College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
June 5, 2017
Top Stories
CALS-Operated Compost Facility the Answer to ISU Campus Needs
ISU’s composting facility opened in 2008 in conjunction with the ISU dairy farm. The facility, operated by CALS, takes waste products in many forms - manure from ISU animal farms, lawn clippings from campus services and food waste from dining centers - and in 12 to 16 weeks turns it into a product that's used back on campus. Mark Honeyman, CALS associate dean for operations, identified three primary factors that allow ISU to conduct composting on such a large scale. First, there’s a steady flow of inputs. The dairy cows producing manure literally around the clock, see to that. Second, it has the right person, Steve Jonas (above), managing the operation. Finally, there’s an outlet for the finished product – the 1,813-acre Iowa State campus. More
Research
Keating Receives Bailey Research Award
Aileen Keating, animal science, received a Bailey Research Career Development award from the Office of the Vice President for Research. Keating will use the $150,000 three-year grant to investigate how obesity affects a female’s ovarian capacity, and in turn the ability to protect against chemicals that damage ovarian DNA. Her research will further the understanding of infertility, and the origins of birth defects and ovarian cancer – not only for human health, but for animal agriculture as well.
Archontoulis Works with ISA on Cover Crops Research
Sotirios Archontoulis, agronomy, is working on a joint project between ISU and the Iowa Soybean Association, using cropping systems modeling tools and observations from farmer fields to identify different scenarios in which cover crops can reduce the risk of nitrate loss.
Teaching and Students
FSHN Nursing Degree on Agenda for Board of Regents Meeting
A new bachelor's of science degree for registered nurses in the food science and human nutrition department is on the agenda for the Board of Regents meeting June 7-8 in Cedar Falls. The degree is intended for students who have completed an associate degree in nursing and are licensed nurses. ISU's program will emphasize the connection between nutrition, activity, health promotion and nursing care management. The program would be offered on campus and calls for an articulation agreement with the Des Moines Area Community College. More
Extension and Outreach
NREM Extension Specialist Brings Aquaponics to ISU and Beyond
Allen Pattillo, a fisheries and aquaculture extension specialist in natural resource ecology and management, has built a functioning aquaponics system in the first-floor lounge of Science Hall II. He plans to use his work with aquaponics to promote STEM outreach and education. More
Around the College
Jensen Named to NAS Science Breakthroughs 2030 Committee
Helen Jensen, economics, is one of 13 renowned experts the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has named to the executive committee of Science Breakthroughs 2030, an initiative that will identify the most compelling scientific opportunities in food and agriculture in the next decade and beyond. More
Remember the CALS Fall Book Sale While Cleaning House this Summer
CALS held a book sale last year and raised $390 in support of the ISU/United Way Campaign. A similar fundraiser will be held this fall in Curtiss Hall and the Molecular Biology Building. If you have paperback or hardcover books, CDs and DVDs that you no longer need or want, consider donating them for this event. Items will be accepted throughout the summer at 138 Curtiss Hall (Carla Persaud, 4-1823) and 2102 Molecular Biology Building (Linda Wild, 4-7697).
