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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
March 24, 2014 No. 791
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COLLEGE NEWS
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RESEARCH PROGRESS OUTLINED FOR IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH CENTER
Progress is being made on 10 projects funded through the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at ISU. Established in 2013, the center received $1.5 million for 2013-2014 for research evaluating the performance of current and emerging nutrient management practices, providing recommendations on implementing the practices and developing new practices. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/research-progress-outlined-i…
STUDENTS TO ATTEND BORLAUG STATUE UNVEILING AT U.S. CAPITOL
Three CALS students will join Dean Wendy Wintersteen and Associate Dean David Acker in Washington, D.C. for the unveiling of a Norman Borlaug statue at the U.S. Capitol Building on Tuesday, March 25. Brian Castro, senior in nutritional science, Trisha Collins, senior in animal science, and Ali El-sadiq, freshman in global resource systems, will attend the ceremony to commemorate Borlaug's legacy and celebrate his 100th birthday. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/isu-students-attend-norman-b…
CALS UNDERGRADS SHOWCASING RESEARCH AT STATE CAPITOL
Thirteen CALS undergraduates will present their research during the annual "Research in the Capitol" from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 1, in the Rotunda of the State Capitol building. The University Honors Program coordinates the event, which highlights the importance of research to the undergraduate learning experience. CALS students represent research in genetics, biology, animal ecology, microbiology, horticulture, dairy science, global resource systems, economics, meteorology and animal science. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/21/ric
ROTHSCHILD'S RESEARCH RECEIVES "GREATER GOOD" AWARD
Max Rothschild, animal science, is using SNP-based genotyping to select for climate-resilient livestock through an Illumina Greater Good grant. Rothschild and his colleagues are seeking to understand how certain breeds of sheep and goats have developed over thousands of years, and how they thrive in very hot and dry climates. This work was selected as the 2014 Illumina Greater Good Initiative Award Winner.
HOGBERG HONORED WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Maynard Hogberg, chair of the animal science department, was honored by the National Pork Board with its Distinguished Service Award. This annual award recognizes lifelong contribution to the pork industry by an outstanding leader. More: http://www.pork.org/News/4569/PorkIndustryHonorsDrMaynardHogbergwithDis…
GASSMAN’S WORK ON BT CORN FEATURED IN PNAS AND WIRED
Aaron Gassmann, entomology, is co-author of a March 17 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study describing rootworm resistance to Bt corn (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1317179111). An overview of the study was also published in Wired (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/03/rootworm-resistance-bt-corn/).
WHITE NAMED FELLOW OF INSTITITE OF FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS
Pamela White, dean of the College of Human Sciences and professor of food science and human nutrition, was named a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists, an international, nonprofit organization for the advancement of food science and technology. The Fellow designation is an honor bestowed upon an IFT member by their peers, recognizing exemplary professionalism in the field of food science.
FSHN STUDENT ELECTED TO NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Hannah (Fuller) Hansen, a graduate student in food science and technology studying under Tong Wang, was elected as the 2014-2015 North Central representative for the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association. Hansen will take office at the national meeting in June.
FOOD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAMS PROCEED TO NATIONALS
Two ISU Food Product Development Teams have been selected as finalists in national competitions taking place this summer. "Flight Bites" is one of five finalists in the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association Disney Product Development competition. Each Flight Bite consists of a chewy granola-apple exterior with a date-apple jam surprise in the center. The Flight Bites team consists of Celia Bravard (captain), senior in food science; Katie Ranard, senior in nutritional science; Gail Barnum, senior in food science; Rebecca Gordon, junior in food science; and Karen Valde, junior in food science. "Oodlepops" is one of six finalists in the Dairy Research Institute New Product Contest. Oodlepops are vanilla-flavored ice cream with peanut butter cookie dough chunks on a stick. The Oodlepop team consists of Carmen Au (captain), graduate student in food science and human nutrition; Justin Banach, graduate student in FSHN; Lily Benner, graduate student in FSHN; Claire Collins, sophomore in food science; Charlwit Kulchaiyawat, graduate student in FSHN; Kim-Tuyen Nguyen, senior in food science; and Molly Paterson, graduate student in FSHN.
