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AG AND LIFE SCIENCES ONLINE
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The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Newsletter
Iowa State University
Aug. 4, 2014 No. 810
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COLLEGE NEWS
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NEW GRADUATE STUDENT AND POST-DOC WELCOME, SEPT. 18
CALS is hosting a new graduate student and post-doc welcome on Sept. 18 in Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall. The evening will begin with a free dinner and mingling from 5 to 6 p.m. Current student panel discussion will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Topics to include ideas for success, choosing and working with your mentor, professional development ideas, time management, words of wisdom, and time for questions. Please RSVP to Ruth MacDonald (ruthmacd@iastate.edu) by Sept. 15.
NCR-SARE AWARDS THREE GRANTS TO ISU
The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program announced projects funded for the 2014 Research and Education and Graduate Student competitive grant programs. Three grants were awarded to ISU:
- $198,353 to Ajay Nair, horticulture, for “Cover Crops and Strip Tillage to Promote Soil Quality, Environmental Sustainability, Food Safety and Profitability in Cucurbit Cropping Systems.”
- $9,946 to Dana Jokela and Ajay Nair, horticulture, for “No-till and Strip-till Systems for Enhanced Soil Health and Profitability in Organic Broccoli and Pepper Production.”
- $9,144 to William Osterholz and Matt Liebman, agronomy, for “Diversification of Corn-Soybean Rotations with Cereal Rye/Red Cover: Impacts on Nitrogen Avaiilability in Corn.”
NEW VIDEOS HIGHLIGHT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION
Four new videos from the Leopold Center and ISU Extension and Outreach discuss the importance of local food production in Iowa. “Why Local? Why Now?” explores some of the reasons behind investment in regional and local food systems.
ANIMAL SCIENTISTS RECEIVE AWARDS AN ASAS/ADSA MEETING
The American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association held its joint annual meeting in Kansas City, July 20-24. ASAS presented the following awards: John Mabry, Fellow Award for Extension; Curt Youngs, Distinguished Teacher award; Dorian Garrick, Rockefeller Prentice award in animal breeding and genetics; Jason Ross, Early Career Achievement award; and Erika Lundy, Joseph P. Fontenot Appreciation Club Travel Scholarship. Jessica Hammerand received the 2014 Genevieve Christen Distinguished Undergraduate Student award. Bill Mahanna, a collaborative professor in animal science, received the ADSA Nutrition Professionals Inc. Applied Dairy Nutrition award.
VIDEO: BEEF CATTLE SYMPOSIUM PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING
Researchers, scientists, producers and students from around the world gathered at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center on July 16-18 for the 4th International Beef Cattle Welfare Symposium. Participants learned about new ways to improve health and welfare in livestock and had the opportunity for hands-on training. Hans Coatzee, professor of clinical pharmacology with ISU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was chair of this year’s symposium. More: http://www.news.iastate.edu/video/view/id/5iwNNO04kQU
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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TODAY’S USDA SBIR WORKSHOP AVAILABLE AS WEBINAR
Today's USDA SBIR workshop will be held at 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. The workshop is free, but registration is requested. Thanks to sponsorship from the Iowa Energy Center, the workshop will also be available as a webinar. The broadcast will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. More: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/broadcasts/iowaenergy/.
NIH COMMON FUND TO FOCUS ON THREE EMERGING AREAS OF SCIENCE
The National Institutes of Health’s Common Fund is targeting investment in technology development and research to improve health in three new programs: glycoscience, the study of how sugar modifications affect proteins; the 4D Nucleome, to understand the arrangement of DNA within cells in four dimensions; and Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions, to enable the development of new therapies that allow control of organ function through manipulation of nerves. More: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2014/od-25.htm
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/
Aug. 15 (webinar): DOE Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. More: http://www.science.energy.gov/sbir/funding-opportunities/
Aug. 31: Matsumae International Foundation Research Fellowship Program; three to six months in Japan.
