College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Feb. 15, 2016 – No. 888
Top Stories
Global Food Challenge Fellowships Awarded to Three ISU Students
Ending global hunger is a challenge three ISU students hope to help solve. Addie Bidwell and Leah Ellensohn, both juniors in agronomy, and Megan Schnell, junior in agricultural and biological systems engineering, are among 10 students nationwide selected to work with agricultural experts and travel to Africa as part of a yearlong Global Food Challenge for Emerging Leaders for Food Security sponsored by Land O’ Lakes, Inc. The students will participate in an 11-week paid summer internship program, traveling to Africa, Washington, D.C. and Land O’ Lakes Inc. locations. More
Research
New Research Holds Promise for Diabetics with Vitamin D Deficiency
A simple change in diet could boost vitamin D levels for millions of Americans suffering from Type 2 diabetes, according to new research from ISU published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Kevin Schalinske, Matthew Rowling and Samantha Jones, food science and human nutrition, found diabetic rats fed an egg-based diet had higher concentration of vitamin D, improved blood glucose levels and gained less weight. More
Researchers Find Genetic Basis for Resistance to SDS in Soybeans
ISU researchers have narrowed the search for genes that help soybeans resist sudden death syndrome, pointing the way for crop breeders to develop more resilient and profitable soybean cultivars for farmers. The research team includes Asheesh Singh, Arti Singh and post-doctoral research associate Jiaoping Zhang, agronomy, and Daren Mueller, plant pathology and microbiology. More
ISU Entomologist Talks Zika Virus
Ryan Smith, entomology, talked with KCCI Channel 8 news on Feb. 10 about two species of mosquitoes known to carry the Zika virus, which causes a serious birth defect. There are some reports that one of those species has been found in Iowa. More
ISU Statistician Leads Discussion on Stronger Science behind Forensics
Forensic techniques need to be backed by more statistical and scientific study, according to Alicia Carriquiry, distinguished professor of statistics and director of the new Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence based at ISU. Carriquiry led a discussion of the issue during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Feb. 14 in Washington, D.C. More
Teaching and Students
Student Run Food Pantry Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
The SHOP, a student-run food pantry on campus, will be celebrating its five year anniversary Feb. 15-18. Festivities begin with a campus-wide food drive. Boxes will be located in 220 MacKay, 2312 Food Science and outside the CALS and CHS dean’s offices. On Feb. 15, volunteers will be on campus near Curtiss Hall handing out free treats and SHOP buttons and talking about the services provided by The Shop. On Feb. 16-18, volunteers will be at the Memorial Union introducing new signature SHOP reusable bags. On Feb. 18, from 3 to 6 p.m. at 2616 Food Science Building, there will be an open house. Guests who bring 2 non-perishable food or personal care items will receive a free SHOP t-shirt, while supplies last. More
Agronomy Student Named Pork Youth Ambassador
Ashley Smeby, a junior in agronomy with a minor in animal science, was named one of two 2016 Pork Youth Ambassadors at the Iowa Pork Congress banquet in Des Moines on Jan. 27. Smeby will represent IPPA at various pork promotional and educational events throughout the year. More
Brenton Center Accepting Classroom Reservations
The Brenton Center is accepting classroom reservations for summer and fall 2016. Room technology has been upgraded to HD digital quality capture. Classrooms 8 and 9 seat 35 each; classroom 13 seats 56. First preference will be given to CALS Online courses that require a live capture for online delivery to distance students or faculty recording their lectures using the new format for distance delivery. Contact Gaylan Scofield, ggs@iastate.edu, with questions or requests by Feb. 25. More
Brenton Center Seeking Online Course Proposals
The Brenton Center is seeking proposals for AgOnline courses, certificates and program development that will help build a nationally and internationally recognized online learning program. One-time funding of $50,000 is being provided for online courses. Submissions are due to Gaylan Scofield, director of the Brenton Center, by March 1. More
Dairy Science Club Ice Cream for Congressional Reception Featured in Daily
The ISU Dairy Science Club sent three gallons of homemade vanilla ice cream to Washington D.C. as part of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Congressional creamery social held Feb. 9. Celina Young, a senior in agricultural business and Dairy Science Club president, told the Iowa State Daily that it’s a chance to educate the public about what they do and hopes next year they can send a variety of flavors to the reception. More
Extension and Outreach
Extension Asks Farmers for Soybean Data
ISU Extension and Outreach specialists working on a three-year project to reduce the difference between potential and actual soybean yields are asking farmers to provide yield and agronomic data by March 1. Mark Licht, ISU Extension cropping systems agronomist, and Daren Mueller, ISU Extension plant pathologist, are teaming up on the project with other researchers in the region. More
