News

Outstanding ambassador finds purpose in the field

As a then-27-year-old non-traditional student trying college out again after a big move, Lia Schippers, a graduating senior in forestry, wasn’t sure what to expect at Iowa State University

Food Insecurity Challenge puts innovative minds to the test

On Nov. 6, Iowa State University students from all backgrounds filled the Memorial Union, eager to kick off the 2024 Food Insecurity Challenge. The event teaches students about food insecurity and challenges them to come up with innovative solutions.

New study finds conservation and farmers' job satisfaction are related

An innovative study has shed light on the factors that influence job satisfaction among farmers. The study, “What’s Good for the Land is Good for the Farmer: Investigating Conservation-Related Variables as Predictors of Farmers’ Job Satisfaction,” explores how economic dynamics, farm financial health, soil and water conservation, and climate change concerns impact farmers’ job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

Teacher in Residence strives to make an impact on students

Ashley Wolfe was on Iowa State University’s campus Nov. 11-12, participating in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies’ Teacher in Residence Program. As an alumni of the department, she spoke to current students about what life as an agriculture educator is actually like. 

Iowa State selected as support entity for new resilient food system initiative in Africa

Iowa State University was recently selected to participate in an international collaborative effort to train African plant breeders to improve the genetics of traditional and indigenous food crops and to help boost farm productivity.

Partnership works to save threatened Iowa turtles

Iowa State University students are working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines to give a group of Iowa’s Blanding’s turtles a better chance for survival. Their project will be featured at one of the zoo's "Discover the Wild" events on Sunday, Nov. 17, from 1-2 p.m.

Lizzy Lang, a graduate research assistant pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife ecology, and Ayrin Alexander, a senior in animal ecology, have been the dedicated duo carrying out legwork for the project. They have worked long hours outdoors, communicating with public and private landowners, and tracking and trapping the turtles, usually while submerged in their wetland habitats. 

Wildlife wonders: Iowa State students create engaging lesson plans for elementary students

Offering college students opportunities to enhance their skills in lesson planning and teaching while engaging elementary students in scientific exploration are two goals Tim Stewart has for the new Field Ecology Teaching course.

Exploring innovations, sustainability in food and agriculture

Eight Iowa State University students have worked hard this semester conducting research and exploring innovations to uncover potential sustainability practices to apply in the agriculture industry. All this has been done through their participation in the America’s Cultivation Corridor Next Gen Innovation Impact Study internship.

2024 awards presented to CALS alums, friends

The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Iowa State University Alumni Association will present awards to several CALS alumni and friends at the 92nd annual Honors & Awards Ceremony on Nov. 1.

Iowa State study shows zinc’s potential to fight antimicrobial resistance

A research team at Iowa State University working in the lab of Melha Mellata, associate professor of molecular microbiology, has found that zinc supplements may be an inexpensive, effective antidote to the growing health threat of antimicrobial resistance, potentially extending the effectiveness of today’s antibiotic arsenal against disease. Their findings, published this month in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, are spurring widespread interest. 

The Uganda Alliance: The power of partnership

The Uganda Alliance student organization at Iowa State University has reached the five-year mark of improving revenue and awareness opportunities for Ugandan people, one basket or craft item at a time. Stop by this semester's final craft sale on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside Parks Library on campus.

Horticulture Hall's green roof gets a makeover

In less than two hours, Ben Moss and one of his friends planted 220 new grasses and perennial sedum on the roof of Horticulture Hall last month, transforming the space students pass by daily. “I wanted a hands-on, real-life project where I could put into practice what I was learning in my classes,” Moss, a senior in horticulture, said. “Being able to design and implement this was a lot of fun.”

Health agency awards $4 million to project led by Iowa State scientists to further zebrafish genetics research

Maura McGrail, a professor of genetics, development and cell biology, is leading a new NIH project, working with her long-time partner in the lab and in life, Jeffrey Essner, a professor in the same department. The scientific duo have developed a state-of-the-art zebrafish discovery platform to research the genetics of health and disease. With the new funding, they plan to build on their past work to better understand enzymes inside cells that help regulate the function of the genome and explore the biology of metabolic diseases. Partners on the new project include Iddo Friedberg, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at Iowa State.