College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Online
Oct. 30, 2017
Top Stories
Wintersteen, New ISU President, Addresses College Faculty and Staff
“Thank you to everyone who encouraged and supported me during the search process. Your kind words and best wishes were meaningful in more ways than I can express,” said Dean Wendy Wintersteen in a letter to CALS faculty and staff. On Oct. 23, Wintersteen was named ISU’s 16th president. “As I make this transition, I want to assure you that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences remains in good hands. We are blessed with a team of talented leaders in our departments, centers, administrative offices and programs,” she continued. Inside Iowa State article
Research
Agronomy Researchers Receive $1 Million for Organic Corn Genetics Study
A $1 million grant will help Thomas Lubberstedt and Kathleen Delate, agronomy, advance the genetics of corn varieties intended to be grown in organic settings. The project aims to improve the performance of field and sweet corn varieties in conditions unique to organic production systems. More
Teaching and Students
Sam Cook Named Bühler Lecturer in Feed Technology
A gift from Bühler Inc. has established the Bühler Lecturer in Feed Technology position at ISU. The inaugural holder of the Bühler Lecturer is Sam Cook, a post-harvest engineer and feed technologist in agricultural and biosystems engineering. Cook also is part of a team developing plans for a new feed mill and grain science center. More
CALS Student Inspired by Borlaug Biography
Catherine Leafstedt, senior in agronomy and global resource systems, read a biography on Norman Borlaug and was inspired by his story of applying science to grow food and impact the world. She has since participated in the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines and held internships around the world. Leafstedt is a Rhodes Scholar candidate and has been selected to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. More
ISU Agronomy Club Takes SASES by Storm
Undergraduate students in the agronomy club brought home many honors and awards from the Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences meeting on Oct. 20-25 in Tampa. A full list of awards is available online.
Block and Bridle Club Selling Summer Sausage and Cheese
An online form is available for the Block and Bridle Club’s annual holiday summer sausage and cheese sale. The summer sausage is made on campus in the Meats Laboratory and the cheese (cheddar, Colby jack and pepper jack) is from Bongards Creamery in Minnesota. Money raised will be used for club trips, and shows and scholarships hosted by the club. Contact isussandc@gmail.com with questions.
Poinsettia Preorder Sales due Nov. 13
Preorders for the Horticulture Club’s annual poinsettia sale are due Nov. 13. The order form is available online. Retail sales will take place Nov. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Curtiss Hall; Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Beardshear Hall; Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union; and Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reiman Gardens. The poinsettias are grown by club members in the Horticulture Greenhouses. Funds raised will be used for covering club activities, contest expenses and student enrichment.
GDCB Lecturer is Caretaker of Iowa State Skeleton
Carly Manz, a lecturer in genetics, development and cell biology, is the caretaker for one of Iowa State’s skeletal sets. Biology students in Fundamentals of Human Anatomy study the skeletons during the course’s two labs on bones, and they’re far more valuable as a teaching tool than synthetic skeletons, said Manz. More
Extension and Outreach
Annual Drainage Research Forum to be Held Nov. 15
The 17th annual Drainage Research Forum will provide results and updates on drainage research and farm projects on Nov. 15 at the ISU Alumni Center. The forum is jointly sponsored by ISU and the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association. More
Registration Open for Women in Ag Leadership Conference
ISU Extension and Outreach is holding a Women in Ag Leadership Conference, Nov. 27-28 at the Iowa State Center. Online registration is now open. More
New Aquaponics Publications Help Hobbyists, Commercial Growers
ISU Extension and Outreach has released a pair of publications designed to provide information and guidance for anyone thinking of constructing his or her own aquaponics system. “Building and Caring for a Miniature Aquaponics System” is written for the hobbyist. “An Overview of Aquaponic Systems: Aquaculture Components is for those interested in using aquaponics commercially. More
Around the College
Celebration of Life for Bill Zmolek is Nov. 3
A celebration of life for professor emeritus of animal science Bill Zmolek will be held Friday, Nov. 3, 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center. Zmolek died Sept. 1 in Ames. He was 96. He retired from ISU in 1984 after 36 years of service as an Extension beef specialist and faculty member.
Calendar
Oct. 30: Mark Hanna Retirement Reception
A retirement reception for Mark Hanna, agricultural and biosystems engineering, will be held Monday, Oct. 30, 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Sukup Atrium. Hanna has served in the ABE department for 44 years. A story contest will begin at 4 p.m. Judges will award prizes for the top three “Mark Hanna” stories.