PRE-VET MEDICINE CLUB HOSTS NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
The Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club hosted the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium last weekend (March 21-23) in Ames. The three-day national meeting drew about 500 students. Co-chairs were Miranda Buseman, senior in animal science, Kesley Aarsvold, senior in animal science and microbiology, and Kimberly Strait, sophomore in dairy science. Club advisers are Matthew Ellinwood, animal science, Eric Rowe, biomedical sciences, and Joan Howard, veterinary medical center. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2014/pre-vet-students-across-nati… and http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/17/apvma-symposium
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 23: George Washington Carver Life and Legacy Symposium, Scheman Center
April 29-30: Global Food Security Consortium Spring Symposium, Ames
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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WOMEN'S AND DIVERSITY GRANTS DUE APRIL 1
The deadline for the Women’s and Diversity Grant Program applications has been extended to April 1. Individual grants will be awarded for up to $5,000 to support of women's and diversity initiatives for either one-time programming or as seed money to stimulate additional funding from other sources.
CALS WORKSHOP: FOUNDATION FUNDING FOR RESEARCH
A workshop to explore tips and best practices in applying for funding from foundations to support CALS-related research is scheduled for April 7, 1 to 2 p.m. in 0013 Curtiss Hall (John Deere Classroom, Brenton Center). Manjit Misra, Walter Suza and Tom Brumm will discuss their experiences in obtaining funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and tips and best practices that might be applicable for submissions to other foundations. In addition, Ray Klein and Manjit Misra will discuss private donor funding. Time will be allowed for Q&A. To attend, please RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu).
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/
May 6: USDA NIFA Integrated Research, Education and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Methyl Bromide Transition. More: http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=252812
May 18 (letter of intent): NIH Partnerships for Diagnostics to Address Antimicrobial Resistance of Select Bacterial Pathogens (R01). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-14-019.html
June 16: NSF Scalable Nanomanufacturing; one application per institution, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) if interested in applying. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14544/nsf14544.htm
June 18 (letter of intent): NIH Modeling Immunity for Biodefense (U19). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-14-028.html
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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SPELLING: WHEN DO YOU DOUBLE THE FINAL CONSONANT
A tricky aspect of English spelling is the question of doubling consonants when words are suffixed. Vowels play an important role. Short vowels tend to mean we double the final consonant (nod, nodded and flop, floppy). Long vowels tend to mean we don't (brood, brooded and soap, soapy). From the March 17 issue of the MacMillan Dictionary blog. More: http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/patterns-of-consonant-doubling
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INFOGRAZING
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SPRING BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES CONTINUES, MARCH 25
Strengthening the Professoriate at ISU continues their spring brown bag lunch series on Tuesday, March 25, 12 to 1 p.m. at the Memorial Union Gallery. The topic is "Your Broader Impacts Questions Answered." 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-s…
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INTERNAL VOICES
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MacDONALD: RESEARCH ON FOOD AND GUT MICROBIOMES
As researchers work to better understand productivity in wheat, scientists look to more complex solutions for health problems. Ruth MacDonald, food science and human nutrition, is focused on the gut microbiomes (the population of microorganisms that inhabit the colon) and how food and nutrients interact with this microbiome. "This is a new area of research that has exploded in the last five or six years," said MacDonald in the March 18 issue of The Food Journal. "We are trying to understand what the microbes do and how they function to regulate events in the colon so that an optimum microbiome may be achieved."
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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QUINN: NORMAN BORLAUG SHOULD BE KNOWN BY EVERY AMERICAN
The scheduled unveiling of Norman Borlaug's statue in National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 25, falls on Borlaug's 100th birthday. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize and chairman of the Norman Borlaug Statue Committee, first approached state lawmakers in 2009 about switching out one of Iowa's current monuments for a newly commissioned statue of Borlaug. "He is one of the great heroes of our time," said Quinn in an article for the Des Moines Register. "He should be remembered by every Iowan and known by every American, like the great presidents, the statesmen and generals."
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MARGINALIA
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BILLIONAIRES WITH BIG SCIENCE IDEAS
As government financing of basic science research has plunged, private donors have filled the void, raising questions about the future of research for the public good. In an article on March 15, The New York Times features philanthropists who have shown a deep interest in science. More: http://nyti.ms/OSmrWf
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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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