College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
March 30, 2015 – No. 843
Top Stories
ISU Researchers Find Patterns in Evolving Genomes of Thousands of Species
Researchers at ISU found striking patterns in the building blocks of DNA in a wide variety of species, according to their recently published paper. Jianming Yu, associate professor of agronomy and the Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding, and Xianran Li, a research assistant professor of agronomy, said their work potentially offers new insight in how genes mutate over time and why some populations are more susceptible than others to certain diseases such as cancer. More
ISU Poultry Interest Group to Hold 5th Annual Egg Hunt on Wednesday
The ISU Poultry Interest Group is hosting its fifth annual Egg Hunt on Wednesday, April 1, 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Lagomarcino Courtyard. Children ages two to 12 are welcome. Activities include the egg hunt, egg dying and decorating, and coloring pages. Refreshments will be provided. More
Research
Rao Part of Research Team Developing Oral Hepatitis B Vaccine
In a new study, researchers including Guru Rao, Roy J. Carver Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, report progress toward a new method of producing vaccines using genetically modified corn. The approach could lead to an oral hepatitis B vaccine that requires no refrigeration and costs less than $1 per dose to manufacture. More
Teaching and Students
Brumm Talks about “Flipping” as Option for Teaching
In a recent blog post, Tom Brumm, agricultural and biosystems engineering, presented “flipping” as an approach faculty can use to improve student learning. Flipping involves taking the information delivery part of the class (the traditional lecture) and putting it online to be completed by the students before they come to class. Then students do the homework or other learning activities in class, where the professor is there to guide them and answer questions. More
Dietetics Internship Program Expands to New International Locations
ISU’s dietetics internship program will expand its international reach to as many as four additional countries, including an opportunity to improve community nutrition in Dharwad, India.
Club Produces Magazine to Teach Importance of Water Conservation
The Soil and Water Conservation Club at ISU and the Iowa Water Center have published the 2015 edition of “Getting into Soil & Water,” a magazine aimed toward high school students to encourage interest in water conservation. More
Save the Date for Science With Practice Poster Presentation
The Science With Practice poster presentation will be held April 28, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium. Science With Practice is a CALS experiential learning and work program for undergraduate students in agriculture, which is supported by the ISU Agricultural Endowment.
Extension and Outreach
Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Options Revised
The four-page "Emerald Ash Borer Management Options," has been revised and is available from ISU Extension and Outreach as a free download. Information about the life stages affected by systemic insecticides, two new professional products and proper use to protect insect pollinators has been added. More
Lewis: Monarchs Need Weeds
In a March 27 interview on Iowa Public Radio's "Talk of Iowa," Donald Lewis, entomology, said that across the Corn Belt, there have been 125 million acres of milkweed habitat lost in the last few decades. Monarch butterflies, which are dwindling in numbers, depend on milkweed plants for laying their eggs and for caterpillar nutrition. Richard Jauron, horticulture, and Ken Holscher, entomology, also joined the show to answer listener questions. More. More on the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium.
Calendar
April 1: Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
Ted Crosbie, retired vice president of Monsanto Co., will present the 2015 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on April 1 at 7 p.m. in the Dolezal Auditorium in Curtiss Hall. More
April 6: Eating Wildly Author to Speak at ISU
A New York City writer whose journey of self-discovery involved foraging for food in the city’s parks, will discuss her memoir at ISU on April 6. Ava Chin will present Eating Wildly: Foraging for Life, Love and the Perfect Meal at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Sponsors include the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture Colloquium and the Sustainable Agriculture Student Association. More
April 7-8: Egg Industry Issues Forum
The 7th annual Egg Industry Issues Forum will be held April 7-8 in downtown Des Moines.
April 8: New York Chef to Present Shivvers Lecture
Dan Barber, co-owner and executive chef of Manhattan’s Blue Hill restaurant and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y., will present “Beyond Farm-to-Table: The Future of Food” on April 8 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. His talk is the 2015 Shivvers Memorial Lecture coordinated by the Leopold Center.
April 14: Agricultural Entomologist to Present Staniforth Lecture
Michael Gray, professor of agricultural entomology in the department of crop sciences at the University of Illinois, will present the 2015 David W. Staniforth Memorial Lecture on April 14 at 4:10 p.m. in 210 Bessey Hall. Gray will speak on “Managing Pests in the Transgenic Era: Is the Integration in IPM an All But Forgotten Consideration?” A reception will follow in the Agronomy Commons. More
April 22: Assistant Professor P&T Workshop
A promotion and tenure workshop for assistant professors with an appointment in CALS will be held April 22, 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. in 1951 Food Sciences Building. Speakers include Dean Wendy Wintersteen; Josh Selsby, animal science; and associate deans David Acker, John Lawrence and Joe Colletti.
April 23: Associate Professor P&T Workshop
A promotion and tenure workshop for associate professors with an appointment in CALS will be held April 23, 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. in 142 Curtiss Hall. Speakers include Dean Wendy Wintersteen; Cathy Kling, economics; Steve Freeman, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Kendall Lamkey, agronomy; and Guru Rao, Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
April 24: Retirement Reception Honoring Larry Johnson
A retirement reception honoring Larry Johnson will be held April 24, 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. Johnson, a professor in the department of food science and human nutrition and director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research, has served ISU for 30 years. There will be a program at 2 p.m.
