Inside Update

Feb. 9, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Leath seeks support from legislative subcommittee
President Steven Leath told legislators Feb. 8 that any increase in state funding for fiscal year 2013 will be used to enhance the student learning experience at Iowa State and help cover unavoidable cost increases.

Sustainability minor has broad-based appeal
Iowa State's new sustainability minor is only a few months old, but 100 students are enrolled in one of the minor's core courses this semester.

Campus events planned for Nobel laureate Shechtman
For the first time since receiving the chemistry prize, Nobel laureate Dan Shechtman will return to campus for a few weeks this month. He will meet with students and members of the Iowa media on Feb. 14 and give a public lecture on Feb. 20.

Regents approve stand-alone degree for athletic training
Meeting Tuesday in Ames, the state Board of Regents approved a bachelor of science degree in athletic training for ISU and received an update on 2010 flood cost reimbursements.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Share with students: Iowa State scholarship deadlines are approaching
-- Prominent writers to keynote annual Wildness Symposium
-- Reminder: Nominations for university awards are due Feb. 20
-- Next STEM brown bag seminar is Feb. 22
-- Applicants sought for ADVANCE faculty fellowship
-- Singing Valentine fund-raiser benefits student organization
-- Wind energy production in January sets record
-- U.S. bank failures is topic of Feb. 13 Osborn Club lecture

See: Announcements

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses).
-- Introduction to Blackboard Learn, Feb. 14 (10-11 a.m., 1230 Communications)
-- Academic writing for graduate students and new faculty (a seminar series encouraging research and grant writing excellence): Unveiling Results, Feb. 16 (3:10-4 p.m., 101 Carver)
See: Descriptions and times

ComETS online media interest group will meet Feb. 16
The ComETS online media interest group will hold its first meeting of the semester on Feb. 16 (noon, 1230 Communications). Topics to be covered include the latest version of Panopto classroom capture software solution and its Blackboard integration. Pizza is provided to those who register ahead of time.

Wallace Hall changes respond to housing demand
The residence department will convert nine floors in Wallace Hall from singles to double rooms for the 2012-13 school year in response to a demand for campus housing. This summer, Wallace Hall rooms will receive new furniture, including lofted beds, desks, a wardrobe and microfridge.

Teaching cell biology via a video game
Iowa State's Eve Syrkin Wurtele decided the best way to get the attention of the science-deprived, gamer generation is to take the information from a textbook and put it in a medium that kids crave -- video games. She and her team developed Meta!Blast, which won honorable mention in the 2011 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Vet Med announces Ramsey spring lecture series
Three guest veterinarians will visit campus this semester for the Ramsey public lectures in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The first one features Colorado State's Randall Basaraba on Feb. 15.

Your Library
In this issue of Your Library newsletter: The Library's strategic investment in electronic journal backfiles pays off; a new archival database for humanities and social sciences researchers is now available; and a campus partnership allows access to 19th-century U.S. newspapers.

Upcoming
-- Reception: "Assembled," student 3-D art exhibit, Feb. 21 (7 p.m., MU Pioneer Room, includes screening of the documentary Waste Land)
-- Reception: "Public Art Studies from Notebooks" exhibit with artist Terry Allen, March 1 (7:30-9 p.m., Christian Petersen Art Museum, Morrill)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

ISU Theatre brings Chekhov's Short Stories to life
ISU students are actors, writers and designers for the ISU Theatre production of Chekhov's Short Stories, which runs Feb. 9-11 (7:30 p.m.) and Feb. 12 (2 p.m.) at the Memorial Union Maintenance Shop. Tickets, $16 ($14 seniors, $8 students), are available at the M-Shop ticket office (4-8349), online at MIDWESTTIX or at the door. Due to limited seating, advanced ticket purchases are encouraged.

Stop and smell the orchids
Get a taste of spring at Reiman Gardens' third annual Orchid Fest Feb. 11-12 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Reiman Gardens). Events include a question-and-answer booth, lectures and repotting demonstrations. The general public pays the price of admission to attend; gardens members and ISU students are admitted for free.

ISU Symphony Orchestra performs Peter and the Wolf
Narrator Hollis Monroe will join the ISU Symphony Orchestra during its performance of Peter and the Wolf Saturday, Feb. 11 (3 p.m., Tye Hall, Music). Tickets are $4 ($2 students).

Yoga, artfully
De-stress during a free yoga class at the Christian Petersen Art Museum Wednesday, Feb. 15 (5:20-6:20 p.m., 1017 Morrill). If weather permits, the class will be moved to the Anderson Sculpture Garden, south of Morrill. All are welcome to attend. No experience necessary, but please bring a yoga mat.