News Archive
Wednesday, July 16 2008
News
Iowa State's Hira offers money saving survival tips in a tight economy
Tahira Hira, a professor of personal finance and consumer economics in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at ISU, says there are some practical steps everyone can take to learn how to survive through tough economic times a little while longer.
For small businesses that suffered weather-related damage, the Iowa SBDC is there to help
Officials from the Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), housed at Iowa State, are working with Iowa business owners, home owners and renters affected by the recent weather to apply for the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster recovery loans.
RAGBRAI comes to campus
Some 20,000 bicyclists will roll through campus and Ames July 22. Campus tours, a Cy Look-Alike contest, an international food festival, live music downtown and on central campus, and a performance by Styx are among many activities planned for the riders and community.
Iowa State's solar car rolls north on day three of the North American Solar Challenge
Sol Invictus started the day in Neosho, Mo., and ended it 286 miles up the road in Seneca, Kan. They traveled at between 35 and 45 mph. The third day of the North American Solar Challenge was a good day -- no breakdowns, no flat tires, no drained batteries.
Where do your fresh fruits and veggies come from? Find out with new tool
The Leopold Center has a new tool available online that tracks the origins of 95 different fruits and vegetables typically sold in U.S. supermarkets.
RDG Planning and Design selected as architect for Rec Services expansion, renovation
ISU President Gregory Geoffroy has approved a recommendation to hire RDG Planning and Design, Des Moines, for architectural and engineering services for the Recreation Facilities Expansion and Renovation project at ISU.
Animal welfare expert joins faculty at College of Veterinary Medicine
ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine recently hired Suzanne Millman as an animal welfare specialist. Millman will provide continuing education to veterinary practitioners and serve as a resource to livestock and poultry industries.
Iowa State researchers study ground cover to reduce impact of biomass harvest
Iowa State University researchers are looking at ways to use ground cover, a living grass planted between the rows of corn, in production farming.
Iowa State researchers win R&D 100 Award for ethanol project
A research team led by Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State University professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has been awarded a 2008 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. The researchers are using fungi to clean up and improve the dry-grind ethanol production process. This is the 30th R&D 100 Award presented to researchers affiliated with Iowa State.
Previous floods can provide economic lessons for 2008 recovery, ISU researchers say
Previous research on the 1993 floods by Professor of Sociology Terry Besser and Professor of Economics Dan Otto may provide lessons on what recently flooded communities can expect as they try to recover.
New online help for transfer students
Iowa's Regent universities and public community colleges have launched a new Web site, www.transferiniowa.org, that can help students answer the important question "How will my credits transfer?" Students who are interested in transferring to Iowa State can go directly to the TRANSIT web page to begin planning their journey to ISU.
Regents news release (pdf). | Inside Iowa State story. | TransferinIowa.org | TRANSIT web page
Media advisory: ISU co-hosts international symposium on animal welfare and epidemiology July 14-16
"Welfare and Epidemiology Conference: Across Species, Across Disciplines and Across Borders," will address the need for a balanced, multidisciplinary approach to animal welfare issues.
Ames, ISU RAGBRAI entertainment will benefit disaster relief
Rock legends Styx will entertain RAGBRAI riders in Ames on July 22, along with local favorite band The Nadas. The RAGBRAI CYcling Country Festival will benefit the Embrace Iowa: 2008 Disaster Fund. "The Embrace Iowa: 2008 Disaster Fund gives Iowa State University and Ames a wonderful opportunity to show our support for our fellow Iowans who are suffering from the devastating floods," says ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. "I'm encouraging everyone to join us on July 22 and demonstrate our commitment to help those in great need."
Time to race
Team PrISUm, Iowa State University's solar car team, has been in overdrive the past month to prepare its new race car, Sol Invictus, for the 2,400-mile North American Solar Challenge. The students are racing their car from Plano, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, July 13-22.
Race update: Day 3 | Pre-race video. | Day 2 video. | Day 3 video.
Change the world
The summer 2008 issue of VISIONS magazine features alumni, faculty, staff and students who are making a difference and 150 years of Iowa State contributions.
In the news
Bioplastic plant pots
The Guardian, UK
ISU researchers are using proteins from corn and soy plants to make bioplastic plant pots that supply nutrients to the plants as they break down.
Better buffer than levees
Christian Science Monitor
Rather than continue spending massive amounts of government money on haphazard cleanup efforts after disasters, that hit the Midwest and Louisiana, ISU political science professor Steffen Schmidt argues let's take some realistic measures.