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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 24, 2014 No. 787
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COLLEGE NEWS
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STEM CURRICULUM SELECTED AGAIN FOR STATE FUNDING
The Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education has been selected by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council to be included as a Scale-Up program for the third consecutive year. Mike Retallick, agricultural education and studies, is the state CASE leader and works with teachers hired to train agriculture educators on how to implement the new curriculum. More: http://iowastem.gov/governor%E2%80%99s-stem-advisory-council-announces-1.... Also, CALS published a news release in August 2013 with information on this program: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-coordinates-stem-grant-ce...
OPEN FORUMS SCHEDULED FOR ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR FINALISTS
Open forums are scheduled for three finalists who have applied to be the next chair of the Department of Animal Science at ISU, beginning March 7. All the open forums are scheduled for 10 a.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall and are open to the public. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/open-forums-set-animal-scienc...
ISU RESEARCHERS USE NEW METHOD TO MEASURE NITRATE IN SOIL
A team of ISU scientists have measured nitrate in soil with a unique infrared sensor system opening the possibility of determining the level of this vital nutrient in real time as fertilizer is being applied to fields. Scientists on this project include John McClelland and Roger Jones, Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, and David Laird, agronomy. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/iowa-state-university-researc...
NEW HOLLAND PROVIDES TRACTORS TO BIOCENTURY RESEARCH FARM
The loan of two tractors by New Holland Agriculture to ISU’s BioCentury Research Farm has provided new options for its biomass research projects. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/new-holland-provides-tractors...
ISU STUDENTS TO CHECK WATER QUALITY ON CAMPUS
ISU students enrolled in new environmental science courses will monitor the health of several streams that pass through campus this semester. Hannah Julich, graduate assistant in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, is the instructor. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/02/19/watertesting2014
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY CONSORTIUM
Registration is now open for the Global Food Security Consortium and the Leroy and Barbara Everson Seed and Biosafety Symposium to be held April 29-30 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Three sessions are planned under this year’s theme of “Closing the Yield Gap” – seeds and crops, animals and sustainable intensification. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/gfsc/in...
HEATON A SPEAKER AT BIOMASS CROP PRODUCTION WORKSHOP MARCH 4
The fourth annual Biomass Crop Production Workshop will be held March 4, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Extension Office in Iowa City. Speakers include Emily Heaton, agronomy. More: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/biomass/
URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING
The Leopold Center has funded three grants this year for urban agriculture projects: municipal zoning guidebook, agricultural urbanism toolkit and community planning research. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/02-14-2014/urban-agriculture-soil
EIGHT CALS STUDENTS AWARDED IOWA SEED ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS
The Iowa Seed Association awarded scholarships to the following CALS students in a ceremony on Feb. 12:
• Jeffrey Barnes, junior in agronomy
• Dakota Lueken, senior in agronomy
• Raymond Ng, senior in agronomy
• Jon Olsen, senior in agricultural systems technology
• Elliot Reicks, senior in agronomy
• Morgan Shrader, senior in agricultural business
• Thomas Sobota, sophomore in agronomy
• Jay Petersen, senior in agronomy
UPDATED ISU SWINE EXPERTS PUBLICATION ONLINE
The Iowa Pork Industry Center has updated the ISU Swine Research and Extension Faculty and Staff booklet, featuring names, photos and contact information for more than 80 faculty and staff members with swine and pork research and extension responsibilities. More: http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/news/ISUSwineListing2014.html
EXPANDED HOURS FOR CURTISS HALL
To provide better student access to Curtiss Hall, new building hours will begin this week: Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 12 to 10 p.m.
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
March 6: “The Extinction of Passenger Pigeon” lecture, 7 p.m., Memorial Union Great Room, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/02-06-2014/lecturer-looks-passenger-...
March 12: CALS Spring Awards Program, 4:10 p.m., Memorial Union South Ballroom
March 21-23: American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium, Ames, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/apvma/i...
April 15-16: 2014 Egg Industry Issues Forum, Indianapolis, http://www.ans.iastate.edu/EIC/Forum.dwt
April 23: George Washington Carver Life and Legacy Symposium, Scheman Center, http://www.diversity.cals.iastate.edu/george-washington-carver-life-and-...
May 14: Food and Agriculture National Conference, Minneapolis
May 14-16: Integrating Resistant Starch, Microbiome and Disease Risk Reduction international symposium, Ames, http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/resistant-starch-symp/
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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STATE DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM
The Professional Fellows Program is a two-way, global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership skills, and build lasting and sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States. Foreign participants will engage in a five- to six-week placement in a U.S. workplace, complemented by a collaborative project in their home country. The U.S. fellows will travel overseas on an outbound program lasting approximately two weeks that directly supports follow-on projects and long-term collaboration. Individuals interested in applying should contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) by Feb. 28. More: http://eca.state.gov/organizational-funding/open-grant-solicitations
NSF I-CORPS REGIONAL NODE PROGRAM
The Office of the Vice President for Research is accepting expressions of interest for applications to the NSF Innovation Corps – Regional Node Program. This program seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. Full proposals are due April 18. ISU can submit one application. Interested individuals should contact Chitra Rajan (rajanc@iastate.edu) and Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504806&WT.mc_ev=click
WORKSHOP: BUILDING INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS AND PROGRAMS
The Office of the Vice President for Research will host a lunch workshop on building interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research teams and programs. The goal of this workshop is to help build the next generation of research leaders at ISU. Participants should be faculty members/researchers who have successfully established a research program in their own disciplines, are interested in expanding their repertoire, and aspire to lead a large group within the next three to five years to address significant problems that require multi- and trans-disciplinary perspectives. The workshop will be held on March 31 from 11:30 a.m. to1 p.m. in 3043 Coover Hall. Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-interdisciplinary-collaborative-re...
