College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Sept. 21, 2015 – No. 868
Top Stories
Wintersteen Appointed to New Term as Dean
Dean Wendy Wintersteen has been appointed to a new five-year term. Over the past five years she managed record enrollment growth each year while also growing sponsored funding and philanthropic support, and increasing student diversity. “Leading the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been an exceptional experience,” Wintersteen said. “I am excited to continue working with faculty, students and staff to serve Iowa and the world.” More
CALS Fall Convocation, Sept. 22
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Fall Convocation is Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The program will include brief comments from Dean Wendy Wintersteen; two medallion ceremonies for Gene Takle, Pioneer Hi-Bred Agronomy Professor, and Jianming Yu, Pioneer Hi-Bred Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding; the awarding of the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research; recognition of Cathy Kling, economics, ISU’s newest member of The National Academy of Sciences; and recognition for the College’s new faculty and staff since last fall. A reception will follow.
Research
New Liaison to Connect ISU Research with Cedar Rapids' Processing Companies
ISU has hired David Freeman, a food scientist, to lead a new collaboration with Cedar Rapids and its agricultural, food and processing companies. The City of Cedar Rapids and ISU officials announced in March the creation of this unique public-private partnership to foster increased interactions between faculty research and the city's agricultural and bioprocessing industries. More
ISU Receives Grant for Monarch Conservation and Research
A USDA grant for $760,897 will allow ISU to further develop innovative approaches to monarch butterfly conservation. In a Sept. 15 article in the Ames Tribune, Sue Blodgett, professor and chair of entomology, said the three-year grant will help augment the planting of milkweed or replace those plants not doing well in current habitat areas.
Teaching and Students
ISU Wins at National Barrow Show
The animal science department enjoyed unprecedented success at the 2015 National Barrow Show in Austin, Minn. The ISU Swine Teaching Farm earned Reserve Champion Purebred Truckload honors, Champion Crossbred Truckload honors and Grand Champion Truckload. Also, the Teaching Farm captured Champion Duroc Board and Champion Duroc Gilt honors. The champion boar sold for $20,000; the champion gilt for $1,750. The ISU Livestock Judging Team brought home third high overall honors and finished fourth in reasons and second in placings. The team was led by Dan Ammann, senior in agricultural studies, who finished first overall, third in placings and tied for first in reasons, and Bailey Core, senior in agricultural and life sciences education, who earned fifth in reasons. More
Faculty Senate Approves Culinary Food Science Name Change
The Faculty Senate unanimously approved a name change for the culinary science program to culinary food science at a Sept. 17 meeting. The change was requested by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition to reflect the academic preparation and expertise of the major, especially for recognition among hiring administrators.
Ag-Related Technology and Agribusiness Degrees Most Valued
Students who study agriculture-related technology and agribusiness can expect to make the most among their graduating class, according to a salary study performed by ISU. The survey is meant to show employment trends to help employers and students make job decisions, according to Mike Gaul, director of CALS Career Services. More
Extension and Outreach
Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 20-26
This week is Iowa Farm Safety and Health Week and National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 20-26. By proclamation, Governor Terry Branstad declared the week to highlight agricultural safety and health for all Iowans and their communities.
Webinar Addresses Municipal Zoning for Local Foods in Iowa
Gary Taylor, interim director of the ISU Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development program, has produced a new 114-page guidebook, Municipal Zoning for Local Foods in Iowa. The guidebook provides practical guidance and sample zoning code language related to local food production and sales, from aquaculture and bees to front-yard gardens, farm stands and food trucks. Extension will host a webinar on Sept. 30, noon to 1 p.m., to introduce this new resource for city governments.
ISU Sources Available to Comment on Harvest
Agricultural experts at ISU are available to comment on the 2015 harvest, which is getting underway across the Midwest. Sources include Chad Hart, economics and extension grain markets specialist; Mark Licht, extension cropping systems agronomist; and Elwynn Taylor, agronomy and extension climatologist. More
Around the College
Faculty, Staff Receive University Awards Today, Sept. 21
Faculty and staff recipients of the university’s most distinguished awards will be honored today, Sept. 21, at 3:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Individuals from CALS being recognized include the following. More
- Stephen Howell, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Gregory Courtney, Entomology, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
- Christopher Tuggle, Animal Science, Regents Award for Faculty Excellence
- Garland Dahlke, Animal Science, Regents Award for Staff Excellence
- Joel Coats, Entomology, Margaret Ellen White Graduate Faculty Award
- Paul Lasley, Sociology, ISU Award for Departmental Leadership
- JoAnne Powell-Coffman, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, ISU Award for Early Achievement in Departmental Leadership
- Lance Baumgard, Animal Science, ISU Award for Mid-Career Achievement in Research
- Jason Ross, Animal Science, ISU Award for Early Achievement in Research
- Kathleen Delate, Horticulture, ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
- Ajay Nair, Horticulture, ISU Award for Early Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice
Individuals being recognized from shared departments with a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences appointment include:
- Daniel Nettleton, Statistics, Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Drena Dobbs, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, University Professor
- Desiree Gunning, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Regents Award for Staff Excellence
- Mark Hargrove, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching
- Yehua Li, Statistics, ISU Award for Early Achievement in Research
Curtiss Hall Projects Score LEED Gold
Iowa State has earned its 10th and 11th LEED certifications for two renovation projects in Curtiss Hall. The Monsanto Student Services mall, completed in July 2012, and Harl Commons, completed in September 2013, each achieved LEED Gold certification. These are ISU’s first in a LEED category for interior renovations. More
Research Farms Surplus Auction Brings $120,000
The ISU Research Farms Surplus Auction was held Sept. 16 at the ISU Curtiss Farm. There were more than 370 lots that brought in $120,000. The auctioneer was Lynch Auction Company of Ames. There were more than 120 buyer numbers given out. No item sold for more than $8,000. Items came from ISU farms across Iowa, student clubs and ISU farms near Ames. The funds, after auction expenses, are returned to the source of the consigned items. The funds are generally applied to research farm operational costs, or in the case of student organizations, to their programming.