May 6: P&T Mirroring Session
A promotion and tenure mirroring session for pre-tenure assistant professors and tenured associate professors with an appointment in CALS will be held May 6, 12 to 1:30 p.m. in 142 Curtiss Hall. RSVP to Carla Persaud (cpersaud@iastate.edu) by April 27. This is an opportunity to reflect on the P&T process, ask questions and engage in grass-root level discussions. This will be facilitated by David Acker, Joe Colletti, Gwen Beattie and Sue Lamont.
Funding Opportunities
HHMI Early Career Award in Biological Sciences
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Simons Foundation, will name up to 70 early-career Faculty Scholars who bring innovative approaches to biological problems. Awardees will receive $100,000 to $400,000 annually for five years. The PI or co-PI must be serving on at least one active competitive grant. Applications are due July 28. Contact: Donna Van Pelt dvanpelt@foundation.iastate.edu.0
Internal Competition: Brain Research Foundation SIA
The Office of the Vice President for Research is soliciting pre-proposals for the Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Innovation Award for senior researchers. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, cutting edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators. This opportunity is for projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources, but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings in a very short timeframe. One proposal per institution will be accepted. Pre-proposals should be submitted to fundingopp@iastate.edu by April 30. Contact: Chitra Rajan rajanc@iastate.edu or Donna Van Pelt dvanpelt@iastate.edu.
USAID Feed the Future Pre-funding Announcement
USAID has published advance notice of a funding opportunity that will focus on the Feed the Future countries of Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal. An RFA is expected to be issued within the next few weeks. Expected topics are horticulture, aquaculture, agriculture and food security problems, and transferred technology. More
Apr. 6 Workshop: Understanding Funding Agencies – Department of Energy
The Office of the Vice President for Research will host the workshop, Understanding Funding Agencies: Department of Energy, on April 6, 3 to 5 p.m. in 301A Spedding Hall. This workshop will help faculty, researchers and support staff understand how to successfully seek sponsored funds from the DOE. A panel of faculty and researchers from Ames Lab will explain DOE’s mission and structure, research funding opportunities and proposal review process. They will also offer tips on how to write a competitive proposal to DOE and talk about opportunities for collaborations. Register by April 3. More
USDA Webinar on Centers of Excellence Implementation Available for Viewing
A Feb. 26 educational webinar about the FY 2015 implementation of the Centers of Excellence provision from the 2014 Farm Bill is available for viewing on the NIFA website.
Become a Proposal Reviewer for NSF Grant Applications
Peer reviewers provide a great service to NSF and the science and engineering community and benefit from serving on panels by gaining first-hand knowledge of the peer review process, learning about common problems with proposals, and discovering strategies for writing strong proposals. Reviewers also meet colleagues and the NSF program officers managing programs related to their research interests. To become an NSF reviewer, send an e-mail to the NSF program officer of the program that fits your expertise. Introduce yourself, identify your areas of expertise, let the program officer know that you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer, and attach a two-page CV with current contact information. More
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.
Continuous submission: NSF Geomorphology and Land-Use Dynamics. More
Apr. 15 (letter of intent): Whitehall Foundation Research Grants and Grant-in-Aid; basic research in neurobiology, $225,000 for research grants, $30,000 for grants- in-aid. More
Apr. 22: USDA Potato Breeding Research. More
Apr. 30 (training grant letter of intent): USDA FY 2016 Farm to School Grant Program; universities can participate as collaborators.
Apr. 30: Water Environment Research Foundation - Developing Exposure and Toxicity Data for Priority Trace Organics in Biosolids; $250,000.
May 4: USDA Integration Research, Education and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Methyl Bromide Transitions; $250,000 to $500,000.
June 4: DOS FY2015 Capacity-Building Program for U.S. Undergraduate Study Abroad; $1.19 million to administer a competitive grants program, one application per institution. More
July 1: NIH Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care (R18).
Aug. 10 (letter of intent): NIH Enhancing Developmental Biology Research at Academic Research Enhancement Award Eligible Institutions (R15); $300,000 total plus indirect costs up to three years. More
Infograzing
CALS Co-Sponsor of GPSS Research Conference
The second annual Graduate and Professional Student Senate research conference will be held Thursday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union. It is sponsored by 11 campus units, including CALS.
Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory Topic of Webinar
A webinar scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at 11:30 a.m. will feature the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois. The webinar is hosted by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. More
Marginalia
Remembering Davidson Hall, Brick by Brick
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has relocated to the Biorenewables Complex and Davidson Hall is currently in the demolition phase. ISU’s student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers will have memorial Davidson Hall bricks available for purchase this spring. Each brick will include an engraved plaque and letter of authenticity. Student bricks will be available for $25; faculty, staff and alumni bricks will be available for $50.
Celebrating National Ag Day with Wes Buchele Archive
“Here at Iowa State, we know that the production of agriculture would not be nearly so abundant without the ingenuity and problem-solving expertise of agricultural engineers. One of agricultural engineering’s bright lights is retired ISU professor Wes Buchele, best known for the design of the large round baler, as well as numerous contributions to the field of agricultural machinery safety.” This was posted on the ISU Library Special Collections Department Blog in recognition of National Ag Day on March 18. More
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Julie Stewart, Editor
jstewart@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5616
https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/agonline
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online, the newsletter for faculty and staff in Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is published by email every Monday. The deadline for submitting content is 12 p.m. on Friday.