News
Iowa State study of community college presidents finds national shortage on horizon
A new ISU study of 415 community college presidents (38.2 percent nationally) found that 79 percent will retire by 2012, and 84 percent by 2016. The study also documents a shortage of qualified replacements.
Lumberjack duties part of summer internship
Two ISU forestry students are living in the woods this summer. They're logging trees to create passable roads and trapping and releasing animals as part of a research project.
Iowa State professor, co-designer of Speedo's LZR Racer is ready for its Olympic test
Rick Sharp, an ISU kinesiology professor, was part of a team of outside experts who helped design Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit, which has already been worn by swimmers setting 48 world records since its February release. It will be worn by most of the top swimmers in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Aug. 8-24.
German architect brings a touch of green to Iowa State University
Iowa State University is learning some European lessons on sustainable design from a German architect. For the past two years, assistant professor Ulrike Passe has been injecting a healthy dose of European-bred, green design into the ISU architecture curriculum. And as lead faculty on ISU's solar decathlon project, she's extending her expertise to the entire campus community.
Carver, ISU student
Traveling Field Museum exhibit on Carver debuts in Des Moines
Iowa State alumnus and legendary scientist George Washington Carver is remembered in a traveling exhibit that debuts in Iowa. The exhibit, from Chicago's Field Museum, will be on display in the State Historical Museum in Des Moines Aug. 1 through Nov. 2. The exhibit opens with a reception July 31 (reservations, $20). Family activities are featured in a special celebration Sept. 20. Iowa State is among sponsors of the Des Moines exhibit.
Virtual worlds make real life marketing business sense, says Iowa State professor
Even if business owners don't want to sell their wares to avatars in those virtual worlds, Iowa State professor Brian Mennecke says they should at least consider exploring their product development and marketing value.
Iowa State design researcher teams with Mayo Clinic
Debra Satterfield, an associate professor of art and design, is teaming up with the Mayo Clinic to transform her personal experiences with health care environments and information into more satisfying interactions for others. Satterfield, who researches how experiences are created through the design of environments and information, will examine how design variables influence the decision-making process of patients using medical decision aids.
UI and ISU establish shared DNA sequencing instrumentation
Iowa State University and the University of Iowa have each purchased a state-of-the-art DNA sequencer that will advance genetic research on both campuses. The two sequencers -- each with different capabilities -- can be used by researchers from either university. The instruments are expected to benefit research in the agricultural and medical sciences.
Bernard named interim dean of Iowa State University College of Engineering
James Bernard, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor of Engineering and a 25-year member of the Iowa State University mechanical engineering faculty, has been named interim dean of the College of Engineering effective Sept. 1.
Iowa State's external funding hits $274 million in fiscal year 2008
Iowa State University attracted $274 million in grants, contracts and cooperative agreements during the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of $2.2 million over the previous year.
Iowa State solar car finishes 2,400-mile race in eighth place
Sol Invictus, Iowa State University's solar race car completed the 2,400-mile North American Solar Challenge Tuesday afternoon in eighth place overall with a time of 91 hours and 12 minutes.
Two Iowa State faculty to be named American Statistical Association fellows
Two members of Iowa State's statistics faculty, Dan Nettleton and Yongzhao Shao, will be named fellows of the American Statistical Association in August at the organization's annual meeting in Denver.
Iowa State solar car rolls on despite clouds
Iowa State University's solar race car reached Fargo, N.D., on Friday evening, day five of the 2,400-mile North American Solar Challenge. Sol Invictus started off in Sioux Falls, S.D., covering 255 miles despite cloudy skies. Iowa State has moved up to 9th place in the race standings.
Iowa State business professor assesses the 'greening' of corporate America
Frank Montabon, an associate professor of operations and supply chain management in ISU's College of Business, contends that greener business practices aren't truly "sustainable" if they can't make money.
Iowa State University names researcher to newly established endowed chair
Dr. Peter Nara, a veterinarian, researcher, scientist and entrepreneur, is the new W. Eugene Lloyd Chair at Iowa State's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Iowa State's Hira offers money saving survival tips in a tight economy
Tahira Hira, a professor of personal finance and consumer economics in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at ISU, says there are some practical steps everyone can take to learn how to survive through tough economic times a little while longer.
