College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Dec. 12, 2016 – No. 930
Top Stories
STORIES of High Technology
The use of technology in agriculture is featured in the most recent issue of Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni magazine STORIES. This issue highlights research on robotics, remote sensing and other innovations that CALS faculty and staff are developing and exploring. View STORIES, access extra content and download a PDF online. To be added to the print mailing list or request additional copies e-mail stories@iastate.edu.
College Convocation to Honor Graduates – Dec. 17
CALS will hold its fall convocation for new graduates Saturday, Dec. 17, in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony will include individual recognition of graduates in attendance by the dean and department chairs. The doors to C.Y. Stephens will open at 8:30 a.m. for a reception for graduates, families, friends and faculty in the upper lobby with beverages provided. The CALS Student Council will present awards to: Rebecca Clay, agronomy and global resource systems, for outstanding senior; Shelby Fields, animal science, for leadership excellence; Leah Gilman, food science, for academic achievement; Annette Payne, agricultural and life sciences education, for outstanding ambassador of agriculture; and Alexander Paul, animal science, for distinguished service. Anna Underhill, agronomy, will be the commencement speaker and Clay will be the CALS student marshal of commencement. More
ISU Confers Posthumous Degree to T.J. Houdek
Iowa State University is conferring a bachelor of science degree posthumously to the family of Thomas John Houdek, who was killed in a traffic accident in July 2016. Houdek was a senior in dairy science and would have graduated this fall. Two aunts will represent his family at the commencement ceremony on Saturday.
Research
Wind Turbines May Aid Crops
Turbulence created by wind turbines may help corn and soybeans by influencing variables such as temperature and carbon dioxide concentration, according to ISU research led by Gene Takle, distinguished professor of agronomy and geological and atmospheric sciences. The project drew on data generated by research towers set up on a 200-turbine wind farm in Iowa. More
Teaching and Students
Biorenewables Research Poster Symposium to be held Dec. 13
The Biorenewables Research Poster Symposium will be held Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium of the Biorenewables Complex. The symposium will feature graduate and undergraduate student posters on research related to biorenewables. Refreshments will be available.
Agronomy Club Selling Holiday Popcorn and T-shirts
The ISU Agronomy Club is holding a fundraiser this week, Dec. 12-16 (or while supplies last), outside of room 1126 in Agronomy Hall. Club-grown cardinal and gold popcorn is available for $8 for a one pound box. “No Pain, No Grain” t-shirts are available for $10. Popcorn and a T-shirt together sell for $15. Contact club president Elizabeth Widder, ekwidder@iastate.edu, with questions.
FSHN Students Selected as Finalists in Baking Competition
Three graduate students in food science and human nutrition were named finalists in the American Society of Baking Production Development Competition. Kangzi Ren, Joshua Nazareth and Monica Primacella will head to Chicago in February to showcase their proposal for a new bakery food product – pumpkin-flavored and shaped bread. More
Extension and Outreach
Iowa Land Value Survey Results Released Dec. 13
Wendong Zhang, economics and farm management specialist, will announce results of the 2016 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and ISU Extension and Outreach on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 10:30 a.m. in the Horton Room of the ISU Alumni Center. A livestream of the news conference will be available on YouTube. More
Around the College
Lamont Receives Faculty Advocate Award
Susan Lamont received the ISU Faculty Advocate Award at the 30th anniversary of Women in Science and Engineering banquet on Dec. 3. The award is in recognition of outstanding service and leadership in STEM.
CALS Gifted with George Washington Carver Painting
CALS Dean Wendy Wintersteen was presented with a portrait of George Washington Carver during the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame Awards Banquet and Lecture on Dec. 6 at Tuskegee University. Walter Hill, vice provost of Land Grant University Affairs, dean of the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences at Tuskegee University, and director of the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station and 1890 Research and Extension Programs, presented the portrait to Wintersteen, who was the keynote speaker. The portrait, by Ronald McDowell, is being shipped to ISU and will reside in the Dean’s Gallery in Curtiss Hall.