Sept. 3 (pre-application): DOE Environmental System Science; terrestrial ecosystem and subsurface science, $500,000 up to three years. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=260625
Sept. 11 (pre-application): DOE Early Career Research Program; $750,000 over five years. More:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=260582
Sept. 15 (concept papers): USAID Innovation Fund for Improving Food Security in Ethiopia; cost sharing recommended. More: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=260648
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program; applications submitted by the fellow. More: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14590/nsf14590.htm?WT.mc_ev=click
Nov. 19: NSF Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases; $3.3 million from USDA for new awards, also funding from NIH and for U.S.-UK Collaborative Projects, and U.S.-Israel Collaborative Projects. More: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5269
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COMMUNICATIONS KIOSK
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THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE PUBLISHING A BOOK
An article in the July 28 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education provides insight from a former editor at Harvard University Press on things you should know before publishing a book. In reference to the editing process, Elizabeth Knoll said, “The acquisitions editor will not line-edit your entire manuscript. There just isn’t time… But she will work with you on its organization, length, clarity and focus. She will tell you when you’ve buried a great story that could introduce a chapter, or when you’ve strayed off your main topic into a swamp of side issues. She will understand enough of what you are trying to do to choose reviewers who can give both you and the publisher useful feedback, and help you figure out how to handle the feedback when you get it.” Knoll recently left publishing to become assistant provost for faculty appointments at Harvard. More: http://chronicle.com/article/Things-You-Should-Know-Before/147943/?cid=…
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INFOGRAZING
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HELP WELCOME STUDENTS TO ISU
On behalf of Senior Vice President and Provost Jonathan Wickert, faculty and staff are invited to help welcome students to campus during primary class hours on the first two days of school, Aug. 25 and 26. Five welcome and information centers will be located on campus at the Library, Curtiss Hall, Memorial Union, Lagomarcino Hall and the bus shelter in the commuter lot. Representatives from the President’s Office, Provost’s Office, Business and Finance, Student Affairs and a student leader will be assigned at each location for each shift. Fruit and water will be available for distribution to students. Four shifts are available between 9:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Please contact Mel Lee at mklee@iastate.edu by 4 p.m. on Aug. 14.
GOVERNOR BRANSTAD PROCLAIMS AUGUST AS IOWA SOYBEAN MONTH
Governor Terry Branstad has proclaimed August as Iowa Soybean Month. Brian Kemp, president of the Iowa Soybean Association and a farmer from Sibley, said the soybean month proclamation recognizes the value of soybean production to Iowa and ISA’s innovation offering of programs and services, particularly those related to environmental stewardship and water quality.
USDA CELEBRATES NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK
USDA celebrates National Farmers Market Week Aug. 4-10. There are 8,144 farmers markets listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory, up from about 5,000 in 2008. Local food and direct marketing opportunities, including farmers markets, are one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. More: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/08/0155.xml
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INTERNAL VOICES
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WRIGHT MORTON: THE HUMAN FACTOR OF WATER SECURITY
Water security means having enough water, on an ongoing basis, to sustain human life, well-being and economic development. In a recent “Agronomy Journal” paper, Lois Wright Morton, sociology, explains what it will take to achieve water security as it relates to agriculture. “Although science can provide many fixes, there are external factors – having nothing to do with science – that play a pivotal role as well. These are the human, sociological factors,” she said. More: https://www.agronomy.org/story/2014/jun/fri/water-security-and-agricult…
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EXTERNAL VOICES
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VILSACK: INVESTMENT IN AG RESEARCH CREATES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the creation of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research and the appointment of a 15-member board of directors. The new foundation will leverage public and private resources to increase scientific and technological research, innovation and partnerships to boost America’s agricultural economy. “Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research creates $20 in economic activity,” said Vilsack. Authorized by Congress as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, the foundation will operate as a nonprofit corporation seeking and accepting private donations in order to fund research activities that focus on problems of national and international significance. More: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2014/07/0156.xml…
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MARGINALIA
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STUDENTS ATTENDING IAAS WORLD CONGRESS SAY ‘THANK YOU’
The ISU chapter of the International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences hosted the association’s annual World Congress in Ames, July 17 to Aug. 3. Students from 50 different countries attended to take tours, participate in workshops and listen to seminars pertaining to agriculture. The following video was posted on the CALS Facebook page with participants thanking the college, university and Ames for hosting the event. More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8vUg7iChIY&list=UUSyHciqbQhUqmJWATlcyy…
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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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