WORKSHOP: COMMERCIALIZING YOUR RESEARCH
On Feb. 28, Lisa Lorenzen will present “Commercializing Your Research” as part of a workshop series sponsored by the College of Design and the CEAH grants office. Topics will include how to disclose ideas, how technology can be protected, the process for making decisions on the patentability and commercial potentials of technologies, and the point of contact in OIPTT to answer questions and facilitate the commercialization process. The workshop will include a brief presentation, general discussion and time for Q&A. The workshop will be held from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in 130 College of Design. The workshop is a casual brown bag session. Faculty members from all colleges are invited.
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/
Notice of Intent - DOD Functional Polymers for Advanced Materials. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=251624
March 14 (letter of intent): NIH National Center of Excellence for the Prevention of Childhood Agricultural Injury. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OH-14-005.html
March 31: USFWS White Nose Syndrome Research; $30,000 to $350,000 per award. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=251657
April 30: USDA FY 2015 Farm to School Grant Program; universities can participate as collaborators. More: http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/fy-2015-farm-school-grant-program-f...
May 14: NSF High Performance Computing System Acquisition: Continuing the Building of a More Inclusive Computing Environment for Science and Engineering (limited submission). More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503148
May 19 (letter of intent): NIH Development of Software and Analysis Methods for Biomedical Big Data in Targeted Areas of High Need (U01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-14-020.html
Oct. 10: NSF Smart and Connected Health – Exploratory Proposals. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504739
Nov. 18, 2015 (concept papers): USAID FY 2014/2015 Global Development Alliance Annual Program Statement. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=251608
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INFOGRAZING
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SPRING BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES BEGINS TODAY, FEB. 24
Strengthening the Professoriate at ISU begins their spring brown bag lunch series today, Feb. 24, 12 to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. These are informal discussions led by faculty and staff that are experienced in various areas of broader impacts and are open to all graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff. The series runs through April 9. More: http://www.spisu.iastate.edu//newsletters/spring-2014-brown-bag-lunch-se...
CPR/AED TRAINING AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
A CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) class will be held in Black Engineering on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. There are several seats available. If you are interested in updating or taking a CPR-AED class, please contact Jeff Eichorn at 294-9112. The cost for the class is $38. If you decide to get certified, please share that information with Barb McBreen at barbmc@iastate.edu.
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE BY THE (PRELIMINARY) NUMBERS
USDA has released preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results. Key findings include an increase in the value of agricultural products sold in the U.S. The number of farms and land in farms were down slightly, but held steady. Additionally, agriculture is becoming more diverse. More: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Newsroom/2014/02_20_2014.php
ISU EXTENSION ROAD SCHOLAR PROGRAM NAMED TOP IN NORTH AMERICA
The national Road Scholar program has named ISU Extension Community and Economic Development’s program as the “Top Road Scholar Program in North America.” Diane Van Wyngarden, tourism economic development specialist, started the ISU program in 2007. Road Scholar is the name for the educational programs developed and offered by Elderhostel, Inc. for lifelong learning for adults. Elderhostel began offering programs through five colleges and universities in 1975. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/vpnews/articles/2014/02road.htm
PLANT BREEDING SYMPOSIUM AT U. OF MINNESOTA, MARCH 24
The seventh annual University of Minnesota Plant Breeding Symposium, sponsored by DuPont Pioneer, will be held March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the St. Paul campus. The symposium, “Breeding Today for Tomorrow’s Challenges,” will also be offered online through a webinar. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to participate. Confirmed speakers include Dan Voytas, University of Minnesota and former ISU professor in the department of genetics, development and cell biology. More: http://www.plantbreedingsymposium.umn.edu/
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INTERNAL VOICES
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ABE STUDENT: FARMING WORLD’S SMALLEST PLANT
Martin Gross, a graduate student in the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering, has been farming one of the world’s smallest plants – algae. “If algae is going to be for biofuels, it’s going to have to be efficient,” said Gross in the Feb. 21 issue of Farm News. Currently, harvesting algae takes more energy than it could give back to the biofuels industry. But Gross thinks he may have an answer to the efficiency question.
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MARGINALIA
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WHY ISU MIGHT BE THE BEST COLLEGE IN AMERICA
In his Washington Monthly blog on Feb. 18, Daniel Luzer, news editor of Governing Magazine, writes: "Watch Iowa State; it's one of the few colleges in this country that really seems to be making the right decisions." Luzer cites a focus on hiring tenure-track faculty and keeping students enrolled as reasons why ISU should be commended. More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/blog/why_iowa_state_might...
USDA THEN-AND-NOW IMAGES
For more than 150 years, USDA has worked alongside farmers, businesses and community leaders to ensure USDA programs put forward the most innovative thinking to meet the changing needs of a modern agricultural landscape. To illustrate some of the major innovations, they’ve collected several historic photos and paired them with their modern counterparts. More: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/02/20/agriculture-innovates-usda-then-and-now...
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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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