Oct. 30: Food Evolution – Documentary and Discussion
The documentary “Food Evolution” will be shown on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The film wrestles with the emotions and the evidence driving the issue of GMOs and food. Alison Van Eenennaam, professor and extension animal genomics and biotechnology specialist at the University of California-Davis, will provide opening remarks and lead a discussion immediately following the 90-minute film. Sponsors include CALS and the departments of animal science, food science and human nutrition, and horticulture. More
Nov. 3: Cultural Competency Lunch and Learn Series
The CALS Office for Diversity Programs is continuing its cultural competency series on Friday, Nov. 3, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 368A Heady Hall. CALS multicultural students will discuss their perspective of life on campus in “If These Walls Could Talk.” Please RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 1, to Theressa Cooper, assistant dean for diversity, tncooper@iastate.edu. Lunch will be provided.
Nov. 8: Bringing Technology to the Marketplace Panel
A panel of Iowa entrepreneurs will share their stories about bringing technology to the marketplace at the Center for Crops Utilization Research and BioCentury Research Farm affiliates meeting on Nov. 8, 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the CCUR Technology Transfer Theatre, 1951 Food Sciences Building. Due to limited seating, RSVP to Karla Long (kylong@iastate.edu) by Nov. 6. More
Research Development Announcements and Funding Opportunities
NSF to Fund Next-Generation STEM Digital Learning Environment Workshops
The National Science Foundation's Directorates for Education and Human Resources and Computer and Information Science and Engineering will fund research to support the design of the next generation of digital learning environments for STEM content, and in support of STEM education research more broadly. As a first step, NSF has issued a Dear Colleague Letter requesting proposals for synthesis, integration and design workshops. Proposals should include a diverse interdisciplinary team. Proposals are due by Jan. 22. 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: Project Apis m.; $40,000, proposals reviewed quarterly. More
Jan. 10 (nominations): Volvo Environment Prize. More
Jan. 23: NSF Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems; $750,000 small projects, $1.6 million large projects. More
Jan. 26: NOAA Marine Fisheries Service - Graduate Fellowship Program in Marine Resource Economics; requires 20 percent matching funds. More
Jan. 30 and other dates, by program track: NSF International Research Experiences for Students. More
Feb. 1, May 1: Spencer Foundation Small Research Grants; $50,000, education research projects, contact ISU Foundation (cfr@foundation.iastate.edu) to express interest. More
Feb. 1: NSF Enabling Discovery through GEnomic Tools. More
April 4: NIH Understanding the Early Development of the Immune System (R01); $300,000. More
Communications Kiosk
Apostrophe Catastrophe One of Five Common Grammatical Errors
An apostrophe catastrophe is one of five common grammatical errors discussed in a recent MacMillan Dictionary blog post. Apostrophe errors are extremely common, especially when the possessive case is involved. Take the phrase “the people’s choice,” which means the choice of the people. This is often incorrectly styled as “the peoples’ choice,” which means the choice of the peoples. Writers need to remember that people is already plural. The use of its and it’s is another frequent source of error. We think of the apostrophe as marking possessive case: I read Mary’s book, the cat’s bowl needs filling, but not “the company found it’s way.” It’s is always short for it is or it has. Its as a possessive pronoun takes no apostrophe. More
Infograzing
Nominations due Nov. 1 for AAAS Leshner Leadership Fellows in Food, Water Research
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is accepting nominations for the 2018-2019 AAAS Leshner Fellows. Each year, the Alan I. Leshner Leadership Institute for Public Engagement works with 15 mid-career scientists who demonstrate leadership and excellence in their research careers and interest in promoting meaningful dialogue between science and the larger community. The upcoming cohort will be composed of food and water security researchers. Nominations are due Nov. 1. More
Vilsack to Speak on Agriculture and Climate Change, Nov. 16
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will discuss how a changing climate threatens the agriculture industry in a talk on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall. More
New ARS Website Enhances Access to Scientific Information
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service launched a newly designed website that improves access to information about ARS research. ARS maintains scientific information stemming from research conducted by nearly 2,000 federal scientists studying animal and crop health, human nutrition, food safety and natural resources. More
Marginalia
Students Return Home during Harvest Season
Many students spend weekends at home helping out at their family farms during harvest season. The Iowa State Daily recently talked with Grant Heineman, senior in agricultural engineering, and Andrew McEvoy, senior in agricultural studies, about balancing college life and work on the farm. 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.
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