ISU Extension and Outreach: Serving Every County, Every Day
ISU Extension and Outreach has 1,200 faculty and staff in all 99 counties, taking ISU to every community in Iowa. Extension and Outreach recruits and trains 900 elected county council members and 16,000 volunteers who support the land-grant mission. Meaningful partnerships are built that directly benefit more than 1 million people each year, and Extension and Outreach responds to critical statewide issues. Learn more about ISU Extension and Outreach in the Feb. 10 Alliance for Iowa State message. More
Around the College
Johansen Named Interim Chair of BBMB
Kristen Johansen, professor in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, has been named interim chair of the department. She begins her new duties today, Feb. 15. Johansen joined ISU as a postdoctoral associate in 1989 and was named professor in 2001. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking research on nuclear organization during the cell cycle, as well as for her considerable contributions to teaching, student mentoring and leadership roles. More
Wintersteen Honored by Iowa’s Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
Dean Wendy Wintersteen was presented the Distinguished Service to Iowa Agriculture Award by the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers at their annual meeting in Ames. Wintersteen was recognized for her leadership in the growth of undergraduate education in CALS, serving the state as an extension specialist and being a “champion for the students, faculty and staff in the college and for the agricultural industry in Iowa.” More
Bernie Havlovic to Celebrate 40-year Career with Research Farms
A 40-year career opening and managing farms for ISU Research and Demonstration Farms will be celebrated at a reception for Bernie Havlovic on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 12:45 to 2 p.m. (program at 1:15), in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. “Bernie’s career has been remarkable and unprecedented,” said Mark Honeyman, coordinator of the university’s research farms. “No one has opened, organized and led more research farms than he has.” Havlovic retired last October as superintendent of the Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis. More
Poultry Nutritionist Joins Animal Science Department
Elizabeth Bobeck has joined ISU as a poultry nutritionist in the animal science department. Her research plans, which center on regulation of the immune system through nutrition, also could include work on avian influenza, which decimated Iowa chicken and turkey farms last years. More
Raising Iowa’s Cheese Profile
Stephanie Clark, food science and human nutrition, is one of the state’s leaders in promoting Iowa cheese. Her efforts were key in bringing an international cheese conference to Iowa, forming a new guild that connects the state’s dairy professionals, and co-founding a statewide dairy products showcase. More
Hoff Named Honorary Master Pork Producer
Steven Hoff, agricultural and biosystems engineering, was named an Honorary Master Pork Producer for 2015 by the Iowa Pork Producers Association at the Iowa Pork Congress banquet in Des Moines on Jan. 27. The award is given to two people each year for their outstanding and distinguished service to the betterment and success of Iowa’s pork industry. More
Technology Advancement Committee Call for Proposals
The CALS Technology Advancement Committee is accepting proposals from faculty, staff and students for improving technology that benefits student learning. Contact Gaylan Scofield, TAC chair, for proposal guidelines (ggs@iastate.edu). Proposals are due March 25.
CALS Cultural Competency Series Online
The CALS Cultural Competency session on Jan. 29, “Microaggression, Macroagression and Bias,” is available online.
Calendar
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 Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. The presenter is Lois Wright Morton, sociology. The Adobe Connect webinar is hosted by USDA NRCS Science and Technology.
Feb. 29: Cultural Competency Series Continues
Privilege and Power, Part II of the CALS Cultural Competency Series will be held Feb. 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the CCUR Theatre, 1951 Food Science Building. The session will focus on group discussions and exercises to help better understand the dynamics of power and privilege. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Theressa Cooper by Feb. 24 (tncooper@iastate.edu).
April 7: Save the Date for Stupka Symposium
The 11th annual Stupka Symposium will be held April 7. The event is organized and run by undergraduate students in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, and designed to encourage the interaction between students and faculty over research topics in biological and chemical sciences. More
April 13-14: Global Food Security Consortium’s Spring Symposium
The Global Food Security Consortium’s spring symposium will be held April 13-14 at the Scheman Building. This year’s symposium, REAL Sustainability, will focus on Real Engagement in Agricultural Livelihoods. A research poster presentation and competition will be held for undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, visit the conference website or contact Cassie Welch, GFSC program manager (cwelch@iastate.edu, 4-5681).