For small businesses that suffered weather-related damage, the Iowa SBDC is there to help
Officials from the Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), housed at Iowa State, are working with Iowa business owners, home owners and renters affected by the recent weather to apply for the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster recovery loans.
Where do your fresh fruits and veggies come from? Find out with new tool
The Leopold Center has a new tool available online that tracks the origins of 95 different fruits and vegetables typically sold in U.S. supermarkets.
RDG Planning and Design selected as architect for Rec Services expansion, renovation
ISU President Gregory Geoffroy has approved a recommendation to hire RDG Planning and Design, Des Moines, for architectural and engineering services for the Recreation Facilities Expansion and Renovation project at ISU.
Animal welfare expert joins faculty at College of Veterinary Medicine
ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine recently hired Suzanne Millman as an animal welfare specialist. Millman will provide continuing education to veterinary practitioners and serve as a resource to livestock and poultry industries.
Bioplastic plant pots
The Guardian, UKISU researchers are using proteins from corn and soy plants to make bioplastic plant pots that supply nutrients to the plants as they break down.
Better buffer than levees
Christian Science MonitorRather than continue spending massive amounts of government money on haphazard cleanup efforts after disasters, that hit the Midwest and Louisiana, ISU political science professor Steffen Schmidt argues let's take some realistic measures.
Iowa State researchers study ground cover to reduce impact of biomass harvest
Iowa State University researchers are looking at ways to use ground cover, a living grass planted between the rows of corn, in production farming.
Iowa State researchers win R&D 100 Award for ethanol project
A research team led by Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State University professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has been awarded a 2008 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. The researchers are using fungi to clean up and improve the dry-grind ethanol production process. This is the 30th R&D 100 Award presented to researchers affiliated with Iowa State.
Previous floods can provide economic lessons for 2008 recovery, ISU researchers say
Previous research on the 1993 floods by Professor of Sociology Terry Besser and Professor of Economics Dan Otto may provide lessons on what recently flooded communities can expect as they try to recover.
New online help for transfer students
Iowa's Regent universities and public community colleges have launched a new Web site, www.transferiniowa.org, that can help students answer the important question "How will my credits transfer?" Students who are interested in transferring to Iowa State can go directly to the TRANSIT web page to begin planning their journey to ISU.
Regents news release (pdf). | Inside Iowa State story. | TransferinIowa.org | TRANSIT web page
Media advisory: ISU co-hosts international symposium on animal welfare and epidemiology July 14-16
"Welfare and Epidemiology Conference: Across Species, Across Disciplines and Across Borders," will address the need for a balanced, multidisciplinary approach to animal welfare issues.
Ames, ISU RAGBRAI entertainment will benefit disaster relief
Rock legends Styx will entertain RAGBRAI riders in Ames on July 22, along with local favorite band The Nadas. The RAGBRAI CYcling Country Festival will benefit the Embrace Iowa: 2008 Disaster Fund. "The Embrace Iowa: 2008 Disaster Fund gives Iowa State University and Ames a wonderful opportunity to show our support for our fellow Iowans who are suffering from the devastating floods," says ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. "I'm encouraging everyone to join us on July 22 and demonstrate our commitment to help those in great need."
Iowa State's solar car slow but steady on day four of the North American Solar Challenge
It was slow but steady for Iowa State University's Sol Invictus on Wednesday, the fourth day of the North American Solar Challenge. Team PrISUm's solar-powered car traveled an average speed of about 35 mph to cover about 225 miles from Seneca, Kan., to Sioux City, Iowa.
Iowa State's solar car rolls north on day three of the North American Solar Challenge
Sol Invictus started the day in Neosho, Mo., and ended it 286 miles up the road in Seneca, Kan. They traveled at between 35 and 45 mph. The third day of the North American Solar Challenge was a good day -- no breakdowns, no flat tires, no drained batteries.
Iowa State solar car completes first day of cross-country race
Sol Invictus, Iowa State University's solar race car completed the first day of the 2,400-mile North American Solar Challenge. The Iowa State car drove155 miles from Plano, Texas,to Eufaula, Okla.
July Fourth
Classes will not be held and university offices will be closed Friday, July 4, to observe the national Independence Day holiday.
