome to attend. The workshop will be held Feb. 5, 3:30 to 5 p.m., in 142 Curtiss Hall. Register for the workshop at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-write-a-successful-career-grant-propo....
ANN RUSSELL TO SPEAK AT JAN. 22 FULBRIGHT LUNCH & LEARN
The ISU Fulbright presentation series provides an informal setting for ISU faculty and students to learn more about the Fulbright Fellowship Program from past and current Fulbright-sponsored grantees. On Jan. 22, Ann Russell, Natural Resource Ecology & Management, will present, “Environmental Research, Cultural Experiences and Adventures in India,” based on her Fulbright experience in India in 2005. The half-hour presentation will be followed by time for questions and to socialize. The presentation is scheduled for 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Gold Room.
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/
Feb. 18 (letter of intent): NIH Directors Biomedical Research Workforce Innovation Award: Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (DP7); one application per institution. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-13-019.html
March 1 (letter of intent): NIH Open Educational Resources for Biomedical Big Data (R25). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-14-009.html
March 1 (letter of intent): NIH Courses for Skills Development in Biomedical Big Data Science (R25). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-14-008.html
March 1 (letter of intent): NIH Mentored Career Development Award in Biomedical Big Data Science for Clinicians and Doctorally Prepared Scientists (K01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-14-007.html ?
March 10: EPA National Center for Sustainable Water Infrastructure Modeling Research. More: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2014/2014_star_sustainable-water.html
March 21: NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10); see limited submission guidelines. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-073.html
March 24 (letter of intent): NIH Tools for Monitoring and Manipulating Modified RNAs in the Nervous System (R41/R42); small business must submit proposal. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-15-002.html
July 21, 22, 23: NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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FILLING THE VOID AS SCIENCE JOURNALISM DECLINES
Science journalism is declining and it is difficult to know what effect these cutbacks have had on the public’s understanding of science. In an editorial titled “Filling the Void,” editors of Nature call out to scientists to rise up and reach out. “There is no shortage of scientific information on the web. In principle, anyone with an Internet connection now has access to more, and better, scientific coverage than ever before. In practice, however, this sort of information reaches only those who seek it out.” More: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v458/n7236/full/458260a.html
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INFOGRAZING
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THE LIFE CODE: GENOMIC RESEARCH TOPIC OF LECTURE, FEB. 6
Juan Enriquez, managing director of Excel Venture Manager, will speak on “The Life Code: Changing Lives, Changing Business” on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Enriquez is one of the world’s leading authorities on the uses and benefits of genomic research and the impact of the life sciences on business, technology and society. More: http://www.lectures.iastate.edu/lecture/30990
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CANNON SHARES PRESIDENTIAL HONOR WITH FELLOW RESEARCHERS
Steven Cannon, a research geneticist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service and a faculty member with the agronomy department, received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. He shares credit for the honor with his fellow researchers. “All of the projects I have worked on over the last seven years have been extremely cooperative group efforts,” Cannon said. “It’s never just one person making everything happen.” More: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131224/NEWS02/312240080/Iowa-...
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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CALS ALUM: EXPERIENCES AT ISU SOLIDIFIED DECISION TO SERVE ABROAD
Darrin Vander Plas, who earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy and community/public heath in 2011, is a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia, working on beekeeping promotion and education. “I have always enjoyed learning, adventure and volunteering,” he said. “Although I had first heard about Peace Corps from a woman in church when I was a child, the experiences I had while studying at ISU solidified my decision to serve abroad.” Vander Plas adds that specifically, the internationally focused courses and study-abroad opportunities offered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ignited a curiosity about the world – and a desire to apply his ISU education to global issues. More: http://midwestpcvs.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/beekeeping-project-keeps-iow...
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MARGINALIA
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DEVELOPING SUBURBS WITH FARMS ATTACHED
There is a new model springing up across the country that taps into the local food movement: Farms – complete with livestock, vegetables and fruit trees – are serving as the latest suburban amenity. It’s called development-supported agriculture, a more intimate version of community-supported agriculture. In planning a new neighborhood, a developer includes some form of food production that is meant to draw in new buyers, increase values and stitch neighbors together. More: http://n.pr/1hh3o13
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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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