News
ISU eyes education future with community college agreement, summit, study
Education and its future was an important topic of discussion in November at Iowa State. During the month, the College of Business signed an agreement with Iowa community colleges that should enable an easier transfer into the college, the university hosted a summit on the future of PreK-16 education, and an ISU researcher gave a national presentation on reasons for productivity among female faculty at research and doctoral universities.
Fallon Johnson
Former Cyclone softball player dies in car accident
Former Iowa State softball student-athlete Fallon Johnson was killed in a one-car accident Nov. 29 in Ames. The 22-year old native of Sacramento, Calif., earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Iowa State in August and was working in Ames.
Group endorses plan to reduce livestock odors
A comprehensive plan to reduce livestock odors received unanimous, bi-partisan approval from the interim Livestock Odor Study Committee of the Iowa Legislature. The proposal calls for a five-year project to provide incentives to producers to utilize technologies available to reduce livestock-related odors. The proposal, which calls for $22.7 million in funding spread out over five years, was jointly presented to the committee by Department of Natural Resources Director Richard Leopold, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa State Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Wendy Wintersteen.
Mo Rocca to perform Dec. 3
Comedian Mo Rocca will perform at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Rocca contributes off-beat news reports and satirical commentary on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "CBS Sunday Morning." The performance is free and open to the public."
Edwards on campus
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will hold a town hall meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The event is part of the Lecture Program's Presidential Caucus Series, which provides the university community with opportunities to question candidates before the precinct caucuses. It is free and open to the public.
Sociology class survey finds ISU students likely to participate in caucuses
A survey this month by students in University Professor of Sociology Bill Woodman's survey research methods course found that among 2,185 ISU students, 73 percent were already registered to vote, and 58 percent of those registered students intended to participate in the caucuses.
ISU signs admissions partnerships with two community colleges
Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy signed admissions partnership agreements today with presidents from Western Iowa Tech Community College and Northwest Iowa Community College. The agreements will make it more convenient for WITCC and NCC students who want to earn a bachelor's degree to transfer to ISU.
Tune in Tuesday for 'Modern Marvels: The Pig'
For the second week in a row, Iowa State faculty experts are featured on the History Channel's "Modern Marvels." Distinguished Professor Max Rothschild and Ken Prusa, professor of food science and human nutrition, will appear on "Modern Marvels: The Pig" at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The History Channel is available on Mediacom cable channel 45 in Ames and Des Moines. DirecTV viewers can see the show on channel 269; Dish Network subscribers can see it on channel 120.
FedEx president, founder to present Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science on Dec. 4
The founder, president and CEO of the Federal Express Corp., Frederick Smith, will present the sixth annual Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science at ISU. He will speak on "Trends and Issues in the World Marketplace" at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Sun Room, Memorial Union.
Thanksgiving break
Iowa State classes are in recess Monday-Friday, Nov. 19-23, for the Thanksgiving break. University offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22-23.
ISU primatologist to teach online course from chimp research site in Senegal
A new online course will allow students to learn from ISU primatologist Jill Pruetz and the chimps living at her research site in Senegal. The anthropology course Primate Behavior (Anthr 350x/550x) will begin March 10 and feature some live satellite video feeds of Pruetz from the field in Senegal.
Petermeiers commit $1.5 million to Iowa State
Craig and Virginia Petermeier of Mingo have made a deferred gift of $1 million to the Iowa State University College of Business endowment for unrestricted use in the areas of greatest need; and a $500,000 pledge to the ISU athletics department for facility renovations.
Sen. Chris Dodd on campus
Sen. Christopher Dodd, Democratic candidate for president, will speak about his book, "Letters from Nuremberg: My Father's Narrative of a Quest for Justice," at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in the Memorial Union Sun Room. Dodd's father, Thomas, was an attorney in the Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders. The book compiles his letters to his wife during that time. The lecture is part of the Presidential Caucus Series, providing the university community with opportunities to question presidential candidates or their representative before the precinct caucuses.
High school students hard at work prepping for Iowa State technology competition
High school students across the state are learning about cyber defense, robotics and game design as part of Iowa State University's new IT-Adventures program. The program's goal is to hook students on information technology as a field of study and work.
