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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 31, 2014 No. 792
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COLLEGE NEWS
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BLOME TO SPEAK AT HERTZ LECTURE, APRIL 3
Jim Blome will speak at The Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorum, 127 Curtiss Hall. Blome is president and CEO of Bayer CropScience and head of Crop Protection for the North American region. More: https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/releases/jim-blome-present-hertz-lectu...
SHIVVERS LECTURE LOOKS AT SECRETS OF SOIL HEALTH
The 2014 Shivvers Memorial Lecture will be held Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Ray Archuleta, a conservation agronomist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Greensboro, N.C., will present “Soil Health and Sustainability.” The lecture series is coordinated by the Leopold Center and co-sponsored by the ISU Chapter of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honorary Society for Agriculture. More: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/03-14-2014/soil-archuleta-shivvers
ROOTWORM RESISTANCE TO Bt CORN A GROWING CONCERN FOR FARMERS
Aaron Gassmann, entomology, is urging Iowa farmers to adopt a diverse range of pest management tactics to suppress the resistance of western corn rootworm to Bt corn. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/26/rootwormresistance
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND NATURE TOPIC OF APRIL 2 LECTURE
Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, a designer, artist and writer based in London, will present “Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature” on Wednesday, April 2, at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The emerging field of synthetic biology aims to create new biological parts, devices and systems, ranging from biofuels to medical applications. The lecture is co-sponsored by CALS. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/26/lp-ginsber
A SIGN OF SPRING: LAWNMOWER SERVICE DAYS, APRIL 4-5
The Agriculture Systems Technology Club will hold its annual Lawnmower Service Days on Friday, April 4, from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Industrial Education II building, west of the ISU horse barns. Cost for routine maintenance is $35 for a push mower and $50 for a riding mower. (Major repairs not provided.) Pick-up and delivery are available for Ames only; $15 for push mowers and $20 for riding mowers. More: astservicedays@gmail.com, (515) 708-8672.
APRIL 10 BEAL LECTURE ADDRESSES RURAL LIFE, RURAL IOWA
The George M. Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural Sociology will be held April 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall auditorium. Claude Fischer, professor of sociology at the University of California at Berkeley, will present “Rural Life, Rural Iowa and the Making of the American Character.” More: http://www.soc.iastate.edu/
JOIN THE CALS SAFE ZONE TRAINING APRIL 14
Please consider attending the CALS Safe Zone Training on April 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 13 Curtiss Hall. Lunch will be provided. This training is a an opportunity for faculty, staff and graduate students to advance awareness, knowledge and skills around the services and support that we provide to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) students and colleagues. For more information about the Safe Zone Program and the benefits for you and the entire campus, please take a moment to read throughout Safe Zone Program Overview (http://www.dso.iastate.edu/lgbtss/programs-services/safe-zone). Those interested in participating need to complete the Safe Zone 101 Training Registration Form (link provided on the overview page). To complete the registration form, you will be asked to provide a Registration Access Code. Please enter, exactly as written, the word “RainbowAgSci" into the Registration Access Code blank to allow the system to recognize the specific training date and time of April 14.
BLOCK AND BRIDLE’S 4TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT APRIL 14
The ISU Block & Bridle Poultry Interest Group will hold its 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 2 to 12 on April 14, 5 to 7 p.m. Check-in will be at 5 in Lagomarcino Classroom 162. The hunt will begin at 5:30 in the Lagomarcino Courtyard. Alternate location indoors will be the Iowa Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall. Activities will include: Easter egg hunt (bring your own basket), egg dying and decorating and Easter coloring pages. Refreshments provided and free will donations accepted at the door. Contact ISUPoultryInterestGroup@gmail.com with questions.
STANIFORTH LECTURER TO DISCUSS HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
The 25th annual David W. Staniforth Memorial Lecture will be held April 15, 4:10 to 5 p.m. in 1131 National Swine Research and Information Center. David Ervin, professor emeritus of environmental management and economics and senior fellow for the Institute for Sustainable Solution at Portland State University in Oregon, will present “Herbicide Resistance: Will Voluntary Measures Work or is Regulation Inevitable?” More: http://www.event.iastate.edu/event/32837
SALAMANDERS SHRINKING DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
A shift in climate can devastate a population of animals or force them to leave for a more suitable habitat. But certain species of salamander in the eastern U.S. appear to be responding to climate change in an altogether different fashion. Dean Adams, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, co-authored a study published last week in the journal “Global Change Biology” that found six salamander species that showed significant reduction in body size. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/salamanderclimate
GOGGI HONORED AS ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR CROP SCIENCE
Susana Goggi, agronomy, received a Citation of Excellence for Associate Editors related to her service as an associate editor for Crop Science. Goggi handles manuscripts in the seed science and plant physiology divisions.
‘X’ MARKS THE SPOT WITH WATER ROCKS! GEOCACHES
The art of locating modern-day treasures is called geocaching—an activity that combines global positioning system technology with an appreciation for the outdoors. A treasure map on the Water Rocks! website provides coordinates for Water Rocks! geocaches hidden in nine Iowa state parks. Water Rocks! is a statewide youth water education campaign. More: http://water-rocks.herokuapp.com/dive-in/news-releases
GOOD NEWS: LAKE IS FULL AT HORTICULTURE RESEARCH STATION
Nick Howell, superintendent of the ISU Horticulture Research Station north of Ames, reports that the lake at the station is full. The lake is the major source of irrigation water at the station, providing seven million gallons for irrigating turf grass, vegetables, orchards, small fruit research and teaching plots and fields. The water is also used to fill turtle and aquaculture ponds. As recently as February the lake was three to four feet below the overflow standpipe, but was filled by March snow melt and rains.
