College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Aug. 24, 2015 – No. 864
Top Stories
Impressive Starting Salaries for Recent Graduates in Agriculture, Related Areas
CALS Career Services has released the annual entry-level salary summary for December 2014 and May 2015 graduates earning bachelor’s degrees. Seventeen universities participated, providing more than 2,900 data points. According to Mike Gaul, career services director, the animal science sector had the highest overall average increase of 6.8 percent, followed by technology at 5.4 percent and agricultural economics/business at 5.2 percent. Top earning majors include technology, agricultural economics/business, food science and agronomy. More
Welcome Back: Eat an Apple from the Horticulture Research Station
For this first week of the fall semester, Redfree apples grown at the Horticulture Research Station will be given away to students at five university welcome stations around campus. Seventy-five bushels (about 10,000 apples) recently were delivered to ISU Dining for the week’s welcoming activities, which for several years now have featured Horticulture Station apples. The welcome stations are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Redfree variety is marked by high yield, excellent taste, color and texture, and the apples ripen in August. Learn more about the Redfree apple, including nutrition and recipes at the Horticulture Research Station website.
Research
Bio-Polymer Pilot Plant Dedication Set for Aug. 26
Iowa State and industry partner Argo Genesis Chemical LLC will dedicate a new, $5.3 million Bio-Polymer Processing Facility on Aug. 26. The plant, located at Iowa State’s BioCentury Research Farm just west of Ames, will allow Iowa State engineers to research and develop their process for producing bio-polymers from soybean oil. More
Vorst on Strengthening Food Safety and Function of Plastics
Keith Vorst, food science and human nutrition, reports that plastic products may cause health concerns decades after they’ve been used and thrown in the trash bin. Toxic materials such as heavy metals leach out of the plastic as the products decay over a span of years, creating what Vorst calls “end-of-life” problems. Vorst leads the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium at ISU, a group that aims to strengthen food safety and improve the function of polymeric materials like plastics. More
ISU to Co-Host International Conference on Swine Feed Efficiency
ISU and Kansas State University will host an International Conference on Feed Efficiency in Swine in Omaha on Oct. 21-22. The conference will deliver the results of the multidisciplinary Feed Efficiency in Swine research project conducted by ISU, Kansas State and three international institutions. More
Brown, Heaton and Suby Featured in Bioenergy Documentary
“Sustainability in Bioenergy: A Nation Connected” is a short documentary highlighting personal stories and the efforts being made by communities across the United States to develop, produce and provide bioenergy, while ensuring it is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Robert Brown, director of the Bioeconomy Institute, Emily Heaton, agronomy, and Andy Suby, biomss processing manager with CCUR, are featured in the video, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office. More
Teaching and Students
CALS Freshman/Transfer Barbecue this Thursday, Aug. 27
The CALS Student Council is hosting a CALS Freshman/Transfer Barbecue on Thursday, Aug. 27, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall. Representatives from more than 20 clubs will be on hand to welcome students as well.
Extension and Outreach
New Project at Horticulture Station Offers Research on Growing Hops
The new hops project at the ISU Horticulture Research Station north of Ames involves one acre with nearly 1,000 plants. The project, led by Diana Cochran, horticulture and extension fruit specialist, had several phases. “The goal of Iowa State’s project is to evaluate hop cultivars under Iowa growing conditions and determine fertility programs,” said Cochran. “It also gives hobbyists a glimpse of how much work is really involved with the trellis system.” More
Farm Video Game Introduced at State Fair
Demonstrations of C6 BioFarm, a new tablet app, were featured at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 20-23. The game teaches the values and steps to create products in a manner that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. C6 BioFarm is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, CenUSA Bioenergy and Iowa NSF EPSCoR. More
Around the College
Harmon Receives Countryside Engineering Award
Jay Harmon, agricultural and biosystems engineering, received the 2015 G.B. Gunlogson Countryside Engineering Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at their annual international meeting in New Orleans. The award recognizes Harmon’s exemplary service to animal production systems through the application of engineering principles and performance in research, extension, outreach and teaching. More
Western Research Farm Announces New Superintendent
Chris Beedle is the new superintendent of the Western Research and Demonstration Farm near Castana. He succeeds Wayne Roush who recently retired. Beedle has an animal science degree from ISU and previously worked at Tyson Fresh Meats. More
Animal Science Department Launches New Website
The animal science department has launched a new website and invites users to get to know faculty and staff and departmental programs that integrate science, practice and innovation to serve the immediate needs of animal industries. More
Volunteers Needed for CALS Alumni BBQ
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is hosting the annual CALS BBQ on Sept. 5, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. prior to the ISU vs. UNI football game at 7 p.m. Volunteer opportunities are available for faculty and staff to welcome CALS alumni and friends at the BBQ:
- Set-Up (1-3 p.m.)
- Registration (4-6:30 p.m.)
- Greeting (4-6:15 p.m.)
- Beverage Service (4-6:15 p.m.)
- Tear Down (6-7:30 p.m.)
Anyone interested in volunteering may register, or contact Haley Cook at hcook@iastate.edu Please register by Aug. 28. All CALS faculty and staff and guests are welcome to also enjoy the BBQ as attendees. Please register by Aug. 28.
Calendar
Sept 2: Reception for Paul Lasley, Sociology
Paul Lasley has returned to the faculty after 13 years as chair of the Department of Sociology. To honor his years of service, a reception is being held Sept. 2, 4:30 p.m. in the Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall. Refreshments will be provided.
