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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
February 3, 2014 No. 784
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COLLEGE NEWS
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PLAN TO ATTEND HARL PORTRAIT UNVEILING, FEB. 5
A portrait of economics professor emeritus Neil Harl will be unveiled on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m. in the Neil and Darlene Harl Commons in Curtiss Hall. A reception will take place following the event.
POULTRY SCIENCE PUBLISHES ISU RESEARCH
A first-of-its kind study conducted by researchers at ISU has been published in the February issue of Poultry Science. The article, “Comparison of the environmental footprint of the egg industry in the United States in 1960 and 2010,” by Hongwei Xin, agricultural and biosystems engineering and director of the ISU-based Egg Industry Center, Maro Ibarburu, an associate scientist with the Egg Industry Center, and Nathan Pelletier, Global Ecologic Environmental Consulting and Management Services in Nova Scotia, Canada, is available through open access. More: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/poultry-science
USPOULTRY RECOGNIZES XIN AS ‘WORKHORSE OF THE YEAR’
Hongwei Xin, director of ISU’s Egg Industry Center and professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, was named USPOULTRY’s Workhorse of the Year during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo. The poultry industry’s most esteemed honor is given in recognition of dedicated service and valuable leadership given to the Association and the poultry industry. More: http://www.uspoultry.org/mediacenter/docs/2014_USPOULTRYWorkhorseAward…
ISU RESEARCHERS PIECING TOGETHER CAUSES OF DECLINE IN HONEY BEES
ISU researchers are identifying the factors that have led to steep declines in the populations of pollinating insects such as honey bees in Iowa and across the globe. Members of the research team include Mary Harris, natural resource ecology and management, Amy Toth, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, Erin Hodgson, entomology, and Matthew O’Neal, entomology. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/30/beedecline
BENNING HIRED AS WATER QUALITY PROGRAM MANAGER
Jamie Benning has been hired as water quality program manager for ISU Extension and Outreach. She will coordinate Extension’s efforts and provide cohesive access to essential research and extension support. Benning has a bachelor’s degree (’01 agronomy) and a master’s degree (’03 soil science) from ISU.
WEB BANNER FEATURES SUPER BOWL XLVIII STUDENT INTERN
Super Bowl XLVIII is one Josh Lenz will remember for life. Lenz, an ISU senior in horticulture, was selected to participate as an intern in Toro's Super Bowl Sports Turf Training Program and is featured on the home page banner this week. Lenz is the second Iowa State student to participate in the internship program. Kevin Hansen, a horticulture graduate assistant, interned with last year’s Super Bowl turf crew. To view the banner and story go to www.cals.iastate.edu.
HORTICULTURE CLUB TO SELL ROSES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY
This ISU Horticulture Club is taking rose orders in addition to its sale on Valentine's Day in the Memorial Union. If you order roses ahead of time you may pick them up on Feb. 14 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. in 0045 Horticulture Hall. To order email roses@iastate.edu or call (515) 450-1920. Orders must be made by Feb. 10. The club also will sell roses on Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union. The club will sell red, yellow, pink and white roses for $5 for a single stem, $25 for six, $30 for six with a vase and $55 for one dozen in a vase.
AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD FEB. 22-23
The 2014 North Central Aquaculture Conference will be held Feb. 22-23 in Toledo, Ohio. The conference is presented by the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (housed at ISU and directed by Joe Morris, natural resource ecology and management) and the Aquaculture Associations of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/north-central-aquaculture-co…
MURDER, MAYHEM AND MICROBIOLOGY
The Microbiology Club’s High School Workshop Day attracted 64 high school students from across Iowa. Club members used microbiology to help the students solve a fictitious murder mystery. A feature about the event is on the CALS web site: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2014/murder-mayhem-and-microbiolo…
CATTLE SALE A SUCCESS IN NEW HANSEN CENTER
The Animal Science 490X merchandising class managed the Jan. 25 Tradition of Excellence cattle sale in The Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center with instructors Marshall Ruble, manager of the Beef Teaching Farm, and Brad Skaar, associate professor of animal science. Three hundred attended the sale where 38 head of females were sold for $108,100, an average of $2,844/head. High seller was ISU MS Optimizer A309 open Simmental heifer for $6,100. Second high seller was ISU MS Optimizer A301 open Simmental heifer for $5,700. According to Ruble, the most interesting sale was two bred cows purchased via the Internet (smart phone) while the buyer was attending the ISU men’s basketball game.
BRENTON CENTER ACCEPTING CLASSROOM RESERVATIONS
The Brenton Center is accepting classroom reservations for summer and fall 2014. Contact Gaylan Scofield (ggs@iastate.edu) with questions or requests.
BOOK DRIVE PROMOTES GLOBAL LITERACY, FUNDS CLUB TRIP
Kate Hunter, a junior in biology and animal ecology, is organizing a book drive to promote global literacy and fund a Pre-Vet Club trip to a wolf sanctuary. Worldwide Book Drive donates books to countries around the world to promote global literacy. Hunter will also receive $1 for each textbook that was printed in the last five years. A collection box is located in the main auditorium of Kildee Hall, or contact Hunter (fkhunter@iastate.edu) for pick-up.
EFFORTS TO GET HEALTHY FUEL DEMAND FOR ISU PROGRAM
Anyone struggling to shed a few pounds knows they need to watch what they eat, but it’s not always easy to change those habits without help from a registered dietitian nutritionist. The demand for help has led to growth in the dietetics field, according to Jean Anderson, director of the dietetics internship program for the food science and human nutrition department at ISU. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/29/dieteticsinternship
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
Feb. 5: Agriculture Career Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Memorial Union.