ISU professor tests athletic shoes and Army boots; hopes to go galactic
ISU Associate Professor of Kinesiology Tim Derrick has tested athletic shoes for Consumer Reports and Runner's World, and combat boots for the U.S. Army. He has a grant proposal in to test the stress forces on the bones in reduced gravity environments for NASA.
Iowa State Professor Awarded USDA Excellence in Teaching Award
Iowa State University faculty member Amy Kaleita has been awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award.
Iowa State Professor Presented National Teaching Honor
Iowa State University horticulture Professor Gail Nonnecke has been selected Iowa Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
ISU students who live on campus have housing option if they plan to caucus
ISU's Department of Residence will open a floor in Wallace Hall Jan. 2 through 4 for residents to participate in the Jan. 3 Iowa Caucus.
ISU ROTC battalion ranked third in nation
Thanks to high scores in everything from academic grades and leadership development to marksmanship and land navigation, the Cyclone ROTC Battalion at Iowa State University is ranked among the nation's elite.
First endowed deanship established at Iowa State
A first-of-its-kind endowed deanship at Iowa State University has been established in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences thanks to a $3 million gift from an anonymous donor.
ISU receives $11.6 million grant to continue project to strengthen families, communities
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has added $11.6 million to an earlier $21.1 million award to the Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute at Iowa State to continue its Promoting School-Community-University Partnerships to Enhance Resilience project.
"Modern Marvels" to showcase Iowa State experts, wonders, uses, future of corn
The History Channel program "Modern Marvels" is exploring the topic of corn and will feature several Iowa State University experts Monday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
ISU Catt Center for Women and Politics will host Iowa Caucus workshop Nov. 13
ISU's Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics will host an educational workshop on the Iowa caucuses from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Memorial Union's Sun Room.
Iowa State receives $4.5 million commitment from Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust for new chemistry building; additional funding pledged for faculty research
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has committed $4.5 million toward construction of Iowa State University's new chemistry building. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2008.
Susan Faludi is women studies program 30th anniversary keynoter, Nov. 12
Susan Faludi, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women," will present the women's studies program 30th anniversary keynote address on Monday, Nov. 12. Her talk, "Fear and Fantasy in Post-9/11 America," at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room, is free and open to the public.
Geoffroy, Rosenberg on WOI Radio's 'Talk'
Allison Rosenberg, ISU federal relations, will join President Gregory Geoffroy on WOI Radio's "Talk of Iowa" Nov. 8. The call-in show airs 11 a.m. to noon on AM 640. Questions can be e-mailed in advance to talk@iastate.edu.
Gentile, father explore how violent video games are exemplary aggression teachers
ISU Assistant Professor of Psychology Douglas Gentile and his father, J. Ronald Gentile -- a distinguished teaching professor emeritus of educational psychology at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York -- collaborated on a study of nearly 2,500 youths that found that violent video games are effective teachers of aggression.
Iowa State's new CyberInnovation Institute to strengthen research, state economy
Iowa State University has created a CyberInnovation Institute to advance the university's science and engineering research through linkages with information technology. The institute is designed to help Iowa State compete for larger and broader research projects. And it's designed to help Iowa State do a better job leveraging its research strengths to benefit the state's economic development.
ISU researcher honored at White House ceremony
Iowa State researcher Ravindra Singh received the 2006 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers at a special ceremony at the White House.
Playground soil tested for lead at ISU's Child Development Lab School; no hazard found
When a September inspection outside Iowa State University's Child Development Lab School found evidence of lead paint chips on the northwest perimeter of the playground, experts with ISU's Environmental Health and Safety Department immediately sent soil samples to be tested. The test results, shared Nov. 1 with parents of daycare children in the school, found no lead hazard in the soil, according to Environmental Protection Agency standards.
Giuliani on campus
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will hold a town hall meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. The event is part of the Lecture Program's Presidential Caucus Series, which provides the university community with opportunities to question candidates before the precinct caucuses. It is free and open to the public.
Five Iowa State University faculty members are named fellows of AAAS
Five members of the Iowa State University faculty have been awarded the distinction of being named fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This award recognizes scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
Iowa State agronomist awarded Pioneer Hi-Bred professorship
Michael Thompson, ISU agronomy, has been awarded the Pioneer Hi-Bred Agronomy Professorship. The intent of the professorship is to support research, teaching and extension at the ISU agronomy department.
