College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Feb. 1, 2016 – No. 885
Top Stories
CALS Student to Assist Grounds Crew at Super Bowl
Georgeanna Heitshusen, a junior in horticulture with an emphasis on turfgrass management, is this year’s winner of the annual Toro Super Bowl Sports Turfgrass Training Program. Heitshusen will assist the Super Bowl grounds crew in preparation for the Feb. 7 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. More
CALS Spring Awards Program Tomorrow, Feb. 2
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Awards Program, honoring faculty and staff achievements, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 2, 4:10 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Answers will be provided to the following questions:
- Whose research program has a total of five patents and $8.8 million in grants?
- Who has served on more than 200 graduate committees?
- Who has mentored 130 students who have become high school agriculture teachers?
- Who has introduced thousands of students to the proper care and management of poultry?
- Who has developed a state, national and internationally recognized Ethology program?
- What team provides more than 100,000 hours of volunteer service?
Research
Presidential Research Initiative Funds Data Driven Agriculture Research
The second round of awards from ISU’s Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research in Data Driven Science is advancing the work of four new research teams. One of the new teams, “Data Driven Discoveries for Agricultural Innovation,” is led by Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, genetics, development and cell biology; Asheesh Singh, agronomy; and Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, mechanical engineering. More
Winham Publishes on Lack of Knowledge about Beans’ Health Benefits
On Jan. 28, the Public Library of Science published a paper by Donna Winham, food science and human nutrition, on “Low-Income U.S. Women Under-informed of the Specific Health Benefits of Consuming Beans.” Low-income women are at higher risk of poor dietary quality and chronic diseases, said Winham. Current beliefs about beans can help tailor education and outreach for vulnerable women. ”Emphasizing knowledge of the health benefits of beans and their role in cultural traditions may be a better approach to retain or increase bean consumption than focusing on beans as low-cost for nutrition programs such as SNAP, EFNEP or WIC,” said Winham.
Teaching and Students
Open Forums Today and Feb. 2 for Assistant Dean for Student Services Candidates
Open forums for candidates for the CALS assistant dean for student services position will be held today and tomorrow. Mike Retallick, agricultural education and studies, will present today, Feb. 1, 1:10 to 2 p.m. in 142 Curtiss. Howard Tyler, animal science, will present Feb. 2, 12:10 to 1 p.m. in 142 Curtiss.
RESCHEDULED: CALS Spring Career Day Moved to Feb. 4
With the weather forecast and corresponding poor travel conditions, the CALS spring career day has been moved from Wednesday, Feb. 3, to Thursday, Feb. 4. The event will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. More
CALS Offers New Study Abroad Opportunities for Spring and Summer
The Agricultural Production, Business and Trade course will travel to Spain during spring break to increase understanding of agricultural production worldwide and compare other countries’ agriculture with the U.S. Program directors are Sergio Lence and Ebby Luvaga, economics, and Tom Loynachan, agronomy. Eleven travel courses are scheduled for this summer. The newest is the Production and Processing Sustainable, Safe and Nutritional Food Program of France. More
ISU Offering New Health Coach Certificate
ISU is offering a new, interdisciplinary health coach certificate that will enhance the marketability of students currently pursuing degrees in the departments of food science and human nutrition, kinesiology and psychology. The certificate provides students with a more rigorous and comprehensive foundation in nutrition, exercise and motivational coaching.
Dairy Judging Team Places Fourth at Dairy Cattle Judging Contest
The ISU Dairy Judging Team took fourth place at the Southwest Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, held Jan. 17 at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas. Team members were Cassidy Buddenberg and Karla Hageman, both seniors in dairy science; Jennifer Huhe, senior in agricultural business; and Mariah Schmitt, senior in agriculture and society. More
Food Science Club Taking Pre-Orders for Fudge
The Food Science Club is selling a limited amount of fudge (100 pounds) for Valentine’s Day. Flavors include chocolate, cookies ‘n cream and Cyclone. Fudge will be sold by pre-orders only until Feb. 10. Orders will be ready for pickup on Feb. 12 in 206 MacKay Hall. More
Extension and Outreach
Publication Discusses Advantages of Cover Crops for Vegetables
A new ISU Extension and Outreach publication, “Short Duration Cover Crops for Vegetable Production Systems,” is available online. The publication is authored by Ajay Nair, horticulture, and Ray Kruse, agronomy.
