News Archive
Wednesday, May 23 2007
News
Watching Gov. Culver sign the bill are (from left): ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, and Iowa senators Robert Stewart (Maquoketa), Rich Olive (Story City) and Bill Dotzler (Waterloo).
Culver signs Power Fund bill at Iowa State
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver visited the ISU Food Sciences Building May 23 to sign the Iowa Power Fund Policy bill into law. Power fund monies will be used for investments in research and development in the new energy economy. Culver pointed out that Iowa State and the other regents institutions will play an important role the development of biofuels and other energy alternatives.
ISU school superintendent program gets unconditional approval from state board
ISU's school superintendent preparation program was the only one in the state to receive unconditional approval for a period of four years from the Iowa State Board of Education earlier this month.
Reiman Gardens exhibit at U.S. Botanic Garden
Iowa State's Reiman Gardens is one of 20 public gardens participating in an exhibit called "Celebrating America's Public Gardens" at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. this summer. The exhibit runs May 26 through Oct. 8 and celebrates the importance and diversity of public gardens across the country. Reiman Gardens will be represented alongside public gardens from several states including California, Florida and Hawaii. The United State Botanical Garden and the American Public Gardens Association is sponsoring the exhibit.
ISU Memorial Day ceremony is May 28
Iowa State University's Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, in the Molecular Biology Building auditorium, directly east of the university cemetery. The annual observance is in memory of all ISU employees, retirees and spouses who have died in the past year.
Cyclones in mascot 'final four'
The Cyclones have made it to the "final four" in the "most dominant college mascot" tourney sponsored by CBS SportsLine.com. The Cyclones face Sparty of Michigan State in the latest online vote, which is under way now. Voting ends May 25.
Iowa State formula race car cracks top 20 for third year in a row
Iowa State University's Formula SAE Team is becoming a fixture in the top-20 of an international competition that has students designing, building and racing mini Formula 1-style race cars. Over the past three years, Iowa State's team has finished 18th, seventh and now 18th.
ISU psychologist to explain teens' risky decisions at national convention Friday
Meg Gerrard, an Iowa State psychology professor, will use the latest research to describe what goes through the teen mind during risk-taking decision making. She'll deliver an invited presentation at the Association of Psychological Sciences Annual Convention this week in Washington, D.C.
Iowa State conference to help Iowa small businesses win federal innovation funds
The first Iowa State University conference to help Iowa businesses win federal innovation and technology transfer dollars will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center.
Iowa State scientists demonstrate first use of nanotechnology to enter plant cells
A team of Iowa State scientists is the first to successfully use nanotechnology to penetrate plant cells, simultaneously delivering a gene and a chemical to activate it. The breakthrough creates a powerful new tool that could transform plant biotechnology.
Birrell named to new professorship
Stuart Birrell, associate professor in Iowa State University's agricultural and biosystems engineering department, has been named to fill a new professorship created by the founders and owners of KINZE Manufacturing Inc. in Williamsburg.
Getting real about biz options: ISU prof's study earns international research award
Amrit Tiwana, an associate professor of logistics operations and management information systems at ISU, has led research of more than 100 major technology companies on managers' behavior during high-tech failing projects. One of the studies earned the Best Article Award for 2006 by the editorial team of Decision Sciences.
Facts regarding status of tenure case at Iowa State
Guillermo Gonzalez, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Iowa State, is appealing the university's April decision to not grant him tenure and promotion. The appeal of the final tenure decision is now with ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, who will evaluate the case and provide a final decision by June 6, 2007. Tenure is a complex process. It is among the most important decisions a university makes and is never taken lightly. Outside of academia, however, there is little shared understanding of tenure, its rigor and significance. For that reason, and because Gonzalez's appeal has generated a number of questions, the FAQ below may be helpful in understanding the tenure process at Iowa State.
ISU Catt Center sponsoring Ready to Run: Campaign Training for Women on June 1
The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State and the League of Women Voters of Ames, Iowa, are sponsoring Ready to Run: Campaign Training for Women on Friday, June 1, at the Scheman Center at the Iowa State Center in Ames.
Sesquicentennial fun
Iowa State's 150th birthday bash will span an entire year.
In the news
New York City ban feeds demand for trans fat free oils
New England Journal of Medicine
As bakers, cooks and chefs face the New York City ban on trans fats, they're trying out substitute oils in recipes. They're part of a nationwide rush to remove trans fats from foods that has boosted demand for new oils, like the low-linolenic soybean oil developed at Iowa State, says plant breeder Walter Fehr, distinguished professor of agronomy.
Bit parts on TV drill Home Depot brand into shows
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Brand messages from top retailers like Home Depot are being written into your favorite TV scripts. Jay Newell, assistant professor of journalism in ISU's Greenlee School of Journalism and an expert on product placement, says it's a smart marketing tactic...and the viewing public has yet to protest.
With big money flowing to biofuels research, universities vie to harvest energy from crops
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The brown and black stalks of switch grass, miscanthus and kenaf are not much to look at, having weathered Iowa's winter snows. But Iowa State researchers see these crops as seeds of change in alternative fuels.