News Service

When Manu Smriti watched clothes she designed and made being modeled on a New York City runway this fall, what made her the happiest was seeing the joy and comfort of the person wearing them. The model, 14-year-old Raffy Paulino, nicknamed Rockstar, wore a flannel shirt, yellow T-shirt and jeans — all designed with his interests and needs in mind. Rockstar uses a wheelchair and other technology for movement, Smriti said, and he loves music, gaming and the color yellow.

Through a partnership with Polk County Emergency Management, researchers at Iowa State are developing an online game to help train emergency managers respond more effectively in times of disaster. Citing a gap in the market for severe weather emergency training games, the team seeks to make an engaging, immersive and flexible tool emergency trainers can use across departments.

Scientists at Iowa State University have an innovative solution to extend the life of a repaved road. They want to turn soybeans into asphalt and say they have already proved it’s possible. The scientists are rigorously testing different blends to determine the durability and longevity of the bioasphalt under different conditions.

Sam Morrow began her journey at Iowa State in 2019 because she was drawn to the slogan “choose your adventure” — so she did. A studio arts class and the CYstarters program allowed Morrow to discover and pursue her dream of creating an art studio.

Colin Behr’s journey from the heartland of Iowa to the design studios of Nike and back again is a story of creativity, discipline, and a deep appreciation for the things we wear. He turned that love of clothes into a magazine he's publishing in Des Moines.