Calendar
June 7-9: World Pork Expo
The World Pork Expo will be held June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. On the agenda from CALS are Wes Schweer, graduate student in animal science, speaking on sub-therapeutic growth promotion antibiotic alternatives, and Dermot Hayes, economics, speaking on U.S. exports and international trade. More
June 9: ISU Dairy Farm Open House
The ISU Dairy Farm will host its ninth annual open house on Friday, June 9, from 6 to 11 a.m. Tours will be given every 30 minutes beginning at 6:30 a.m. Stops include the milking parlor, milk house and dairy barns. Visitors also can sample free dairy products while learning about commodity groups activities in the Ag Discovery Center. More
Funding Opportunities
Limited Submission Opportunity: FFAR Animal Welfare
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is accepting applications for research grants to stimulate and support innovative research in farm animal welfare. The research areas for this opportunity are cage-free poultry welfare and the impact and feasibility of developing alternatives to castration in swine. Grants of up to $500,000 for up to 60 months will be awarded. FFAR has obtained matching funds from open philanthropy to fund this opportunity, and applicants are not required to provide a match. Submissions are limited to one per institution. Information about internal selection is forthcoming from the Office of the VPR. More
Intent to Issue RFA: USAID Crops and Dairy – Kenya
The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced its intent to issue a request for applications for crops and dairy market systems development activities in Kenya. The program goal is to sustainably reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty in Kenya, with a focus on inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems, and a well-nourished population. USAID anticipates awarding one $50 million cooperative agreement with a five-year project period. The request for applications is expected to be released within the next two weeks. More
Internal Competition: Searle Scholars Program
The Office of the VPR is accepting pre-proposals for the Searle Family and Kinship Foundation’s Searle Scholars Program. The program supports individual investigators who began their first tenure-track appointment at the assistant professor level on or after July 1, 2016. Applicants are expected to be pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology and related areas in chemistry, medicine and biological sciences. Submissions are limited to one per institution. Pre-proposals for the internal competition are due by June 29. Contact Sue Shipitalo (sueship@iastate.edu) or Donna Van Pelt (dvanpelt@iatate.edu) for guidelines. More
Request for Information: USAID Mission in Malawi
The U.S. Agency for International Development Mission in Malawi seeks comments regarding the currently planned Malawi Agricultural Policy and Implementation Activity. Comments are requested to help refine the program description to ensure clarity, maximum development impact, sound coordination with existing activities, and alignment with the Government of Malawi’s top priorities. Comments are due by June 19 at 4:30 p.m. Lilongwe time. More
Request for Information: DOE Clean Water Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on technologies with the potential for early-stage research and development that could impact the cost-effective and energy efficient availability of clean water processed from a variety of sources (e.g., surface water, ground water, brackish water, seawater, wastewater, produced water) for a range of applications including municipal drinking water, agricultural uses and industrial needs. EERE may issue a related funding opportunity announcement in the future. Responses must be submitted via email by July 28. 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.
June 26 (internal expression of interest): NSF Collections in Support of Biological Research; three submissions per organization, contact fundingopps@iastate.edu to express interest. More
July 1 (concept application): The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation; $25,000, geographic focus is Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, one proposal per organization, contact fundingopps@iastate.edu to express interest. More
July 14 (pre-proposal): Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease; $500,000 over five years, contact ISU Foundation (cfr@foundation.iastate.edu) to express interest. More
July 19 (pre-application): DoD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Investigator-Initiated Research Award; $750,000. More
Aug. 1 (initial inquiry): McKnight Foundation Mississippi River Program; does not fund research in academic disciplines, contact ISU Foundation (cfr@foundation.iastate.edu) to express interest. More
Aug. 17: Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences Education Research; $100,000 to $760,000. More
Sept. 4 (letter of intent): NIH Partnerships for the Development of Vaccines and Immunophrophylactics Targeting Multiple Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria (R01); carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter, multidrug-resistant MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa. More
Communications Kiosk
20 Commonly Misused Words
English grammar can be tricky, and, a lot of times, the words that sound right are actually wrong. According to Travis Bradberry, coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and cofounder of TalentSmart, the following 20 words are commonly misused. More
- Accept vs. Except
- Affect vs. Effect
- Lie vs. Lay
- Bring vs. Take
- Ironic vs. Coincidental
- Imply vs. Infer
- Nauseous vs. Nauseated
- Comprise vs. Compose
- Farther vs. Further
- Fewer vs. Less
Infograzing
ISU Veterinarians Study Food Safety and Drug Efficacy in Pork Production
ISU veterinarians are taking a closer look at how commonly prescribed antibiotics move through and exit pigs. The research has implications for pork production practices and for food safety. 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.