News
ISU lecturer aids tornado-torn hometown
Erin Wilgenbusch, a senior lecturer in ISU's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, has spent several days in her hometown of Parkersburg, helping with tornado relief.
Carver grants will support cancer research
Iowa State scientists have received two cancer research grants from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The trust, based in Muscatine, Iowa, awarded grants totaling $603,816 to support two research projects on cancer metastasis and cellular response to infection by a unique group of viruses.
Cyclone Power Pullers boost horsepower, aim for big tractor pulls
The Cyclone Power Pullers will test their mini pulling tractor during the 2008 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition sponsored by the Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Iowa State's student-designed and student-built tractor features five engines and 80 horsepower this year.
Mice mothers devote energies to offspring when life is threatened
Deer mice offspring of infected mothers were bigger, meaning they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Iowa State education technology professor offers ways to plug kids into summer learning
Through his award-winning blog, "Dangerously Irrelevant," ISU Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Scott McLeod asked K-12 educators to suggest ways that parents could use technology to facilitate active learning for their kids this summer. He has ranked what he considers to be the top 10 ideas for parents.
Iowa State researchers use fungus to improve corn-to-ethanol process
A team of researchers from Iowa State University and the University of Hawai'i are developing a process that cleans up and improves the dry-grind ethanol production process. The process uses fungus to reduce energy costs, allow more water recycling and improve a co-product that's used as livestock feed. The American Academy of Environmental Engineers recently awarded the project its 2008 Grand Prize for University Research.
Researchers will study ways to deflect asteroids
A new Iowa State Center will bring researchers from around the world together to develop technologies to deflect asteroids.
Iowa State students engineer Baja racer to handle off-road tests, four-hour race
Iowa State's Mini Baja Team is preparing its student-designed and student-built off-road racer for a May 28-31 competition sponsored by SAE, the Society of Automotive Engineers.
College of Human Sciences research projects are expanding human potential
Faculty continue their work on research projects that relate directly to the College of Human Science's mission to expand human potential. Three such projects are expanding independent living options for for older and disabled residents, providing a template for a program to try and improve conditions for black male students in predominantly white universities, and improving performance by Olympic athletes.
Admission partnerships strengthen community college relationships
Iowa State is strengthening relationships with community colleges through admissions partnerships. Today (May 15) Iowa State celebrates completion of admission partnership agreements with all 15 community colleges in Iowa during signing ceremonies at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Southeastern Community College in Burlington and the Eastern Iowa Community College District in Davenport. The partnerships make it easier for community college students to transfer to Iowa State for their four-year degrees.
Survival guide: Iowa State professor offers small business tips to weather weak economy
Howard Van Auken, the Bob and Kay Smith Fellow in Entrepreneurship at Iowa State, says there are some steps small business owners can take to stay solvent in today's weakened economy and offers 10 tips they can follow.
Iowa State Formula SAE team looks for speed in re-engineered race car
Iowa State University's Formula SAE Team will test its mini open-wheel race car at the annual competition sponsored by SAE, the Society of Automotive Engineers, May 14-18 at Michigan International Speedway.
Search begins for vice president post at Iowa State
Alex King, director of the Ames Laboratory, is chair of the search committee charged with finding ISU's next vice president for research and economic development.
ISU researcher performs first veterinary corneal implant procedure in U.S.
Sinisa Grozdanic, assistant professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, performed the surgery that restored sight to Dixie, a canine patient at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
See for yourself
Iowa State University's Virtual Reality Applications Center is resuming demonstrations of its science, technology and 3-D imagery. The first tour will be 1-2 p.m. Friday, May 16, in the recently upgraded Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Room 1144 of Howe Hall. Other demonstrations will be 1-2 p.m. on July 18, Sept. 19, Nov. 14, Feb. 20 and April 17. The demonstrations are open to the public but reservations are required. Call 515/294-3092 or e-mail vrac@iastate.edu to reserve a spot.