April 20-21: Egg Industry Issues Forum
Registrations are being accepted for the eighth annual Egg Industry Issues Forum on April 20-21 in Chicago. The forum is an education and outreach event organized and facilitated by the Egg Industry Center at ISU. More
Funding Opportunities
Applications for ISU Publication Subvention Grants Due Apr. 4
The Office of the VPR is accepting applications for the Publication Subvention Grants program. The grants support the publication of the scholarly writings and other worthy productions of the faculty and staff of ISU, as well as selected manuscripts by others that deal with topics related to the state of Iowa and the surrounding region. All full-time faculty or P&S staff member at the P37 level or above may apply. Applications are due Apr. 4. More
NIH to Fund Collaborations with Brazilian Researchers
The National Institutes of Health and the Sao Paulo Research Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding to encourage collaborative research between investigators in the U.S. and the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Investigator-initiated applications should be submitted to the NIH Parent R01 funding opportunity announcement. The next deadline for applications is June 5. More
NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Zika Virus
The National Science Foundation has issued a Dear Colleague Letter to announce interest from the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease program for proposals that address the ecological transmission dynamics of the Zika virus. Proposals may be submitted as a RAPID proposal or to the annual call for EEID proposals. 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: TREE Fund Research Grants; match required. More
Feb. 26 (concept paper) DOE EERE Mega-Bio: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels; up to $8 million, cost share. More
Mar. 1, June 30, Oct. 20: NIH Identification of Genetic and Genomic Variants by Next-Gen Sequencing in Non-human Animal Models (U01). More
Mar. 4 (expression of interest, Addendum 01): USAID Broad Agency Announcement for Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa and Addendum 01 - Improving Health in Sub-Saharan Africa. More
Mar. 7 (pre-application): DOE Regional and Global Climate Modeling and Integrated Assessment Research: An Integration Framework for Multi-Model, U.S. Regional Climate Evaluation that Incorporates Local Human Influences for Research at the Energy-Water-Land Nexus; $1.5 million to $2 million per year up to three years. More
Mar. 14 (letter of intent): Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – Grand Challenges China - New Interventions for Global Health; up to $1 million over four years. More
Apr. 6 (letter of intent): NIH Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers (P30); $700,000 to $1.3 million direct costs per year up to five years, one application per institution. More
Apr. 8: EPA Environmental Education Local Grants Program; $91,000, 25 percent match. More
Apr. 11: USDA NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops; canola research. More
May 27: NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates – Antarctica. More
June 5: NIH Improvement of Animal Models for Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Medicine. More (R01), (R21)
Communications Kiosk
New and Revised Entries to Associated Press Stylebook
New and revised entries to the Associated Press Stylebook include the following:
- Media generally takes a plural verb, especially when the reference is to individual outlets. For example, “Media are lining up for and against the proposal.” AP has added the use of media as a singular noun using a singular verb when referring to media as a monolithic group. For example, “Media is the biggest force in a presidential campaign.”
- Spokesperson has been added to the spokesman, spokeswoman entry. Use spokesperson if it is the preference of an individual or an organization.
- Voicemail as one word.
Infograzing
Building an Interdisciplinary Research Team Topic of Colloquium, Feb. 29
The Office of the Vice President for Research and EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) are holding a colloquium on Building an Interdisciplinary Research Team on Feb. 29, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in 2019 Morrill Hall. Steve Fiore, director of the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory at the University of Central Florida, will discuss frameworks for building team syntheses. More
Nominations Open for 2016 P&S Council Elections
Nominations are now open for the 2016 Professional and Scientific Council. Interested parties may nominate themselves or a colleague. Council terms are generally for three years and approximately one-third of the Council is chosen at each election. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 29. More
ISU Hosts Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education Conference
ISU is hosting the Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education Leadership Conference April 7-8. The IowaWHE enhances and advances women’s careers and leadership in Iowa higher education by creating a network of women in leadership positions, providing professional development and mentoring opportunities and eliminating barriers to women’s achievement. More
Marginalia
Cherry Pies for Sale Today, Feb. 15, in MacKay Hall
Today, Feb. 15, the apparel, events and hospitality management program will be selling more than 1,600 cherry pies as part of a fundraiser to benefit student scholarships and organizations. The pies are for sale in 23 MacKay Hall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., or while supplies last. 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.