Inside Update

Nov. 8, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

ISU meteorologists help Cyclones play it safe
Days before a home football game, graduate students start poring over weather maps, in an effort to figure out what might blow into Jack Trice Stadium on game day. The students are meteorologists who volunteer their time and expertise in the interest of game day safety for Cyclone football, soccer, softball and track.

Leath priorities will steer budget planning
Academic excellence, basic and applied research, economic development and the campus environment are the broad areas president Steven Leath identified as priorities for planning and budgeting purposes in the next several years.

Save more money for retirement in 2013
Higher voluntary contribution limits for 403(b) plans in 2013 make saving for retirement a bit easier. Find out what you can do to fatten your nest egg.

Council rep areas getting another look
Professional and Scientific Council members discussed possible changes to representation areas at their Nov. 1 meeting.

Updated FAQ offers more details on research funding initiative
If you plan to seek funding through the Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research, check the updated FAQ. Feedback and questions that came up at two recent forums on the initiative have been incorporated into the website.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Auditions for The Vagina Monologues are Nov. 11, 14, 15
-- Open forum on employee wellness is Nov. 13
-- Large campus surplus auction is Nov. 17
-- Giving Tree expands to five locations this year
-- Reminder: Advancing One Community award nominations are due Nov. 15
-- Comfort Zone offers childcare for mildly ill children
-- Reminder: Webcast for ISU Plan participants is Nov. 8
-- STEM community conversation is Nov. 16
-- Workshop offers training on assessing predator attacks on livestock
-- Sanchez will present Nov. 14 Osborn Club lecture
-- Campus reading clinic is accepting applications for spring tutoring
-- P&S award nominations due Dec. 1
-- Food drive for student pantry runs through Nov. 19
-- Free wellness activities this month for employees

See: Announcements

The following workshop was added this week:
-- Broader Impacts Evaluation, Nov. 28 (10 a.m.-3 p.m., Memorial Union), for investigators preparing NSF proposals

Demolition progresses for Curtiss Hall's student commons
Demolition work to prepare the Curtiss Hall space beneath the auditorium for Harl Commons entered its fourth month and should wrap up before the winter holidays. Demolition and cleanout is about 75 percent of the project.

Scientists develop better search tool for nanoalloys
Two scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory developed a simpler, more precise method of searching for new catalysts.

ISU program brings chemistry to low-income high schoolers
ISU's Project SEED offers an eight-week summer chemistry program to economically disadvantaged and underrepresented high school students.

Live Green
In the latest issue of Live Green! Monthly (PDF): Green initiatives at ISU football games; how to put the "thanks" in Thanksgiving.

This week
-- Open house: "Is There a Santa Claus? A Victorian Christmas at the Farm House Museum," Nov. 10-11 (1-4 p.m., Farm House Museum). Exhibition opens Nov. 5 (PDF).

Next week
-- Reception: Recognition of ISU student veterans, Nov. 15 (4:30-6:30 p.m., MU Great Hall, program at 5 p.m.)

Upcoming
-- Retirement: Deanna Jordan, Office of the Registrar, Nov. 29 (2:30-4:30 p.m., MU Campanile Room)
-- Retirement: Ann Coppernoll, College of Business, Nov. 30 (3-5 p.m., program at 3:45 p.m., Kelley and Joan Bergstrom Commons, Gerdin)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

This week at Stephens Auditorium
The following events all take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Iowa State Center ticket office and through Ticketmaster.
-- Pride and Prejudice, Nov 8. Tickets are $37. A post-show talk for ticket holders will be held in the auditorium and will be led by the production's cast and crew.
-- An Evening with Branford Marsalis, Nov. 11. Tickets are $34 and $38. Ticket holders may attend a pre-show Celebrity Café event at 7 p.m., led by Mike Giles, senior lecturer in music.
-- Chicago (the band), Nov. 12. Tickets are $59 and $69.
-- Vienna Boys Choir, Nov. 14. Tickets are $29 and $33. Ticket holders may attend a pre-show event at 7 p.m., led by Gene LeVasseur, concert choir director for Ames Children's Choirs.

Ames Piano Quartet to perform Sunday
Two new members will make their debut in a free Nov. 11 performance of the Ames Piano Quartet (7:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Music). The resident chamber orchestra includes music faculty Borivoj Martinic-Jercic (violin), Mei-Hsuan Huang (piano), George Work (cello) and Jonathan Sturm (violin).

Gold Star ceremony is Nov. 12
Two former Iowa Staters who died in World War II will be honored at a Gold Star ceremony on Monday, Nov. 12 (3:15 p.m., MU Great Hall). The event is open to the public.

You're invited to a lecture on rewiring the brain
Pioneering neuroscientist Michael Merzenich will give a campus lecture on plasticity: the brain's ability to actively rewire itself on Monday, Nov. 12 (8 p.m., MU Great Hall). His talk should have appeal for a broad audience.