Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff

Sept. 4, 2025

Inside news

ISU police add drone to enhance campus safety

The ISU police department's new drone team primarily helps with search and rescue operations. The drone can fly day and night and provide unique views, especially at large events like Cyclone football games.


Meet the Faculty Senate president, Meghan Gillette

Five questions with the human development and family studies teaching professor ahead of the senate's opening session on Sept. 9.


Miller grants support instruction-focused research

Five research proposals received funds totaling more than $210,000 for this academic year in the university's Miller Faculty Fellowship program. The teaching-based research projects were selected for their potential to elevate student-centric instruction.


Awards nomination window is open

The nominating process has begun for the highest university awards for faculty and staff -- about 30 opportunities to recognize outstanding employees for their commitment to our land-grant ideals. Save the date, Sept. 24, when the university community honors the 2025 recipients of those awards.

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:

  • 2025 voting information for students is available in Canvas
  • Ways to assist with next week's business attire pop-up shop
  • Iowa Nutrient Research Center shares fall seminar series
  • Poster showcase for graduate career exploration is Sept. 9
  • Fall workshops focus on faculty professional development 
  • Center for Communication Excellence celebrates 10 years
  • Volunteers needed for mass pumpkin carving at Reiman Gardens
  • Reminder: Employment and benefits center moves north on Sept. 9
  • Study Abroad Fair is Sept. 11
  • Field of Memories flag exhibit raises awareness of student suicide
  • Register now for sweet roll workshop in November

Around campus

'Young' Reiman Gardens celebrates 30 years next week

Compared to some public gardens hundreds of years old, Reiman Gardens is in its infancy. The public is invited to a family-friendly "Botanical Bash" Sept. 13 to celebrate three decades of growth -- in plants and programming.


ISU researchers find one solution for two issues

Injecting carbon-rich bio-oil into the deep shafts of abandoned crude oil wells could be an economically feasible way of removing carbon dioxide from the air. Unwanted organic matter collected from forests and fields helps sequester carbon in long-term storage while reducing the emissions and safety risks posed by orphaned U.S. oil wells.


Helping farmers go organic

Using a grant from the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, ISU extension horticulture specialist Kathleen Delate guides Iowa farmers who want to transition to organic crop production. The program provides mentorship, community building and workforce training.

Open houses and receptions

This week

  • Open house, Excite! Student Innovation Center, for employees and students, Sept. 4 (2-6 p.m., Student Innovation Center) 
  • Retirement, Timothy Burgess, student information systems; and Dave Brotherson and Jim Hurley, mainframe, database and applications; IT Services, Sept. 5 (noon-3 p.m., Maple Shelter, Brookside Park, 1325 Sixth St., the three colleagues started at Iowa State the same day 40 years ago
  • Retirement, Jacqueline Shanks, chemical and biological engineering, Sept. 5 (2-4 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union)
  • Retirement, Jeff Johnson, ISU Alumni Association, Sept. 5 (3-6 p.m., remarks at 4 p.m., Alumni Center), post well wishes to Johnson's Kudoboard


Next week

  • Apple open house, ISU Horticulture Farm, Sept. 13 (noon-2 p.m., 55519 170th St., north of Ames), registration requested


Upcoming

  • Building dedication, Warren Madden Building, Sept. 19 (9:45 a.m. arrival, 10 a.m. program outside, building tours follow until 11:30 a.m.), all are welcome, parking available in lots 119 and 120 south of Wanda Daley Drive

Events

Cyclones in the spotlight

Fox Sports brings its college football pregame show, Big Noon Kickoff, to Ames for the first time this Saturday, Sept. 6 (9-11 a.m. live show, pre-show events begin at 7:30 a.m., Reiman Plaza, south of Jack Trice Stadium). The Cyclones and Iowa Hawkeyes kick off at 11 a.m. in a nationally televised game.


Soccer team appreciates you

It's faculty-staff appreciation day when the Cyclone soccer squad hosts the University of North Dakota Sunday, Sept. 7 (1 p.m., Cyclone Sports Complex). Admission is free, and the first 75 faculty and staff who present their ISU I.D. receive a free Iowa State coffee mug. Come early for tailgate games at noon and (if you like) compete for other prizes during halftime contests.


Pohlman reflects on museums' 50 years

Lynette Pohlman, director and chief curator of University Museums, will reminisce about the first 50 years of the museums and her efforts to give art a place of importance in education during a museums talk on Sunday, Sept. 7 (2-3 p.m., Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman Building).


ClubFest is Sept. 10

Recognized Iowa State student organizations will share their purpose and recruit new members during the fall ClubFest on Wednesday, Sept. 10 (11 a.m.-4 p.m., Memorial Union ballrooms, Campanile Room and west driveway).

Learning opportunities

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Register online. 


University Library programming

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Inside Update, the companion email to Inside Iowa State, is sent Thursday mornings during the academic year by University Marketing and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.

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