Inside Update

Feb. 18, 2010
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

The cover boys of plant science
Three members of Iowa State's Plant Sciences Institute have scored cover stories in top peer-reviewed journals. Read a little more about the men behind the research.

How we're spending our stimulus dollars
As planned, about 70 percent of Iowa State's $31.6 million in education federal stimulus funds will cover personnel expenses.

The big three in energy savings
Morrill Hall, Veterinary Medicine and Parks Library top the list of campus facilities with reduced energy use in FY09.

Just another bump in the road
Record-breaking snow and cold have taken a toll on campus roads this winter. Find out what facilities planning and management's short- and long-term plans are to fix the problem.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Register for 4th annual Cy's House of Trivia tournament
-- Vet Med's spring Ramsey lecture series opens Feb. 24
-- Roy Carver student scholarship applications are due April 1
-- Feb. 20 health fair targets underrepresented groups
-- Miller Faculty Fellow 2010-11 proposals due March 8
-- 11th annual ISCORE is March 5; register now
-- Registration open through Feb. 19 for next week's sustainability symposium
-- Reminder: P&S Council nominations and applications are due Feb. 19
-- Stupka Symposium for BBMB students and researchers is March 25-26
-- CEAH grants available for art and humanities faculty, research

See: Announcements

Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses).
-- Webinars: TurningPoint 2008, Basic: Feb. 23 (10-11 a.m.); Advanced: Feb. 26 (2:10-3 p.m.), further instructions upon registration
-- Engaging Learners with Formative Assessment Activities, Feb. 25 (12:10-1 p.m., 2030 Morrill)
   CELT spring programming schedule (pdf)

Appointments

-- Dan Loy, ISU Extension beef specialist, to interim director of the Iowa Beef Center, effective Feb. 1

Around campus

Doraiswamy to National Academy of Engineering
L. K. Doraiswamy, Anson Marston Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the chemical and biological engineering department, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

ARRA supports projects in biofuels, public health and more
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so far is supporting 30 ISU research projects, including work in advanced biofuels, public health intervention programs, undergraduate research and protein modeling.

ISU alum Clayton Anderson prepares to return to space
Clayton Anderson (M.S., aerospace engineering, 1983), the first Iowa State alum to become an astronaut, is scheduled to return to space March 18 aboard space shuttle Discovery.

Departmental newsletters

Biotechnology Update
The latest issue features a quick look at the last few months of biotechnology breakthroughs at Iowa State.

Open houses/receptions

This week
-- Reception: Hank Taber, ISU horticulture, Feb. 19 (private departmental reception, Taber is retiring March 3)

Next week
-- Reception: to honor recipients of the Margaret Sloss Gender Equity Award and women's center 2010-11 scholarships, Feb. 25 (12:30-1 p.m., Sloss House)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Arts and events

Varieties Sweepstakes showcase student talent
Students in three skits and five mini-acts made the final cuts and will perform in three Varieties Sweepstakes shows this weekend.

Get your hockey fix
Cyclone Hockey will host the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena Feb. 19-20. The fifth-seeded Cyclones take the ice at 7:30 p.m. both nights, playing Kent State Friday; Saturday's opponent is yet to be determined. Other tournament games begin daily at 10 a.m., and 1 and 4 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 21. Single game tickets are $15 ($10, students; $7, children).

Learn more about eating disorders next week
Iowa State will participate in National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Feb. 21-27 with daily events, including a lecture Feb. 22 by survivor and author Jenni Schaefer, and a Feb. 23 showing of the documentary, Do I Look Fat?

Gates Foundation-funded food projects in Africa and Asia
David Bergvinson, a program officer in agricultural development for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will give a public lecture, "Feeding Africa and South Asia: The Role of the Gates Foundation," Feb. 22 (8 p.m., MU Sun Room). Bergvinson manages more than a half dozen foundation projects that focus on corn, legumes and rice.

Get a fresh perspective on Cyclone men's basketball
Cyclone head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott will meet with fans and answer questions during a Coach Talk Feb. 22 (noon, Gallery, MU). Bring your lunch and questions. This event is free and open to the public. Door prizes will be awarded.

Warm up your evening Feb. 26
Join the Alumni Association staff and friends for a tropic-styled FAC Feb. 26 (5-7 p.m., ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave.). The lineup includes live music by a steel drum band, hula hoop and limbo contests, cash bar and light snacks. Stop by on your way to one of the events at Iowa State Center that evening. Admission is free and no RSVP is required.

More campus events
Talks, performances, athletic contests and other campus events are listed on the university calendar. Also, see the Arts and Entertainment page.

Submitting your news
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by the Office of University Relations. Send Update news to inside@iastate.edu. For questions, call 4-7958.