Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Feb. 16, 2023
Inside news
The college-by-college pitch off began its sixth year this week with students from all seven colleges taking part. Iowa State's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship has helped students refine their ideas and raised the level of competition.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service selected Iowa State's Insect Zoo to receive 169 tarantulas confiscated last Friday at the Port of Los Angeles. This is the first time the Insect Zoo has received confiscated animals from the federal agency.

Athletics proposes to invest $10 million to $12 million in upgrades to the conference facility at the Iowa State Center. Other Iowa State agenda items include a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering and honorary degrees for spring commencement.

President Wendy Wintersteen summarized how Iowa State would invest $12 million in additional state funding, if it received it next year, to members of the Iowa Legislature's joint education appropriations subcommittee Monday.

ISCORE project director Japannah Kellogg will participate in next month's conference keynote, a conversation with book author Patrick Phillips about their parallel experiences growing up in the South.

Iowa State proposed changes to the 10 peer institutions it uses when reporting to the state Board of Regents. The new peer group emphasizes Research I, land-grant universities. The regents will review the list Feb. 22.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • City snow ordinance took effect Wednesday night
  • ISU police division offers several safety trainings
  • March 1 is application deadline for campus undergrad research symposium
  • Business analytics symposium is March 29
  • Events for Eating Disorder Awareness Week
  • Help identify fall juniors for Carver scholarship
Around campus
The annual ISU Day at the Capitol event on Feb. 21 will again showcase how the university is turning ideas into impact -- through initiatives focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, economic development and service to the state.

Transportation expert Yoshinori Suzuki developed a funding model for rehabilitating the 27 locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi that relies on government funding and a collective investment from most, if not all, of the shippers. His findings show the public-private partnership would pay off in the long run.

A multidisciplinary research team will raise bees and plant vegetables, fruits and pollinator habitat within the 10-acre Alliant Energy Solar Farm to study the emerging concept of agrivoltaics – using solar power sites for ag purposes to use land efficiently while creating value for the communities where solar panels are located.
Retirements and receptions
Upcoming
  • Retirement, Marsha Wissink, kinesiology, Feb. 28 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Marla Crum, computer science, March 1 (no public event)
  • Artists reception, Biorenewables Research Laboratory, March 3 (4-6 p.m., Sukup atrium, Biorenewables Complex), registration requested by Feb. 24.

Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.
Arts and events
"Once, Twice, Trice: Students Tackle Naming Jack Trice Stadium," will showcase the student activism that led to the naming of the football stadium. It opens Feb. 17 on the first floor of Parks Library.

Debra Marquart, Distinguished Professor of English and, since 2019, Iowa Poet Laureate, will read from her in-progress, book-length poem, "Leave it in the Ground," Sunday, Feb. 19 (2-3 p.m., Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman). Paired with drawings by visual artist Tom Rice, the presentation reflects on the oil boom in her home state, North Dakota.

Jazz 2.0 and the ISU Jazz ensembles pay tribute to the music of Waller (1904-43), a songwriter, vocalist and stride pianist. This Jazz Night performance is Wednesday, Feb. 22 (7:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Simon Estes Music Hall). Tickets are $5 (cash), at the door or in advance in 149 Estes.
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Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.