College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
April 18, 2016 – No. 896
Top Stories
ISU Selected as Peace Corps Preparation Program Site
The Peace Corps has selected ISU as a training site to help students from across campus prepare for service in other countries. ISU was selected in part because the requirements for the global resource systems major in CALS helps prepare students for the Peace Corps, said Gail Nonnecke, horticulture. Since the Peace Corps inception in 1961, 935 ISU graduates have served throughout the world. More
Video Available of CALS Sustainability Lecture Speaker Elena Irwin
A video is now available of Elena Irwin’s presentation of the first CALS Sustainability Lecture on April 4. Irwin spoke on “Sustainability Science and Land-Grant Universities in the 21st Century.” She explored key concepts of sustainability science and their usefulness as a platform for interdisciplinary research and education with examples from Ohio State’s recent progress in these areas. Irwin is faculty director of the Sustainable and Resilient Economy program at Ohio State University and a professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics. More
Research
Partnership Strengthens Nutrient Reduction Strategy Measurement Progress
ISU is beginning a state-funded project in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council to explore how to measure Iowa farmers’ progress in reducing nutrients moving from fields into rivers and streams. The effort is led by CALS. More
NSF Grant Allows ISU Researchers to Study Genome of the Yam
A new grant from the National Science Foundation will allow ISU researchers to study the genome of the yam, an important crop in global agriculture. The research team, led by Kan Wang, agronomy, will use revolutionary genome-editing technology to develop an array of tools that could answer specific questions regarding yam gene function. More
ISU Test Results Provide Six-year Snapshot of Egg Safety
Six years of ISU testing show a dramatic decrease in the number of environmental samples taken from egg facilities that test positive for the Salmonella enteritidis bacterium causing human food poisoning. “It’s a very positive outcome of the industry implementing the federal egg safety rules that went into effect in July 2010,” said Hongwei Xin, director of the Egg Industry Center at ISU. More
Economist Working to Better Assess the Costs of Climate Change
In an article published in the journal Science, Ivan Rudik, economics, and a team of researchers outlined the need to better understand the link between economics and climate. He says a lot of the factors and estimates used for policymaking decisions today are based on decades-old studies. More
Research at ISU Beef Nutrition Farm Featured on NPR
Research at the ISU Beef Nutrition Farm northwest of campus includes testing different feed formulas developed by researchers in animal science. Stephanie Hansen’s research is taking cues from human nutrition to reduce antibiotic use in livestock. National Public Radio ran a story on Hansen’s work on April 13. More
Extension and Outreach
Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference to be Held May 18
The 89th annual Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference, ISU’s longest running conference, will be held May 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Scheman Building. Sponsored by CALS and ISU Extension and Outreach, the conference is intended for farm managers, rural land appraisers, real estate brokers and others interest in the land market in Iowa. More
Around the College
Kling Named to President’s Chair in Environmental Economics
President Steven Leath has named Catherine Kling to the President’s Chair in Environmental Economics for her exemplary performance and contributions to natural resources and environmental economics. Kling was honored April 15 at a medallion ceremony during the ISU Foundation Governors luncheon. Kling is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, professor of economics and director of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. Last year, she became Iowa State's first female faculty member to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. More
Harris Vaccines Named Life Sciences/Biotech Company of the Year
The Technology Association of Iowa held its annual Prometheus Awards gala on April 14. Harris Vaccines was named Best User of Technology, Life Sciences/Biotech Company of the Year and Technology Company of the Year for small and medium business. Hank Harris, CEO of Harris Vaccines, is a professor emeritus of animal science. KinoSol, a mobile solar food dehydrator developed by ISU global resource systems students to help subsistence farmers in developing countries, was named Student Innovation of the Year.
CALS Sponsors LEGO Exhibit at Reiman Gardens
Reiman Gardens will be hosting the Nature Connects: Art and LEGO Bricks exhibit starting April 23. The exhibit features 13 displays that illustrate how all living things are interconnected. Artist Sean Kenney will create the displays using more than 500,000 LEGO bricks. CALS is sponsoring the monarch butterfly exhibit, which consists of 39,708 bricks.
ISU Agronomy Degree with Agroecology Option Named a Best Value Degree
ISU has been ranked 14th in a ranking of the most affordable sustainable agriculture degree programs by the College Values Online website. Editors noted that ISU agronomy students studying in the agroecology option “have the opportunity to take interesting and stretching classes in world food issues, watershed hydrology and weed identification.” More
Calendar
April 26: Science With Practice Poster Session
This semester’s Science with Practice participants will host a poster presentation open house on April 26, 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Kildee Hall Atrium.
April 27: Retirement Reception for Dean White
A retirement reception for Pam White, dean of the College of Human Sciences and a University Professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, will be held April 27, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the first floor atrium of Beardshear Hall. White is retiring this summer after more than 40 years at ISU.
April 29: Retirement Reception for Jay-Lin Jane
A retirement reception honoring Jay-Lin Jane, distinguished professor in food science and human nutrition, will be held April 29, 2 to 5 p.m. at the Brunnier Art Museum. There will be a program at 3 p.m.