Iowa State minor in engineering studies graduates first students
The first two students to complete the College of Engineering's new and unique engineering studies minor will graduate this spring. The program is designed for students who aren't engineering majors. It aims to improve their technical literacy and develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Whiteford will lead search for College of Design dean
A 12-member committee is beginning the search for the new dean of the College of Design. The search committee is chaired by Michael Whiteford, dean of liberal arts and sciences. The committee's goal is to name a new dean by the end of spring semester 2009. The successful candidate will succeed Mark Engelbrecht, who assumed leadership of the college in 1994 and will step down in June 2009.
Iowa State authors detail what you need to know about identity theft in new book
Michael McCoy, an ISU graduate student; and Steffen Schmidt, a University Professor of political science -- both researchers in ISU's Center for Information Protection -- have authored a new book, "The Silent Crime: What You Need to Know About Identity Theft" (Twin Lakes Press, 2008).
ISU researcher leads effort, develops test to identify dwarfism gene
ISU associate professor James Reecy and his research team have identified the genetic marker responsible for long head dwarfism in Angus cattle and developed a test to find it.
Iowa State's lighter, better human powered vehicle wins engineering competition
Iowa State University's Human Powered Vehicle Team brought home the top award for multi-rider vehicles at a recent competition in Madison, Wis. The student engineers worked all school year to design and build a lighter, better vehicle than the team's previous two vehicles.
May regents wrap
Construction plans, fee hikes and salary estimates are some of the Iowa State items considered by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, at the May 1 meeting.
Planning professor receives national leadership award
The American Planning Association has honored Gary Taylor, assistant professor and extension specialist in community and regional planning, for his leadership and dedication to training the professional and citizen planners of Iowa. In the past three years, more than 1,600 local officials have attended his workshops on issues related to land-use planning and zoning.
Ponds found to take up carbon like world's oceans
Research led by Iowa State University limnologist John Downing finds that ponds around the globe could absorb as much carbon as the world's oceans.
Iowa State University student graduates at 18
In the span of one week, Mattias Gassman is graduating from high school and college. The 18-year-old from Ames participated in the local home-school commencement May 3. He graduates summa cum laude from Iowa State May 10 with degrees in biophysics/German and classical studies. He took his first college class at 11 and enrolled full-time at 14.
NASA intern earns inaugural Sesquicentennial Learning to Live a Life Leadership Award
Iowa State senior computer engineering major Cory Simon of Winterset -- an intern the past two springs and summers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston where he helped develop the Astronaut Interface Device -- became the first recipient of ISU's Sesquicentennial Learning to Live a Life Leadership Award.
ISU study finds how physical inactivity, screen time contribute to overweight kids
An Iowa State study of 709 children between the ages of 7-12 from elementary schools in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Lakeville, Minn., found that children not meeting either the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for physical activity (13,000 pedometer steps per day for boys, 11,000 for girls) or screen time (no more than two hours of quality programming per day) were three to four times more likely to be overweight than those complying with both.
Iowa State-ConocoPhillips collaboration advances 26 research projects in first year
A little more than one year ago ConocoPhillips and Iowa State University announced an eight-year, $22.5 million research program. That collaboration began 14 research projects in 2007 and another 12 in 2008. Those projects include studies of various biofuel production technologies, technical and economic analyses of different types of biorefineries, production of crops for conversion to biofuels, sustainable growing of crops and biomass, the harvest, storage and transportation of biomass, and the combustion performance of biofuels in engines.
Three campus eateries closed today only
ISU Dining has closed the Union Drive Marketplace, Clyde's Sports Club and the Design Cafe today due to a water main break on campus. Students may dine at the Maple-Willow-Larch or Oak-Elm dining centers, obtain meal bundles at Hawthorn Market & Cafe or the Memorial Union Food Court, or pick up a sack dinner in the Union Drive Marketplace lobby beginning at 4 p.m. Dining Dollars can be used at any ISU Dining location. The facilities affected by the water main break are expected to reopen Thursday morning.