Calendar
Sept. 22: CALS United Way Book Sale
The CALS sixth annual United Way book sale will take place Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at two locations: in the ground floor rotunda of Curtiss Hall and the atrium of the Molecular Biology building. Books, CDs and DVDs will be sold for $1 each or six for $5. DVD sets will be sold for $5. Each location will have a variety of books such as biographies, children’s books, cookbooks, history, romance, sci-fi and textbooks. Also, there is a variety of CDs and DVDs. All proceeds go to the 2015 ISU United Way Campaign. Donated items will be accepted up to the day of the sale at each location. Contact Carla Persaud at cpersaud@iastate.edu or 4-1823 with questions.
Sept. 24: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues on Thursday, Sept. 24, with Heather Burrow, a professorial research fell from the University of New England in Australia, presenting “Challenges and Opportunities in Increasing Productivity in the Extensive Livestock Industries.” The seminar begins at 3:40 in 1204 Kildee Hall.
Oct. 7: Roasterie Coffee Founder to Present Leadership Lecture
Danny O’Neill, owner and founder of The Roasterie Coffee, Inc., will present the 2015 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Leonard and Evelyn Dolezal Auditorium, 127 Curtiss Hall. O’Neill will present, “How Baling Hay Prepared Me to Become the Coffee ‘Bean Baron’.” The event is free and open to the public. More
Nov. 15: Cotton and Fiber Symposium Announced
A cotton and fiber symposium will be held at the Synergy in Science ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting in Minneapolis on Nov. 15. “Exploring Genetic Diversity for Fiber Improvement” is sponsored by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America. “Cotton, as a plant, is remarkable both for its extraordinary natural diversity and its importance to humankind,” says Jonathan Wendel, ecology, evolution and organismal biology, in CSSA news release announcing the symposium. More
Funding Opportunities
CALS Training: Using COS PIVOT to Find Competitive Funding Opportunities
The CALS pre-award resources team offers small-group and one-on-one training on the use of the Community of Science PIVOT database to assist faculty and staff in finding competitive grant opportunities. Training includes general instruction on how to use the COS PIVOT database and can be tailored to set up effective search criteria and automatic notification of funding opportunities in specific research areas. Training takes approximately one hour. To schedule training, contact Kim Clinton (kclinton@iastate.edu, 294-2448). More
Iowa Energy Center FY 2016 Competitive Grants Program
The Iowa Energy Center has opened its FY 2016 competitive grants program. Planning grants award $5,000 to $8,000 to help facilitate preparation of proposals for major federal, nonprofit or private-sector solicitations. Opportunity grants award $10,000 to $200,000 for near-term projects that will enable researchers to be more competitive for other solicitations. Matching project grants provide up to 20 percent cost share of external funding up to $200,000 per year of the project.
Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water
The Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water is accepting nominations for the 7th bi-annual awards. The program recognizes the efforts that scientists, inventors and research organizations around the world are making in water-related fields. One prize in each of five topic areas is awarded, ranging from $133,000 to $266,000. Nominations are due Dec. 31. More
USPTO Presentation: A Day in the Life of a Patent Examiner
Elaine Gort, Supervisory Patent Examiner, from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office University Outreach Team will present, “A Day in the Life of a Patent Examiner.” The presentation will be held on Sept. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Union Oak Room. Lunch will be provided and RSVPs are requested. Contact: Kris Johansen (kajohans@iastate.edu, 294-3208).
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.
Oct. 16: NIH Development and Characterization of Animal Models for Aging Research (R21). More
Nov. 4 (concept paper): DOE EERE Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Smart Manufacturing: Advanced Sensors, Controls, Platforms and Modeling for Manufacturing; $35 million to $70 million over five years, 50 percent cost share, one application per institution, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) to express interest. More
Nov. 5: USFWS 2016 Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grant; up to $200,000, 3:1 match of non-federal funds.
Dec. 8 (SBIR) Dec. 11 (STTR): NSF Small Business Innovation Research Program/Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR) Phase I; $225,000, includes biological technologies, universities as partners. More
Dec. 25 (letter of intent): NIH Resource Program Grants in Bioinformatics (P41); $500,000 to $1.75 million direct costs per year up to five years. More
Jan. 1: The Glaucoma Foundation Research Projects; $40,000.
Feb. 12 (white papers): Joint Genome Institute DNA Synthesis.
Infograzing
University Museums Celebrates 40 Years
ISU Museums is celebrating 40 years since their founding. Since the opening of the Henry J. Brunnier Galleries in 1975, the University Museums have added more than 2,000 public works of art and more than 30,000 pieces total to their collection, making it one of the largest campus public art programs in the country. More
Pre-Vet Club Hosts Run to Cure K-9 Cancer
The ISU Pre-Veterinary Club is hosting a Run to Cure K-9 Cancer on Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. The 5K run will raise funds for the Boo Radley Foundation. The event is held in conjunction with an open house hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association. More
Tall Crops Pose Seasonal Road Hazard
The annual corn crop brings an often-ignored danger: Some roads are so sheltered by the towering corn that motorists can’t see each other until just before they collide, with potentially deadly results. In a Sept. 14 article, the Associated Press reports that the peril is especially pervasive in Iowa, the nation’s top corn producer, where crops are grown on more than 90 percent of the land and at least five people have been killed so far this season in crashes blamed on corn. 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.