March 12: CALS Spring Awards Program, 4:10 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom
April 15-16: 2014 Egg Industry Issues Forum, Indianapolis
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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LUNCH AND LEARN: BROADER IMPACTS WORKSHOP
CALS and SP@ISU will hold a Lunch and Learn: Broader Impacts Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 12 to 1 p.m. in Room 142 Curtiss Hall. The workshop will include an overview of SP@ISU, guidelines for broader impacts in NSF proposals, campus resources to assist with developing broader impact plans and more. This workshop will be useful to PIs preparing NSF proposals as well as PIs preparing proposals to other federal agencies that require a discussion of project impacts. All CALS faculty and research staff that prepare proposals are invited to attend. Pizza and beverages will be provided. Individuals planning to attend should RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu) by Feb. 11.
CAYUSE 424 FEBRUARY WEBINARS
Cayuse 424 training webinars will cover three different topics in February.
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. 24: DDD Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation - Data-Driven Discovery Initiative. More: http://www.moore.org/programs/science/data-driven-discovery/ddd-investi…
Feb. 26 (letter of intent): USDA AFRI - Food Safety Challenge Area.
March 1: NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-076.html ?
March 20 (compulsory registration): Human Frontier Science Program Research Grants - Young Investigators' Grants and Program Grants (biological systems).
April 19: NSF Sustainability Research Networks Competition; 2014 Focus - Urban Sustainability. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14534/nsf14534.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
Apr. 28: NSF Plant Genome Research Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338
April 29 (letter of intent): NIH Novel Alternative Model Systems for Enteric Diseases (U19). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-14-011.html ?
May 2: 2014 IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. More: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/specialt…
June 3: 2015 HHMI Investigator National Competition. More: https://www.hhmi.org/news/hhmi-investigator-program-launches-national-c…
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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COMMON SPEAKING MISTAKES PROFESSIONALS MAKE
When it comes to professional settings, the way we speak – including tone, pitch and volume – is as important as what we say. Below are some common speaking mistakes that professionals should avoid, according to the Business Insider:
* Stuttered or repeated words and fillers.
* Speaking too quickly.
* Speaking too quietly.
* Gravelly voice or vocal fry.
* Trailing off at the end of phrases.
* Uptalk, or phrasing statements as questions.
* Speaking in a monotone voice.
More: http://www.businessinsider.com/common-speaking-mistakes-2013-12
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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.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/27/lectures-enriquez
LECTURE ON SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES, FEB. 5
Cindy Nakatsu, professor of agronomy at Purdue University, will present “What Everyone Should Know About Soil Microbial Communities” on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 4:10 p.m. in 2020 Agronomy Hall. Her research is in microbial ecology.
HOW WOMEN LEAD AND THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES, FEB. 11
Melissa Harris-Perry will present “How Women Lead and the Difference It Makes” on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Room. Harris-Perry is a professor of political science at Tulane University, where she directs the Anna Julia Cooper Project on Gender, Race and Politics in the South. She also hosts a weekend MSNBC program, the "Melissa Harris-Perry Show," that features analysis and guest-driven discussion of political, cultural and community issues. Part of the Women and Leadership Series. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/30/harris-perry
COMMUNICATING SCIENCE THROUGH ART
About 60 ISU students major in biological and pre-medical illustration, an Iowa State program that turns 30 this year. Biological and medical illustrators work with researchers, doctors and others to turn detailed and complex information into visual images. Lynn Clark, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, is BPMI program director. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/01/28/bpmi
SYMPOSIUM ON SUSTAINABILITY, FEB. 24-25
The 5th Annual Iowa State University Symposium on Sustainability will be held Feb. 25. This is the sixth year of ISU’s Live Green! Initiative and the call to action given to all students, faculty and staff to be fully committed to and engaged in ensuring a sustainable future through our actions and decisions regarding our campus, its operation and initiatives. More: http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/news-and-events/symposium-on-sustainab…
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INTERNAL VOICES
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CARD RESEARCH FINDS RFS MANDATES DECREASE GAS PRICES
In a paper released by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development on Jan. 22, Sebastien Pouliot, assistant professor of economics, and Bruce Babcock, Cargill Chair of Energy Economics, conclude that enforcing the Renewable Fuel Standard mandates as originally written would decrease, not increase, prices at the pump. “There may be sound policy reasons that could justify Congress revisiting the RFS. However, concern about higher pump prices for consumers is not one of them,” the pair writes. More: http://www.card.iastate.edu/publications/synopsis.aspx?id=1218
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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LIVESTOCK PRODUCER: ‘A FUNNY TIME TO BE CUTTING AG RESEARCH’
Jim Christensen sat through many ISU Department of Animal Science External Advisory Board meetings in recent years and heard about cuts to the College of Agriculture and the Agriculture Experiment Station. The cuts came at the same time the College was experiencing record enrollment. “This was at the same time opportunities for Iowa agriculture to feed a growing world population were so great,” said Christensen, who grows corn and feeds cattle near Royal with his wife, Julie. “We will need to produce twice as much food in the next 50 years as we have since the beginning of time. It seemed like a funny time to be cutting agricultural research.” Read the full article in the Jan. 27 issue of the Post Bulletin: http://bit.ly/1dKQC6m
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MARGINALIA
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SMOKIN’ G’s MOVES TO KILDEE HALL
The Smokin’ G’s BBQ food truck has moved inside to the Iowa Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall for the winter months. They are open Tuesdays through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Smokin’ G’s from Marshalltown is one of the new vendors that joined the food truck fleet on campus in August 2013. More: http://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2013/08/22/food
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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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