APRIL 4 DEADLINE TO PRE-ORDER FUDGE
Friday, April 4, is the deadline to pre-order fudge for Veishea from the Food Science Club. Orders can be picked up April 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. or April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside of 206 MacKay. Contact Meghan Klatt (maklatt@iastate.edu) or Danielle Foss (drfoss@iastate.edu).
LANDSCAPE CLUB WINS BEST SCHOOL CHEER
The ISU Landscape Club placed 27th and won best school cheer at PLANET 2014, the annual three-day competition and networking event for students in two- and four-year colleges and universities. The award came with a $1,000 check sponsored by John Deere. PLANET is the Professional Landcare Network. More: https://www.facebook.com/ISULandscapeClub
DEADLINES AND REMINDERS
April 23: George Washington Carver Life and Legacy Symposium, Scheman Center, http://www.diversity.cals.iastate.edu/george-washington-carver-life-and-...
April 29-30: Global Food Security Consortium Spring Symposium, Ames, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/gfsc/in...
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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REMINDER: APRIL 7 CALS WORKSHOP ON 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 from 1 to 2 p.m. in 13 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. Please RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu).
INTERNAL COMPETITION: NSF RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development of bold, new, potentially transformative and scalable models for STEM graduate training that ensure that graduate students develop the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program initially has one priority research theme: Data-Enabled Science and Engineering. In addition, proposals are encouraged on any other crosscutting, interdisciplinary theme. ISU is allowed to submit two proposals, at least one of which should be in DESE. The VPR Office invites pre-proposals from interested faculty for the internal competition. Pre-proposals must be submitted to Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) by April 21 at 5 p.m.. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/node/186
CALS TRAVEL SUPPORT FOR NSF GRANTS CONFERENCE
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will provide travel support totaling up to $800 each for up to four CALS faculty members to attend the NSF Regional Grants Conference in Denver, Colo., on June 23-24. This support will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis, with preference given to individuals who have not recently received CALS travel assistance for a grantsmanship conference or workshop. Interested CALS faculty should contact Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by April 11. More: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/research/fundingResources/node/187
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/
April 28 (letter of intent): NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25); one application per institution. More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-14-010.html
May 12: EPA Smart Growth Information Clearinghouse; one award up to $700,000 over five years. More:
http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/grants/index.htm#rfgpa
May 16: NASA ROSES 2014 Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry: Ocean Color Remote Sensing Vicarious (In Situ) Calibration Instruments. More: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init...{E9007FB5-975A-A0C9-B8C6-8D65C78D5552}&path=open
May 20 (letter of intent) NSF National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505015
May 23: USDA APHIS National Clean Plant Network. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=252932
May 23 (letter of intent): NIH High Impact Neuroscience Research Resource Grants (R24). More: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-14-006.html
July 1 (concept papers): USAID Call for Concept Papers Focused on Regional Leadership Centers under the President's Young African Leaders Initiative. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=253169
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INFOGRAZING
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INSTRUMENT TO STUDY EFFECTS OF GENES, ENVIRONMENT ON PLANT TRAITS
ISU's Liang Dong, electrical and computer engineering, is leading a research team that's developing an accessible instrument with the scale, flexibility and resolution needed to study how genes and environmental conditions affect plant traits. Dong says the instrument could enable experiments that are now impossible. The project is supported by a three-year, $697,550 grant from the National Science Foundation. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2014/03/25/planttraitsinstrument
PORTRAITS OF ISU ALUMNI ART EXHIBIT OPENING AT BRUNNIER
When Jim Heemstra, photographer, and Carole Gieseke, writer and editor of VISIONS magazine, set out on a two-year journey across the United States to make portraits of ISU alumni in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, they had no idea how emotionally tied they would become to those alumni – and how deeply they would be changed by the experience. The VISIONS Across America portrait exhibition at the Brunnier Art Museum is a result of that journey. Heemstra, Gieseke and some of the featured alumni will be present at an opening reception on Friday, April 4, 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will run through Aug. 9. More: http://www.isualum.org/index.cfm?nodeID=70924&audienceID=1
IOWA WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION SPRING CONFERENCE, APRIL 17-19
Registration is now open for the Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education annual Spring Leadership Conference on April 17-19 at Drake University. This year’s theme is “Stepping Up to the Plate.” More: http://www.iowawhe.org/homepage.html
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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NOVELIST: SCIENCE AND WRITING ROOTED IN PASSION AND DESIRE
“I think science and writing are utterly the same thing. They are completely rooted in passion and desire, if they're any good at all. You can fall in love with the natural world in the same way you fall in love with a person. There's that same sense of helplessness, of lacking control over how much of your life you want to devote to it.” Andrea Barrett, a novelist who writes often about scientists. More: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2013/11/16
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MARGINALIA
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FEWER BACKYARD RODEOS
Informal rodeos held by farmers were once standard entertainment in Iowa. They have smaller entry fees and cash prizes than more formal competitions, and are often a child’s introduction to the sport. But now they are a rarity. As the cost of livestock and feed has increased, and as liability concerns have made insurance a necessity for home rodeo organizers, many people folded their backyard operations because of the expense. More: http://nyti.ms/1gHgfeN
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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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