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Thursday, May 10 2012

News

Iowa Energy Center supports research aimed at building Iowa’s bioeconomy

Three teams of Iowa State University researchers will use grants from the Iowa Energy Center to develop biorenewable technologies. All three projects involve the thermochemical conversion of biomass to biorenewable fuels, chemicals and products. The grants are part of the center's mission to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

ISU economists study Iowa communities 15 years before and after Wal-Mart

Ken Stone, an Iowa State emeritus economics professor; and Georgeanne Artz, a visiting assistant professor of economics in ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, have authored a new study comparing retail sales in Iowa communities 15 years before and after Wal-Mart entry into a community. While host towns showed moderate increases in total retail sales in the 15 years following the stores' opening, the study found that neighboring communities without Wal-Mart stores have also seen their sales largely stabilized during the same 15-year period.

Wickert named senior vice president and provost

Jonathan Wickert, dean of the College of Engineering at Iowa State, has been tapped to become ISU's next senior vice president and provost.

Tom Schrier

Tom Schrier

Just in time for vacation: ISU professor studies new attractions at theme parks

Tom Schrier studies amusement/theme parks as an assistant professor of apparel, events, and hospitality management at Iowa State. He is working on a multi-year study exploring how new attractions influence attendance rates at amusement/theme parks. He also developed an attractions and amusement park administration course this spring to expose students to employment opportunities available in the amusement/theme park industry.

Two Iowa State architecture students offer Waverly an outdoor amphitheater design

What started out as a favor turned into an award-winning design project and volumes of life experience for two Iowa State architecture students. Ann Cashman, Waverly, and Darian Lu, Shanghai, are graduating this weekend with the professional bachelor of architecture degree. The two volunteered their time to design an outdoor amphitheater for the City of Waverly that even the neighbors like. And, not only did it win second place in a national community design competition, it's likely to be built.

Iowa State retail specialist forecasts a happy Mother's Day ahead for Iowa retailers

Ron Prescott (above), the retail and small business specialist with Iowa State's Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development and Department of Economics, reports that new National Retail Federation data projects that Iowa retailers should see an increase in their Mother's Day sales. Sales nationally may peak at $152.52 per person, which Prescott says is an 8.4 percent increase over last year.

Young mother overcomes cancer to graduate Saturday from Iowa State's vet med school

After entering the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007, Sarah Myers lost her mother to cancer while battling cancer herself. Three years later -- following the birth of her second child -- an unrelated cancer appeared. Heeding her own mother's advice to "be stronger," Myers completed her veterinary medicine studies and will earn her DVM on Saturday.

Iowa State's design college and alumni association partner with Iowa Prison Industries

When the director of Iowa Prison Industries (IPI) wanted to update the design of some furniture and wood products manufactured by offenders, he came to Iowa State University. Enter Chris Martin, associate professor of integrated studio arts, who teaches advanced furniture design. Martin transformed the potential partnership into a comprehensive project that turns downed campus trees into funding for promising artists.

Iowa State design students create an oversize toy for Reiman Gardens

Associate Professor of Architecture Mitchell Squire's innovative teaching and his students' discoveries will be on view from April 27 through Nov. 16 at Reiman Gardens, in conjunction with the LEGO Nature Connects exhibit. Students in Squire's TOYS! Studio created a conservatory building exhbit that embraces basic toy forms like a pinwheel and cannon to create a world of wonder and delight.

Iowa State NAMA chapter wins national agri-marketing competition

Iowa State's National Agri-Marketing Association chapter has won first place in the association's annual student marketing competition, finishing ahead of 29 other universities for the top honor.

Iowa State engineers load new Iowa Falls bridge with damage-detection gauges

Iowa State University engineers are working with the Iowa Department of Transportation to develop and test a comprehensive monitoring system on the new bridge near downtown Iowa Falls. The system will take continuous, real-time measurements of corrosion, strain, surface conditions, moisture within the bridge's steel arch and structure movements over time.