Headlines from Iowa State

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  • Innovation and Research

For autonomous robots, not all rules are equal

Autonomous robots can follow rules — but what happens when the rules conflict? Iowa State researchers have developed a new “rulebooks” framework that helps robots make safer, more transparent judgment calls when perfection isn’t possible.

April 30, 2026

Iowa State celebrates spring graduates May 14-16

May 11, 2026

  • Agriculture

‘Lab-on-a-drone’ tests remote farm waterways for nitrate levels

April 28, 2026

Celebrating student success

Video stories and highlights

  • pink flowers with an out of focus student in the background

    Postcard from Campus: Campus in Bloom

    As students are prepping for finals, Iowa State's campus is providing them a beautiful study spot.

Animated illustration of the Innovate at Iowa State logo.

Innovation at Work

This series highlights the collaboration and creativity that fuel Iowa State faculty and scientists to find solutions to global challenges that strengthen our communities and improve our lives. This collection of words, photos, video and audio showcases Iowa State University's Innovation at Work.

In the news

  • ISU researchers build 'lab-on-a-drone' tech to reach remote waters for nitrate testing

    Iowa State University researchers and students are using drones equipped with sensors and a lab to measure nitrate levels in water, a project they say could speed up water quality testing, reduce costs and get to remote or shallow bodies of water and waterways.

  • ISU Police bring new K-9 unit on board

    The Iowa State University Police Department’s newest member underwent his first big test while on the job this past weekend — scouting out and monitoring Jack Trice Stadium during country singer Luke Combs’ concert. Zak, a 2-year-old Belgian shepherd, has been on the ISU campus for less than a month but has settled into his work as an explosives detection and tracking dog with ease.

  • What I learned from analyzing 789 ‘Shark Tank’ pitches

    Entrepreneurs displaying narcissistic behavior are better able to convince investors to give them money when their grandiosity comes across as confidence as opposed to defensiveness or arrogance. That’s what we learned from watching 12 seasons of the popular reality TV show “Shark Tank” to better understand how an entrepreneur’s psychological profile affects their ability to secure funding.

  • Iowa State University researchers, global partners create pest identification model

    As machine learning and artificial intelligence programs have advanced over the past decade, Iowa State University researchers — alongside national and international colleagues — have likewise expanded efforts to use those tools in aiding farmers.