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Friday, August 11 2017

  • Engineer looks to owl wings for bio-inspired ideas for quieter aircraft, wind turbines

    Iowa State's Anupam Sharma is running high-powered computer simulations to learn exactly how owl wings manipulate air flow, pressure and turbulence to create silent flight. He and his research partners hope their studies will produce practical ideas for making ultraquiet aircraft and wind turbines.

  • President Allen outlines five-year Iowa State University tuition plan

    Interim President Benjamin Allen presented a plan to the Iowa Board of Regents Tuition Task Force on Aug. 9 that would increase resident undergraduate tuition by 7 percent in each of the next five years. If approved by the regents, that would add $522 to the base tuition starting in fall 2018, and gradually rise to $684 more per year by fall 2022. The proposal also recommended a 4 percent increase for nonresident undergraduates and differential adjustments for students majoring in engineering, business and some science, technology and experiential learning programs that have a higher cost of delivery.

  • New study from Iowa State University biologist tracks nonnative plant species in timing of grassland green-up

    The introduction of exotic, nonnative plant species to U.S. grasslands has led to changes in prairie phenology, or the timing of season changes. A new study from an ISU scientist details the magnitude of those changes.

  • Fourth Spaceflight Ops Workshop launches students on path to operational thinking

    Iowa State's fourth Spaceflight Operations Workshop is challenging 12 students physically and mentally -- all with the goal of helping them to learn to think like an operator. Clayton Anderson, a retired astronaut and Iowa State graduate, says that's a valuable perspective for astronauts, engineers and even classroom teachers.

  • Saving the monarch butterfly: Iowa State University biologist explains census discrepancy

    New research from an ISU biologist provides an explanation for why citizen scientists taking censuses of monarch butterfly populations didn’t note the same drops in population recorded in Mexico, where the monarchs spend their winters. The research supports previous studies suggesting that an increase in available milkweed could help the monarch population rebound.

  • Festival highlights benefits of music for people with Parkinson’s disease

    Hosting a music festival is something Elizabeth Stegemöller has wanted to do since starting a music therapy class for people with Parkinson's disease. The festival will not only highlight her clients' musical talents, but celebrate the strength they have built through song. 
  • Researchers describe cell structures, mechanisms that enable bacteria to resist antibiotics

    Iowa State University's Edward Yu has spent years studying the structures and mechanisms bacteria use to resist antibiotics. He and his research group recently published two more papers describing the efflux pumps and transporters that certain disease-causing bacteria use to keep antibiotics away. Yu is beginning to use that knowledge to look for ways to disable the structures and restore the effectiveness of drugs.

  • STEM-Lit program encourages play to teach K-3 students about science and reading

    STEM-Lit to Go! teaches young children about science, math, technology, engineering and literature through play. Iowa State University's School of Education and 4-H Clover Kids is piloting the program this summer. It's designed for students in kindergarten through third grade and judging from their response, it's a hit. 

  • The importance of business succession for rural communities

    The vitality of rural economies depends as much on maintaining existing small businesses as attracting new ones, said Iowa State University economic and small business experts. Even though resources are available to assist with business succession, several factors can complicate plans to sell or pass on the business to an heir.

  • Iowa State named a partner in new Department of Energy bioenergy research center

    Iowa State is a partner institution in a new, $104 million research center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the project will study the next generation of plant-based, sustainable, cost-effective biofuels and bioproducts.

  • Iowa State external funding breaks half-billion dollars

    Iowa State University broke another record in FY 2017, receiving $503.6 million in external funding. This is the fourth record year in a row for funding that includes grants, contracts, gifts and cooperative agreements from federal, state and local governments, as well as from corporations, nonprofits and other universities for research, academic support, scholarships and fellowships and more.

  • Iowa State University plant scientists explore the balance between plant growth and drought response in latest publication

    Iowa State University scientists are untangling the complex genetic mechanisms that control growth and stress response in plants. A recently published paper from the researchers identifies a group of proteins that may be of interest to plant breeders eager for crop varieties that will withstand dry conditions.

  • Care for chronically ill children may suffer when parents and doctors are at odds

    Parents are often thrust into the role of advocate when their child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, but see it as their responsibility to ensure their child gets the best care. An Iowa State University researcher examines the challenges parents face communicating with their child's medical team. Katherine Rafferty says if those lines of communication breakdown, the child’s quality of care is likely to suffer.