College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Oct. 5, 2015 – No. 870
Top Stories
CALS Week: Fields of Dreams
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council is celebrating “Fields of Dreams” for 2015 CALS week, Oct. 5-9. Activities include:
- Monday – Free lunch on central campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mr. CALS competition, 7 p.m., Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center
- Tuesday – Free lunch on central campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Dustin Lynch concert, 8 p.m., Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center
- Wednesday – Free lunch on central campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Hunger Fight, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kildee Hall Farm Bureau Pavilion; Deal Lecture, 7 p.m., Curtiss Auditorium; scavenger hunt after the Deal Lecture on the steps of Curtiss Hall
- Thursday – Free lunch on central campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; quiz bowl, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 105-107 Kildee; line dancing, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Kildee Hall Farm Bureau Pavilion
- Friday – Free breakfast on central campus, 7:30 to 10 a.m.; lawn games, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., central campus
CALS Week is sponsored by Land O’ Lakes Inc. More
CALS Week: Mr. CALS Competition, Oct. 5
Sigma Alpha, the professional agriculture sorority, is hosting the third annual Mr. CALS competition today, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. Representatives from CALS clubs, associations and fraternities will take part in the competition, which will conclude with Mr. CALS and Mr. Congeniality awardees. Ticket prices are $5 at the door or $3 at the door with a canned food item. Proceeds will go to the Food at First in Ames, a nonprofit organization that provides a free meal program and perishable food pantry.
CALS Week: Block & Bridle Hunger Fight, Oct. 7
The Block & Bridle club’s annual Hunger Fight, sponsored by Elanco, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m. in the Iowa Farm Bureau Pavilion, Kildee Hall. This year’s goal is to package 100,000 meals. Each meal costs 20 cents to prepare. The club’s philanthropy committee is raising funds and recruiting volunteers to package the meals. Volunteers can sign up for a time slot at Google Docs; walk-ins also are welcome. Last year, more than 370 volunteers packaged more than 60,000 meals (see ISU Students Fight Hunger). Contact Brooke Dooley, bcdooley@iastate.edu, with questions.
CALS Week: Roasterie Coffee Founder to Present Deal Lecture, Oct. 7
Danny O’Neill, owner and founder of The Roasterie Coffee, Inc., will present the 2015 William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, 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
Research
Birds Spread Infections at Feeders According to ISU Research
Diseases may spread faster in birds that visit bird feeders frequently, according to new research from James Adelman, natural resource ecology and management. But he cautions against removing backyard bird feeders, even in light of the findings, because of overall health benefits they provide for birds. More
Teaching and Students
Iowa State Helps Create New Hy-Vee Nutrition Labels
Due to a new federal regulation, food science and human nutrition faculty and students are helping create more than 10,000 new nutrition labels for ready-to-eat meals at Hy-Vee stores. Rose Martin, a senior lecturer in FSHN, coordinates ISU's part of the project. She designed the process to collect nutritional information for the new labels, hired a team of six undergraduate assistants, and set up security measures to protect proprietary information. The students handle day-to-day data input and recipe analysis. More
Bacon Expo this Saturday, Oct. 10
The 2015 Bacon Expo is Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center. The event will feature a pig display, several educational activities and booths about the pork industry, unique bacon items for attendees and live entertainment. The expo will highlight the “gate-to-plate” message and Iowa’s important role in the nation’s pork industry. A student-led event, the Bacon Expo is dedicated to expanding the horizons of bacon lovers and educating the public about pork production. Ticket prices are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. More
Extension and Outreach
Local Food Systems Initiative Transitions to ISU Extension and Outreach
With continued support from the Leopold Center, the Local Foods Program has moved under the umbrella of ISU Extension and Outreach. Craig Chase, program manager, has dual responsibilities for the Local Foods Program with Extension and the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative of the Leopold Center. More
Around the College
Beitz Receives Pomerantz Award
Don Beitz, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture, has been awarded the Marvin A. Pomerantz Award for his accomplishments in teaching and research. Beitz teaches several courses in the departments of animal science, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, and agricultural education and studies and the nutritional sciences program. He has served as an advisor or mentor of undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral candidates and visiting scientists. More
CALS United Way Online Auction Starts Today
The CALS-sponsored online auction to raise money for the 2015 ISU United Way Campaign started today, Oct. 5, at 8 a.m. Bids on more than 60 auction items will be accepted through 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. Most items are on display in 138 Curtiss Hall. More
Bake Sale and Pizza Sale to Raise Money for United Way
The departments of entomology and plant pathology and microbiology are holding a bake sale in the north entrance lounge of Bessey Hall today, Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The departments of natural resource ecology and management and entomology are holding a pizza sale in the first floor lobby of Science II on Friday, Oct. 9, 12 to 1 p.m. (or until sold out). Pizza will be sold for $2 a slice. Progress on the 2015 ISU/United Way Campaign goals is available online.
Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Day Scheduled for Oct. 20
The college’s Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Day is scheduled for Oct 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. The largest agricultural job fair of its kind is open to students, alumni and the public. The career fair kicks off the college’s recruitment season with hundreds of on-campus interviews in the week following the event. More
ISU Ranked Fourth Best Value Agriculture College
ISU has been ranked fourth best value agriculture college in the U.S. by College Values Online. Editors noted the wide variety of agriculture majors offered by ISU, with more than 27 undergraduate programs available. More
Calendar
Oct 5-7: Four-Nation Agricultural Biodiversity Conference
CALS is hosting a Four-Nation Agricultural Biodiversity Conference on campus during the week of Oct. 5. Participants include professors, lecturers and graduate students from Yeungnam University (South Korea), Hokkaido University (Japan), Yunnan Agricultural University (China) and ISU. The conference is organized by Global Programs (Denise Bjelland and Shelley Taylor), NREM (Richard Schultz and Thomas Isenhart), entomology and Graduate Programs in Sustainable Agriculture (Matt O’Neal). Please contact Denise Bjelland at bjelland@iastate.edu, 4-2883, for additional information.
- Oct. 5, 4:10 to 5 p.m., E164 Lagomarcino Hall (hosted by the entomology department)
- Oct. 6, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 233 Science II (hosted by the NREM department)
- Oct. 7, 3:30 to 4:20 p.m., Ensminger Room, Kildee Hall (hosted by the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture)
- Oct. 7, 1 to 3:15 p.m., poster session in Kildee Hall Atrium outside the Ensminger Room
Oct. 8: Feeding the World Seminar Series
The Feeding the World seminar series continues on Thursday, Oct. 8, with Julian Chase, president of Cargill Corn Milling North America. The seminar begins at 3:40 p.m. in 1204 Kildee Hall. More
Oct. 12: Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Presents Norman Borlaug Lecture
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the 2015 World Food Prize Laureate and founder and chairperson of BRAC, the world’s largest anti-poverty organization, will present the Norman Borlaug Lecture on Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Through BRAC, known originally as the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee, Sir Fazle pioneered a new approach to development that addresses the connection between hunger and poverty. A reception and student poster display will precede the lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union South Ballroom. Posters will address world food issues and are submitted by undergraduate and graduate students. More
Oct. 14: ISU Alum to Present U.S. State Department Seminar
Marcella Szymanski, Deputy Director for Agricultural Policy, U.S. Department of State, will present the seminar, “OMG, It’s a GMO: The Intersection of Policy, Science, Food Security and Trade.” The seminar is scheduled for Oct. 14 from 1:10 to 2:10 p.m. in Room 233 Science II. Szymanski works on trade policy, food security and development issues related to agricultural biotechnology with a regional focus on South and Central America. She received her Ph.D. degree in forest economics from ISU.
Oct. 15: Former United Nations Director to Speak at ISU
Louise Fresco, president of Wageningen University and Research in The Netherlands, will present “Hamburgers in Paradise: Food and Agriculture in the 21st Century” on Oct. 15 at noon in 1951 Food Sciences Building. A former United Nations director, contributor to think tanks and an advisor to academies in Europe and the U.S., Fresco speaks on how social unrest is made worse by hunger, poverty, environmental problems and modernization. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Department of Agronomy, CALS, the World Food Prize Foundation and the Committee on Lectures. More
Funding Opportunities
Nominations for AAAS Early Career Award Due Oct. 15
The American Association for the Advancement of Science Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science recognizes early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate excellence in their contribution to public engagement with science activities. Eligible individuals have been in their current field for less than seven years and pre-tenure or job equivalent (typically within seven years of receiving a Ph.D.). Post-doctoral fellows are eligible. The award includes a monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque and complimentary registration and travel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting. Nominations are due by Oct. 15. More
NIH Webinars: Grant Application Submission and Review, Nov. 5 and 6
NIH is holding two webinars for applicants and grant administrators titled, “What You Need to Know about NIH Application Submission and Review.” The Nov. 5 webinar will focus on university research administrators, and the Nov. 6 webinar will focus on research project grants (R01). Both webinars are scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. including a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Registration is due Oct. 29. More
DOE RFI to Identify Teaming Partner List
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a Request for Information to identify interested parties for a teaming partner list for the anticipated Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies funding announcement. This funding opportunity is focused on applied research and development for technologies and systems that contribute to reductions in building energy consumption. Responses are due Dec. 15. 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.
