2025 Year in Review
December 16, 2025
Top stories
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Forever true for ISU: President Wendy Wintersteen to retire in 2026
In a message sent today to the campus community, Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen announced her plans to retire in January 2026. Wintersteen became the first woman and second ISU alum to hold the university’s highest office when she was named the 16th president of Iowa State in 2017.
May 16, 2025
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Engineers using ‘digital twins’ to improve agriculture, health, manufacturing and more
Iowa State researchers are building "digital twins" that are regularly updated with data from their physical twins. A national committee said digital twins have "immense promise in accelerating scientific discovery and revolutionizing industries."
April 03, 2025
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Cantamus embarks on first international tour
Along the way, the ensemble will reunite with Kardemimmit, the Finnish folk quartet that first performed with Cantamus in 2022 at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.
June 02, 2025
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The value of physical intelligence: How researchers are working to safely advance the capabilities of humanoid robots
Iowa State researchers are working to develop and test new methods that could help advance the physical intelligence and capabilities of humanoid robots while also prioritizing the development of safety standards that will allow robots and humans to interact safely.
November 05, 2025
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Researchers pilot potentially life-saving heat alert app
A multidisciplinary team of researchers is evaluating the performance of CommHEAT, a mobile app designed to support residents and city planners with real-time heat alerts and actionable data to safeguard vulnerable communities during extreme heat events.
October 23, 2025
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Bio-oil made with corn stalks, wood debris could plug orphaned fossil fuel wells
Injecting carbon-rich bio-oil into the deep shafts of abandoned crude oil wells could be an economically feasible system of removing carbon dioxide from the air for long-term storage.
September 03, 2025
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A call for help leads ISU Police to sexual predator, international investigation
An Iowa State student's call for help back in 2020 led Iowa State University Police down a long and often disturbing path that more than four years later has finally resulted in federal indictments for a ring of sexual predators accused of preying on young women – many of them minors – from around the world.
February 12, 2025
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Charred chunks in the blast box: reducing risk of battery fires, explosions
Todd Kingston, with the help of a federal grant, has equipped his lab with a unique instrument that allows him to test battery safety and performance. Yes, he said, "This allows us to safely blow up batteries."
July 21, 2025
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David Cook named president of Iowa State University
The Iowa Board of Regents today named David Cook the 17th president of Iowa State University. Cook, president of North Dakota State University, succeeds Wendy Wintersteen who will retire in her ninth year as Iowa State’s president. Cook, who is an alumnus of Iowa State, will take office on March 1, 2026.
November 11, 2025
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Researcher’s work to support new moms leads to ISU’s first-ever apparel design patent
Associate professor Ling Zhang's innovative, multi-layered maternity garment recently earned an apparel design patent, marking a first for the ISU Research Foundation. Zhang was inspired to create better maternity and nursing garments after her own struggles as a new mom. The patent will now serve as a foundational element of her startup company.
February 03, 2025
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Ideal nitrogen fertilizer rates in Corn Belt have been climbing for decades, study shows
The amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed to maximize the profitability of corn production in the Midwest has been increasing by about 1.2% per year for the past three decades, a trend driven by higher yields and wetter springs, according to new Iowa State University study.
March 03, 2025
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When a derecho strikes: Engineers build emergency management training game
Iowa State researchers are working with Polk County Emergency Management to develop an online, multiplayer training game to help emergency forces plan and practice their disaster responses.
October 22, 2025
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With fixed-up violin donations, retired professor pays forward a passion for playing
By breathing new life into old fiddles, a retired Iowa State University sociology professor is making musical instruction more accessible for area elementary school students.
November 18, 2025
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Detecting depression using digital traces on social media
Researchers have developed a deep learning model to detect mental health symptoms and risk factors on social media. They say it could assist individuals and provide population-level data to help public health professionals and policymakers make informed decisions.
May 06, 2025
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Receptors in mammary glands make livestock and humans inviting hosts for avian flu
A new study led by Iowa State University researchers shows the mammary glands of pigs, sheep, goats, beef cattle, alpacas and humans are biologically suitable to be infected by H5N1 avian influenza, which has so far affected mostly poultry and dairy cattle.
December 04, 2025
Innovation at Work
This collection of words, photos, video and audio showcases the collaboration and creativity that fuel Iowa State faculty and scientists to find solutions to global challenges, strengthen our communities and improve our lives.
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ISU students design custom adaptive fashions for children with brain-based disabilities
Iowa State students recently saw their custom adaptive clothing designs for kids with brain-based disabilities featured on the runway during New York Fashion Week through a partnership with the International Institute for the Brain (iBRAIN).
October 16, 2025