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Wednesday, October 21 2015

  • Academy Award-winning documentarian will discuss endangered species Oct. 27

    Scientists predict that humanity's footprint on the planet may cause the loss of 50 percent of all species by the end of the century. An Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Dubuque native will discuss his role in tackling this epic loss of biodiversity during a talk at Iowa State University. Environmentalist Louie Psihoyos will present "Racing Extinction" at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Memorial Union Great Hall. His talk is part of the university's World Affairs Series: Redefining Global Security. It is free and open to the public.

  • ISU students win national healthcare environment design award

    A project by ISU design students has won the student category of the 2015 Healthcare Environment Awards. Co-sponsored by Contract magazine and the Center for Health Design, the annual awards honor healthcare interior architecture and design across a range of project types. The students' winning conceptual design of a  patient tower at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is featured in the October issue of Contract magazine and will be displayed in November at the Healthcare Design Conference in Washington, D.C., where the team will be recognized at an award ceremony.

  • New regulations for producers will benefit consumers, say Iowa State food safety experts

    Food safety experts at Iowa State University are taking a lead role to help producers in Iowa and the Midwest comply with new federal regulations to guarantee the food we eat is safe. The new rules require companies to identify and address potential risks at all points of the food supply chain. 

  • Iowa State University Distinguished Professor named to National Academy of Medicine

    A Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her achievements in human nutrition research. Diane Birt’s induction into the academy, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, recognizes her professional achievements and her commitment to service.

  • Virtual reality puts football recruits in the middle of game day at Jack Trice Stadium

    Iowa State University researchers are using the sophisticated tools of the Virtual Reality Applications Center to create a virtual Jack Trice Stadium for football recruits. It's a way to show off the stadium's game day atmosphere and the university's strengths in science and technology.

  • Iowa State University animal scientists identify mutations that led to pigs that lack immune systems

    Animal science researchers at Iowa State University have identified a pair of genetic mutations that cause immune deficiencies in pigs that make them uniquely good models for testing potential medical therapies for people. The work advances previous research at Iowa State concerning pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency.

  • ISU metals prof Joe Muench creates silk from steel

    Joe Muench has been honing his award-winning metalsmithing for 40 years. Now an associate professor of art and visual culture at Iowa State, Muench teaches metalsmithing and jewelry in the same classroom where he learned during the early 1980s. His diverse and uncommon artwork has won Juror's Awards and Best in Show honors at national and international exhibitions. This fall, ISU University Museums added one of Muench's most meaningful pieces to its permanent collection. "Blown Cube" is on display through Dec. 19 in the Brunnier Museum's 40/40 Exhibition. The piece exemplifies signature currents that flow through Muench's work.

  • Speaker will discuss Pentagon contractors' influence on U.S. foreign policy at ISU Oct. 21

    Former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff, who thinks Pentagon contractors wield too much political power over U.S. foreign policy, will speak at Iowa State. Retired U.S. Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson will present "Governing Under the Influence: Are Pentagon Contractors Driving U.S. Foreign Policy?" at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the Memorial Union Sun Room. His talk is part of the university's World Affairs Series: Redefining Global Security. It is free and open to the public.

  • Change Agent: Jim Cochran

    Iowa State's Jim Cochran is helping to oversee the U.S. contribution to ATLAS, one of the huge particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. It's a busy job at the biggest particle accelerator on the planet.

  • Iowa State University agronomist explores the genetics that allow hybrid plants to perform better than parents

    A new ISU study of sorghum explores the genetics of heterosis, the process by which hybrid plants perform better than the parent varieties used to create them.

  • Parents influence children’s play of violent video games, according to Iowa State study

    Parents who are more anxious and emotional can impact the amount of violent video games their children play, according to new consumer research from Iowa State University. Researchers found that parents who were more warm and restrictive were successful in limiting children’s play of violent video games. However, highly emotional and anxious parents had the opposite effect – their children played more.

  • Mobile apps and online reviews influence consumer behavior

    Mobile apps are changing the way brands connect with consumers and have the potential to boost a company’s bottom line. According to a new Iowa State University study, there is a direct link between app use and purchase activity – the more engaging the app, the more customers will spend. In a related study, researchers also examine the effect of negative online reviews.  

  • Birds spread infections at feeders, according to ISU research

    Diseases may spread faster in birds that visit bird feeders frequently, according to new research from an Iowa State University ecologist. But researchers cautioned against removing backyard bird feeders, even in light of the findings, because of the overall health benefits they provide for birds.

  • New Iowa State research: Human activity affecting microbes in soil

    New research from an Iowa State University ecologist shows that agricultural inputs such as nitrogen and phosphorous alter soil microbial communities, which may have unintended environmental consequences.

  • Digital textbook analytics can predict student outcomes, Iowa State study finds

    College professors and instructors can learn a lot from the chapters of a digital textbook that they assign students to read. Reynol Junco, an associate professor in Iowa State University’s School of Education, says digital books provide real-time analytics to help faculty assess how students are doing in the class. 

  • Iowa State engineer develops power-saving tools to keep solar-powered robots in action

    Ran Dai is developing power-management technologies that would allow solar-powered robots to maximize energy production, minimize energy loss and maintain long-term operations. The project is supported by a five-year, $500,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation.