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Tuesday, January 19 2010

News

Iowa State University researcher discovers Ebola’s deadly secret

Iowa State University researcher Gaya Amarasinghe has led scientists to uncover how the deadly Zaire Ebola virus decoys cells and eventually kills them. He had previously solved the structure of a critical part of an Ebola protein known as VP35, which is involved in host immune suppression. Now he knows how VP35 is able to do it.

News release.

Help for Haiti

A grateful Mikelange Olbel called News Service on Monday to report that his family survived last week's devastating earthquake in Haiti, where the death toll may exceed 100,000. Olbel, a graduate student, and others with ties to Haiti urge the community to participate in a campus clothing drive, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19-22, in front of Parks Library. The clothing needn't be new. Used jeans and t-shirts would be appreciated, and any donation will help, Olbel says.

"Even though we know Haitians' greatest needs now are food, water and medical care, we know that they will need clothing in the days and months ahead, and we are trying to look at this long-term," Olbel explained. "A clothing donation that may seem small or insignificant to you will mean a great deal to the people of Haiti."

Olbel says he is working with Body of Christ Church in Ames to develop a plan to deliver the clothing to Haiti.

Iowa State administrators help develop a new private school of education in Indonesia

A group of ISU administrators is working with the U.S. Department of State and the Sampoerna Foundation of Indonesia to help establish a new university in the country. Their collaboration has helped create the new Sampoerna School of Education and established a partnership between Iowa State and Sampoerna Foundation and school officials.

Former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan will speak at Iowa State on Jan. 27

Wendy Chamberlin, a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and former ambassador to Pakistan, will present "Can We Save the World?" at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Chamberlin is president of the Middle East Institute. She previously directed civilian reconstruction programs in Iraq and Afghanistan, and development assistance programs in the Middle East and East Asia for USAID. The talk, part of the university's World Affairs Series, is free and open to the public.

News release.

ISU researchers part of team that completes sequencing of soybean genome

Randy Shoemaker and Steven Cannon are part of a team that has sequenced the soybean genome. The two said this sequencing could lead to important improvements to the plant.

News release.

History Channel to showcase Iowa State egg experts on Modern Marvels program

Several Iowa State University experts will be featured on the popular History Channel program "Modern Marvels: Eggs" set to air 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21.

It's on cable channel 45 on Mediacom in Ames and Des Moines, channel 269 for DirecTV customers and channel 120 for those with the Dish Network. Check your local listings in other parts of the state.

News release.

Iowa State researchers part of $78 million national effort to develop advanced biofuels

Two teams of Iowa State University researchers are part of a $78 million U.S. Department of Energy program to research and develop advanced biofuels. One team will study biodiesel production from algae. Another team will study the thermochemical and catalytic conversion of biomass to fuels.

News release.

Dance Marathon draws 900 ISU volunteers

Iowa State's largest student-run philanthropic event, Dance Marathon, will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23. Starting at 9 a.m. in ISU's Memorial Union, volunteers will spend 15 hours dancing to raise funds for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital through the Children's Miracle Network.

News release.

Increasing flexibility of ethanol co-product as animal feed is focus of ISU research

Mike Persia and Stephanie Hansen are two of the Iowa State University researchers working to safely increase use of dry distiller's grains with soluables (DDGS) by cattle and poultry producers. DDGS are a co-product of ethanol production and are rich in protein, oil and fiber.

News release.

Iowa FIRST LEGO League Championship challenges students to think transportation

Team T-shirts, loud cheers, goofy hats, LEGO bricks and fun lessons in science and engineering will be front and center during the Iowa FIRST LEGO League Championship at Iowa State University's College of Engineering. The championship begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 16 in the Howe Hall atrium. The event is free and open to the public.

News release.

Iowa State University events will honor Martin Luther King Jr. beginning Jan. 13

A carillon concert, community and campus programs, and three prominent speakers are among Iowa State University's activities to honor the life of Nobel Peace Prize winner and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. The events, which begin Jan. 13 and conclude Feb. 8, are free and open to the public.

News release.

Meet the deans

The winter 2010 issue of VISIONS, the magazine for members of the Iowa State University Alumni Association, offers a glimpse of ISU's college deans. You can read about their backgrounds, interests, and get to know them a little better here.