May 3: Retirement Reception for Tom Polito
A retirement reception for Tom Polito, assistant dean and director of CALS Student Services, will be held May 3, 3 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Campanile Room, with a short program at 4 p.m. Polito is retiring in May after 38 years at ISU.
May 9-11: SAS Workshop
Mervyn Marasinghe, statistics, is offering a SAS workshop May 9 to 11 at 1105 Snedecor Hall. Twelve 75-minute sessions will cover an introduction to traditional SAS programming, how to incorporate SAS procedures that involve some applications and statistical graphics, and several SAS procedures available for statistical analysis. Registration fee is $30 for ISU students, $50 for faculty and other ISU affiliates, and $100 for non ISU affiliates. Enrollment is limited to 40. More
May 18-19: Distillers Grains Symposium
The Distillers Grains Technology Council, based at ISU and directed by Kurt Rosentrater, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will hold its 20th annual Distillers Grains Symposium on May 18-19 in St. Louis. More
Funding Opportunities
USAID: Combating Zika and Future Threats - A Grand Challenge for Development
USAID is calling for the global innovator community to generate technologies and approaches to fight Zika in the near term and to help strengthen the world’s response to infectious diseases in the future. The USAID Grant Challenge seeks vector control, personal protection, surveillance, sample transport and community engagement. Awards will be in the range of $100,000 to $1 million. Zika response-focused expressions of interest are due May 20. Other expressions of interest are due June 17. 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.
May 6 (letter of intent): USFWS Multistate Conservation Grant Program. More
May 16: Global Change, Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring and Research. More
May 26 (concept paper): DOE ARPA-E Rhizosphere Observations Optimizing Terrestrial Sequestration; $250,000 to $10 million, 5 percent or 20 percent cost share. More
June 2: USDA NIFA Food Safety Outreach Program; $50,000 to $400,000. More
June 5: NIH Development and Characterization of Animal Models for Aging Research (R01). More
June 10: USDA NRCS Iowa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement FY 2016; $2 million. More
July 1: Enid A. Haupt Research Fellowship in Horticulture; Smithsonian Institution’s Gardens. More
Aug. 1 (white papers): DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative; $1.5 million per year up to five years. More
Sept. 2: NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1); $700,000 direct costs per year up to five years. More
Sept. 7 (letter of intent): NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01). More
Sept. 9: NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2); $1.5 million direct costs over five years. More
Sept. 25: NIH Bridges to the Doctorate (R25); $300,000 direct cost per year up to five years, one application per institution, contact fundingopps@iastate.edu to express interest. More
Communications Kiosk
The Use of “Equally” and “As”
Do not use the words “equally” and “as” together; one is sufficient. For example, omit the word shown in parentheses. She was (equally) as wise as Marilyn. She and Marilyn were equally (as) wise. (Associated Press Stylebook, 2015 edition, pg. 92)
Infograzing
APLU Releases Report on Research Safety
Seeking to provide a roadmap for university-wide efforts to renew and strengthen a culture of research safety, the APLU Task Force on Laboratory Safety released its Guide to Implementing a Safety Culture in Our Universities. The task force also released a companion website intended to make the guide more accessible and allow for the continued sharing of best practices and other information to improve safety at research universities nationwide. More
Hormel CEO to Speak at ISU, April 21
Hormel Corporation CEO Jeffrey Ettinger will present “Insights from the Corner Office” on Thursday, April 21, 5:10 to 6 p.m. in 1148 Gerdin Business Building. Ettinger was recently named one of Barron’s “World’s Best CEOs.” More
Visiting Scientist to Speak on Improved Productivity of Maize, April 28
A visiting scientist with the Seed Science Center will speak on “Continuing the Improved Productivity of Maize: Genetic Gain or Genetic Pain?” on April 28, 3 to 4 p.m. in 191 Seed Science Center. Stephen Smith is an affiliate professor in agronomy following a 35 year career at Pioneer Hi-Bred.
University Archives: We Can Help You Spring Clean
University Archives staff members welcome the transfer of records and papers from university offices and faculty. While cleaning out files, consider special collections as a repository for records. Materials are accepted in most formats. Consult the University Records Retention Schedules for details on what to keep and what to dispose of, and review University Archives guidelines for transferring university records or donating faculty papers. More
Marginalia
Biorenewables Art Competition Opens on April 22, Earth Day
The seventh annual Biorenewables Art Competition opens on Friday, April 22, 4 to 5:30 p.m. (with a program at 4:15) in the first floor lobby of the Biorenewables Research Laboratory. Art students from ISU’s College of Design create works that reflect the mission of the Bioeconomy Institute. More
To Crown or Not to Crown…?
“Every princess that I have ever listened to has been impressive with thought, speech and articulation of the industry,” writes Kate Ziehm, president of Morning Ag Clips. “But as they stand at the podium, enlightening me with their words, I have always been seriously distracted by the sash and crown.” In an article published on April 15, Ziehm said that for almost a century the Princess Programs have created a path to growing girls to become strong advocates for agriculture. “We take a lot of pride in our youth leaders being able to speak to the public with ease, educate and act as liaisons between the producers and consumers. These programs provide the structure that we have used to cultivate these important skills.” While she does not suggest getting rid of the programs, she does suggest updating the title to advocate or ambassador to more positively define a young person who is passionate about her role in agriculture. 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.