Calendar
Feb. 8: Reception for Guru Rao
A reception for Guru Rao in recognition of his service to the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology will be held on Feb. 8, 4:30 to 6 p.m. (program at 5) in the Molecular Biology Building atrium. Rao joined the ISU faculty in 2006 and has served as BBMB department chair since 2007. Rao has accepted a position as Associate Vice President in the office of the Vice President for Research with ISU which will begin Feb. 15.
Feb. 16: Engaging Producers in Conservation Conversations
Learn what social scientists are discovering about how farmers are thinking about conservation practices and practical strategies for engaging them in a webinar scheduled for Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. Emphasis of the webinar will include findings on farmer uncertainty about conservation practices, using social norms to leverage practices that address off field/off farm nutrient losses at the watershed level, and how the language of conservation can influence social learning and behavior change. The presenter is Lois Wright Morton, sociology. The Adobe Connect webinar is hosted by USDA NRCS Science and Technology.
Funding Opportunities
IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2016
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. Projects must solely enhance the competitiveness of Iowa grown specialty crops that benefit the industry as a whole. Project awards are limited to a maximum of $24,000 and maximum duration of 30 months. Proposals are due on May 2. More
USAID Requests Information for Sustainable Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Activity in Rwanda
USAID is requesting information for a Sustainable Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Activity in Rwanda. The objective of the activity is to sustainably increase smallholder farmer incomes, improve nutrition of Rwandan women and children, and increase the resilience of agriculture and food systems to changing climate. An RFP is anticipated with an award range of $33.5 million to $35 million to begin early 2017. RFI’s are due Feb. 29. 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: NSF Science of Learning Centers; proposals accepted for workshops, EAGER, RAPID and supplements. More
Continuous: NSF Hydrologic Sciences; up to $1 million over four years. More
Feb. 14, June 14, Nov. 14: The World Veterinary Poultry Association Houghton Trust International Travel Grants, applicants aged 35 and under. More
Feb. 17 (internal preproposals): Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Moore Inventor Fellows; $675,000, match of $150,000 required, two submissions per institution, contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) for preproposal guidelines. More
Mar. 9: Burroughs Wellcome Foundation Innovation in Regulatory Science Awards; $500,000 over five years, contact the ISU Foundation (cfr@foundation.iastate.edu). More
Mar. 15, Sept. 15: Fats and Proteins Research Foundation Research Grants; $45,000, aquaculture, swine and poultry nutrition. More
Apr. 5: NIH Development and Commercialization of Technologies to Create, Characterize or Improve Animal Models of Human Disease (SBIR/STTR). More: STTR (R41/R42), SBIR (R43/R44)
Apr. 15 (nomination): NSF National Medal of Science.
Apr. 25, Aug. 25 (letter of intent): NIH Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics: Courses for Skills Development (R25); short-term advanced classes, $55,000 direct costs, IDC 8 percent of MTDC. More
June 17 (nomination): NSF Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; $10,000, individual or organizational. More
Jan. 31, 2017 (pre-proposal): DOD Engineer Research and Development Center Broad Agency Announcement. More
Infograzing
Early Career Foundation Awards Seminar, March 7
The Office of the Vice President for Research and the ISU Foundation are offering a seminar on early career foundation awards on March 7, at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union South Ballroom. A representative from the ISU Foundation will provide tips and information on how to apply for and manage foundation awards. Previous and current recipients of foundation awards will talk about their experiences in applying for these awards, and will be available for questions afterward. Registration is available online.
The Transformation of Des Moines: It’s Hip
“The capital of Iowa has long had a reputation as one of the least hip, least interesting and least dynamic cities in the Western world, a dull insurance town set amid the unending corn fields of flyover country, a place Minneapolis looks down on and the young and ambitious flee as soon as they graduate.” An article in the Jan. 21 issue of Politico Magazine begins with the above description of Des Moines, and then explores the following transformation. “But unbeknownst to many outside the Midwest, over the past 15 years Des Moines has transformed into one of the richest, most vibrant, and, yes, hip cities in the country, where the local arts scene, entrepreneurial startups and established corporate employers are all thriving.” More
Marginalia
Beef Farmers Help ISU Students Stay Warm Outside Hilton
The Iowa Beef Industry Council partnered with the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee store in Ames to serve 200 bowls of beef stew to students outside of Hilton Coliseum, waiting in line last week for the men’s basketball game against the University of Kansas. The beef stew, prepared by Hy-Vee, was served to the students by local Story County beef farmers Levi Keech, Kevin Keech and Shayn Harrison.
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.