Calendar
Dec. 16: Farewell Reception for Dorian Garrick
A farewell reception for Dorian Garrick, professor of animal science and Jay Lush Endowed Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics, will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 3 to 4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. Garrick is returning to Massey University in New Zealand.
Dec. 19: Farewell Reception for Cheryl Morris
A farewell reception for Cheryl Morris, assistant professor of animal science, will be held Dec. 19, 3 to 4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. Morris is the new chief conservation officer at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
Funding Opportunities
Expressions of Interest for NSF S-STEM Program Due Jan. 9
The National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program seeks to increase the success of low-income academically talented students who are pursuing degrees in STEM. The program emphasizes the importance of recruiting students to STEM disciplines, mentoring and supporting students through degree completion, and partnering with employers to facilitate student career placement in the STEM workforce. Submissions are limited to one per college. Faculty members whose primary appointment is in CALS should contact Joe Colletti (colletti@iastate.edu) by Jan. 9 to express interest in applying to this program. More
Expressions of Interest for Global Health Challenge Funding Due Feb. 1
The U.S. Agency for International Development has issued a third addendum to its Broad Agency Announcement for Global Heath Challenges. In addition to supporting and evaluating programs for Saving Lives at Birth, the awards may support other global health grand challenges including USAID’s Grand Challenge, Combating Zika and Future Threats. Expressions of Interests are due Feb. 1. More
Revised Guidelines for Moore Foundation Inventor Fellows
The Office of the Vice President for Research has provided revised guidelines for pre-proposals for the internal competition for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Inventor Fellows limited submission opportunity. This award identifies outstanding inventors who harness science and technology to enhance the conduct of scientific research and strengthen environmental conservation. Pre-proposals are due by Jan. 11. More
FOA for Integrated Biorefinery Optimization Expected in December
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has published a notice of intent to issue the funding opportunity announcement, “Integrated Biorefinery Optimization.” The FOA will solicit proposals for research and development of technologies that will improve the quality of feedstock characterization, reliability of operations, decrease the capital expenses and operating expenses and increase the performance efficiencies of biorefineries resulting in continuous operation and production of biofuels, bioproducts and biopower at prices competitive with fossil-derived equivalents. Release of the FOA is expected in December. 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 Geomorphology and Land-use Dynamics. More
Continuous: NSF Cyberinfrastructure for Emerging Science and Engineering Research. More
Feb. 3: EPA Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet; $15,000 Phase I awards. More
Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5: NIH Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (R01). More
Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5: NIH Collaborative Research Projects to Enhance Applicability of Mammalian Models for Translational Research (Collaborative R01); $1.35 million direct costs over three years. More
Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5: NIH Applying Metabolomics to Drive Biomarker Discovery in Symptom Science (R01). More
Feb. 15: NOAA 2017 Pacific Islands Region Marine Turtle Management and Conservation, priority focus Oahu, Hawaii, second focus other Pacific Islands; $80,000 per year. More
Mar. 2: EPA Using a Total Environment Framework (Built, Natural, Social Environments) to Asses Life-long Health Effects of Chemical Exposures; regular awards $800,000, early career awards $600,000. More
Mar. 6: NSF and USDA - Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems; $2.5 million. More
Mar. 6: NSF and USDA - Cyber-Physical Systems. More
Mar. 9: USDA NIFA Integrated Research, Education and Extension Competitive Grants Program-Organic Transitions (ORG); $500,000 over three years. More
May 3: VentureWell E-Team Program, for multidisciplinary teams of students and faculty to bring an invention to market. More
Infograzing
CAST Research Paper Examines Trade and Biotech Issues
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology released “The Impact of Asynchronous Approvals for Biotech Crops on Agricultural Sustainability, Trade and Innovation” at an event in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 8. The report offers several potential solutions and provides research about approaches that might ease the negative impacts of asynchronous approvals and low level presence. 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.