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Tuesday, November 22 2011

News

Another ISU student chapter is best in U.S.

Iowa State's student chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) has been named the most outstanding chapter in the United States for the 2010-11 academic year. The group was recognized for its 2011 spring break community service -- 16 restoration and building projects in Eastern Iowa. About 40 students contributed 2,700 hours of construction work that week. During the 2010-11 school year, the construction engineering students completed a total of 4,400 hours of community service. They will be honored at an event on campus Dec. 7. And they will receive a check for $1,500 to use toward their 2012 spring break service trip.

Martin Spalding

Martin Spalding

Iowa State University scientists genetically increase algae biomass by more than 50 percent

Research at Iowa State University has led to discovery of a genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from turning on certain genes in algae that increase the amount of photosynthesis in the plant, which leads to more biomass. This patent-pending technology is available for licensing from the Iowa State University Research Foundation, which also provided technology development funds.

ISU Greenlee School to host the Iowa final for 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Iowa State's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication will host the Iowa final for the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Saturday, Feb. 4. Participating schools throughout most counties in Iowa will hold their own spelling bees. The winners will qualify to advance to the state final at Iowa State.

ISU photo by Bob Elbert

ISU photo by Bob Elbert

New ISU horticulture app gives students, gardeners mobile flower power

A smart phone application developed by Iowa State University that started as a classroom tool has now blossomed into a resource for master gardeners and home garden enthusiasts. The app, called "Mobile Educator: Flowers 101," helps gardeners identify more than 250 garden plants by using the plant's features - color, height, growing zone, etc.

Cain top choice in new ISU/Gazette/KCRG Poll, but voters have not made up their minds

A new Iowa State University/Gazette/KCRG poll of 1,256 registered Iowa voters finds Herman Cain leading Republican presidential candidates among likely caucus goers, with Ron Paul second. Cain (24.5 percent) is more than four percentage points ahead of Paul (20.4), with Mitt Romney (16.3 percent) being the only other candidate receiving more support than "Can't Decide" (8.1 percent). But the race remains remarkably fluid. Respondents were asked how certain they were of their choice and the majority of them (52.3 percent) indicated that they were undecided.

Iowa State finance professors study bank failures and the FDIC's role in their restart

Valentina Salotti (right), an Iowa State assistant professor of finance; and Arnold Cowan, a professor of finance, have been studying recent bank failures and the role the FDIC has played in their resolution. Despite having 85 more bank failures this year through October, the ISU researchers say the rate of bank failures is slowing as the industry finds firmer financial ground.

Political analyst Charlie Cook to headline inaugural Harkin Institute events on Nov. 29

Prominent NBC News political analyst and publisher of The Cook Political Report, Charlie Cook will discuss the Iowa Caucuses and the 2012 election during the inaugural Harkin Institute of Public Policy Lecture in ISU's Memorial Union Sun Room on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at noon. The lecture will be preceded by a dedication ceremony for the Harkin Institute of Public Policy at Iowa State at 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union's Campanile Room.