News Archive
Monday, June 14 2004
News
Schwennsen voted AIA president-elect
Kate Schwennsen has been elected first vice president/president-elect of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She will be AIA president in 2006. Schwennsen is associate dean of the College of Design at Iowa State and an associate professor of architecture. She has held several leadership positions in AIA and is a former president of AIA Iowa. Schwennsen earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State.
Proposed FY05 operating budget reallocates $8.5 million for employee compensation increases
Iowa State University's top funding priority in the fiscal year that begins July 1 will be increases to the salary and benefits package for faculty and professional and scientific employees. The university will self-fund, through internal allocations, $7.1 million in compensation increases for faculty and P&S staff. It will honor another $2.4 million in compensation increases to Merit staff as negotiated in the state bargained contract.
These details are part of the FY05 budget university leaders will present to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, for approval at the board's June 15-16 meeting in Okoboji. The university's proposed FY05 general fund budget is $422,510,553, about $3.8 million leaner than it was on July 1, 2003.
Nancy Knight awarded national recognition for recruiting minority graduate students
Nancy Knight, manager of graduate programs for Iowa State University's College of Engineering, has been named 2004 University Member of the Year by the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science.
Knight was acknowledged for her efforts to recruit African American, American Indian and Hispanic American students to Iowa State.
Akinc to national committee chair
Mufit Akinc, professor and chair of the department of materials science and engineering at Iowa State University, has been elected vice chair/chair elect of the University Materials Council (UMC), the official organization of department chairs, heads and directors of materials science and engineering programs in the United States and Canada.
David Holger appointed to new post in provost's office
David Holger, associate dean for academic programs and budget in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University, has been appointed associate provost for academic programs and dean of the Graduate College. The three-year appointment is effective July 1.
Business faculty to study European meat tracking
Two College of Business faculty members will visit England and Germany in June to study technology used for tracking meat through the production process with the aim of improving food safety in the United States.
Thomas named interim Education dean
Provost Benjamin Allen has appointed Jerry Thomas, professor and chair of health and human performance, as interim dean of the College of Education effective Aug. 1.
Earlier this year, President Gregory Geoffroy announced a plan to combine the colleges of Family and Consumer Sciences and Education to reduce administrative costs and enhance synergies between the two colleges. Thomas will fill the interim role until a permanent dean for the combined college is selected.
Engineering students place in national bridge-building competition
A team of 25 Iowa State University engineering students recently placed eighth overall at the annual National Student Steel Bridge Competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the American Society of Civil Engineers. It was Iowa State's highest overall placing ever at the national competition.
National hydrology workshop at ISU June 15-16
Iowa State University and the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science will bring 45 scientists to campus June 15-16 for a workshop entitled, "Defining Key Scientific Questions on the Hydrology of Intensively Managed Landscapes in the Glaciated Midwest."
A magical landscape inspired by Celtic culture is one of 13 gardens selected for a prestigious garden festival in England this summer. "Otherworld Garden" is the creation of Mira Engler, associate professor of landscape architecture.
ISU in the news
Stress affects memory
NewScientist
People are woefully bad at recalling details of their own traumatic experiences.
"People come away from these experiences feeling they will never forget what happened, but they confuse that with thinking they remember the details."
-- Gary Wells, distinguished professor of psychology.
Mosquitoes ready
The Iowa Channel
The mosquitoes have hatched, says Wayne Rowley, professor of entomology. The state already is seeing some significant mosquito populations, particularly in Des Moines and Scott County. Mosquito misery often hits its stride the first week in June.
Mother Nature hits crops
Forbes
Some farmers in the upper middle portion of Iowa are estimating they will need to replant 10 to 20 percent of their crop due to May storms.
-- Palle Pedersen, assistant professor of agronomy
Go to article (second item on the page.)
GM crops to fuel
New Zealand Herald
Basil Nikolau, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, was interviewed about plant-based energy by science writer Simon Collins who visited campus last week as part of a New Zealand delegation visiting Iowa to explore biotech collaborations. Nikolau was education in New Zealand.