Continuous (until Sept. 30, 2016): DOE FY 2016 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program. More
Continuous (until Sept. 30, 2016, pre-proposals required): DOD FY 2016 U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Broad Agency Announcement for Extramural Medical Research. More
Oct. 9 (expression of interest): NSF Cultivation Cultures for Ethical STEM; $600,000 over five years or $400,000 over three years, one submission per institution, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) to express interest. More
Dec. 15 (nominations): McGovern Institute for Brain Research - Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience; $125,000. More
Dec. 24: NIH Resource Program Grants in Bioinformatics (P41); databases, digital information or software tools of special importance to research using animal models of embryonic developmental processes, $500,000 to $1.75 million direct costs per year up to five years. More
Dec. 31: USDA Technical Assistance and Training and Solid Waste Management Grant Programs FY 2016. More
Jan. 15 (letter of intent): Whitehall Foundation Research Grants and Grants-in-Aid; basic research in neurobiology, $225,000 research grants, $30,000 grants-in-aid. More
March 17: NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity; includes partnerships with the National Natural Science Foundation of China and São Paulo Research Foundation of Brazil in FY 2016. More
Communications Kiosk
Emoticon – Emoji
Emoticons are typographical cartoons or symbols generally used to indicate mood or appearance and often looked at sideways. For example, a colon, dash and right parentheses becomes a smiley face. Emoji are symbols including cartoon faces, hand gestures, food and animals, often used on mobile devices such as smartphones. They can be used instead of words or as illustrations in text messages and in social media. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2014 edition, pg. 371)
Infograzing
CAST Issue Paper Considers Pros and Cons of Food Labels
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology has released a new issue paper titled “Process Labeling of Food: Consumer Behavior, the Agricultural Sector and Policy Recommendations.” The authors examine what is known regarding consumer reactions to process labels, identify the legal framework for process labeling and provide policy recommendations that highlight the pros and cons of labels. More
Marginalia
Rothschild Responds to Gene-edited Micropigs Being Sold as Pets
A research institution in China is going to sell gene-edited micropigs as pets, according to Nature news. Max Rothschild, distinguished professor in animal science, is one of three experts who voluntarily provided comments to the Genetic Expert News Service for distribution to reporters. More
"Pigs are very intelligent animals and have fascinated pet owners for years. Some 20-30 years ago miniature pigs (100+lbs) became a craze in the U.S. Unfortunately many owners were ill prepared to raise pigs as they lacked the husbandry and science knowledge to feed and care for them. Many cities also had ordnances against them,” said Rothschild.
"The new micro pigs produced by gene-editing are “cute” for some people. They are still pigs and require that their owners have the knowledge to raise them properly,” said Rothschild. “Gene editing of livestock is considered by some as a GMO product and hence anti-GMO issues may play a role in consumer acceptance and future ownership issues in some countries. Furthermore, this more trivial use of gene editing takes away from the important uses to improve livestock welfare, disease resistance and productivity."
Mural Installed in Elings Hall Honors J. Brownlee Davidson
A mural in honor of J. Brownlee Davidson, founder of agricultural engineering and organizer of the first professional agricultural engineering curriculum at ISU, has been installed in the Davidson Conference Room in Elings Hall. “Davidson’s Dream,” by Rebecca Ekstrand and Thomas Rosborough, highlights the individual aspects within agricultural research and the preservation of the rolling, fertile Iowa land. The mural tells the story of agricultural engineering in an allegorical narrative that shows individuals doing exceptional things in extraordinary ways. The mural can be viewed in 1306 Elings Hall, Davidson Conference Room. 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.
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