Sept. 3: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series will begin its ninth year on Sept. 3, 3:40 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall. Authors David Acker, Dorothy Masinde, Rob Mazur, Gail Nonnecke, Max Rothschild and Mark Westgate will discuss their book, “Tapping Philanthropy for Development.” More
Funding Opportunities
Internal Competition: Indo-U.S. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative
The Indo-U.S. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and build partnerships between American and Indian institutions of higher education. Program goals are to encourage mutual understanding, facilitate educational reform, foster economic development and engage civil society through academic cooperation. Eligible projects will be in the areas of energy, climate change and environmental studies; education and educational reform; public health; sustainable development and community development; and international relations and strategic studies. Submissions are limited to one per institution. Pre-proposals are due Sept. 10. Contact: Sue Shipitalo, sueship@iastate.edu. More
Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites Call for Proposals
The Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites is soliciting research projects to begin in 2016. As a National Science Foundation Industry and University Cooperative Research Center, CB2 is a vehicle for encouraging formal, topical relationships between academic institutions and industry collaborators. Proposal topics aim to solve applied problems on an aspect of the bioplastics or biocomposites supply chain and are selected by the CB2 Industrial Advisory Board. Proposals are due Sept. 14. More
Request CALS Travel Support for NSF Regional Grants Conference
CALS will provide up to $800 each for up to five CALS faculty members to attend the NSF Regional Grants Conference on Nov. 2-3 in Arlington, Va. Interested CALS faculty should contact Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by Sept. 4 to request support. Travel 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. Participants will submit a short report and/or participate in an informational Lunch and Learn following the conference. More
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Applications Due Nov. 1
The American Association for the Advancement of Science seeks candidates for AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships. The aim is to foster scientifically informed, evidence-based policy and practice by involving scientists and engineers from a broad range of career stages to engage their knowledge and analytical skills while learning first-hand about policymaking and implementation at the federal level. Program areas include diplomacy, security and development; energy, environment and agriculture; health, education and human services; big data and analytics; and global stewardship, among others. Applications are due Nov. 1. More
Collaborative Research Opportunity for U.S. and Israeli Researchers
The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences and Directorate for Biological Sciences of the National Science Foundation and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation have announced a collaborative research opportunity that will allow U.S. and Israeli researchers to submit collaborative proposals that will undergo a single review process. Proposals will respond to solicitation NSF 13-510 Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator-initiated Research Projects. Special guidelines for submission are outlined in an NSF Dear Colleague Letter released Aug. 19. More
Funding Information, Opportunities and Deadline Reminders
Dates listed are application deadlines. Contact: Roxanne Clemens, rclemens@iastate.edu. Additional information is posted at CALS Pre-Award Resources.
Various dates: NSF Dear Colleague Letter - FY 2016 Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems Funding Opportunity on Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Water. More
Sept. 10: American Educational Research Association Research Grants; 15 awards per year, $20,000 for one year, $35,000 for two years, no IDC allowed. More
Sept. 28 (letter of intent): NIH Novel Nucleic Acid Sequencing Technology Development (R01) and (R21). More (R01), (R21)
Oct. 5: NIH-CDC Research to Advance Vaccine Safety (R01). More
Oct. 14: USAID - The ZRDA Activity in Georgia; $15 million over five years. More
Oct. 15: Google Research Awards; $150,000, contact ISU Foundation (4-0374, cfr@foundation.iastate.edu) prior to applying. More
Oct. 16: Dept. of Interior Wildlife Without Borders Western Hemisphere Program (Mexico); $500,000 total program funding, 15 awards. More
Oct. 16: NIH-CDC Research to Advance Vaccine Safety (R21); $275,000 direct costs over two years. More
Oct. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01), $900,000 direct costs over three years. More
Oct. 20 (letter of intent): NIH Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24); $3 million direct costs over five years. More
Nov. 1 (applications accepted quarterly): The McKnight Foundation Mississippi River Program; contact ISU Foundation (4-0374, cfr@foundation.iastate.edu) prior to applying. More
Nov. 15: American Association of University Women American Fellowships; dissertation, post-doctoral research leave, summer/short-term research publication grants. More
Feb. 29: NSF Resource Implementations for Data Intensive Research in the Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences. More
Communications Kiosk
Adapt Presentations to Listeners
The best presentations are tailored to the audience, write communications experts. In the Aug. 17 issue of Advancement Weekly, published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, “Harvard Business Review” staff offer the following questions to help presenters understand their audience:
- How big will the group be? Who will be absent?
- What roles do your audience members perform in your organization? To whom are they accountable?
- What does the audience already know? What do people need to know?
- What are people likely to assume? Which of those assumptions are correct and which are incorrect?
- How well does the audience know you?
Infograzing
Volunteers Needed for Harvest at Mustard Seed Farm
Elena Ingram, a sophomore in horticulture, is looking for volunteers to help with the harvest at Mustard Seed Community Farm, a nonprofit farm and Community-Supported Agriculture that grows crops for the community and local food pantries. Help is needed Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to harvest vegetables and do other tasks. Volunteers get to take home a box of fruits and vegetables. For more information, contact Ingram, (515) 657-1795 (call or text) or ejingram@iastate.edu. More about Mustard Seed.
Marginalia
Tree Near Curtiss Commemorates Partnership with Tribal Colleges
The commemorative tree near the front steps of Curtiss Hall was planted in 2006 to recognize five years of work and partnership between ISU and seven tribal colleges and land-grant universities in Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. Information on this marker is now available on the Facilities Planning and Management website. The tree is a Triumph Elm, symbolic of trust built with tribal colleges. In his remarks at the tree’s planting, Harold Crawford, agricultural education and studies and project co-director, said the elm is symbolic because it will provide diversity to the trees of campus; it will branch out and establish roots just as other College of Agriculture and Life Sciences programs are doing; and it will be a signpost to remind people of the partnerships nurtured with the tribal colleges, which also are serving their communities in the land-grant tradition. 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.