News Archive
Wednesday, September 3 2008
News
Author and reporter Sonia Nazario to speak Sept. 23
Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sonia Nazario will speak on "Enrique's Journey and America's Immigration Dilemma," at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The event is free and open to the public.
Author Adrienne Rich to speak, Sept. 22
Adrienne Rich, writer, award-winning author, poet and feminist icon, will speak at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
ISU student organizations dish up something for every taste
ISU students can climb mountains, ride unicycles, build robots, speak French, study the Bible, dance Celtic, prepare for the Marines, march for peace and walk for AIDS. That's because ISU student organizations have something for everyone. They'll show be showcased at Clubfest "Come See What Happens After Class," 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Memorial Union Durham Great Hall.
'The Scene'
Iowa State was the main sponsor of "The Scene" in Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines last weekend. ISU's Admissions crew (and Cy) gave away T-shirts and applied tattoos at the back-to-school event.
Henry Rollins performs free Sept. 18
Henry Rollins, known as a post-punk renaissance man, will launch his new Recountdown Tour, an election-time talking show, at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, in Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University. The performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 p.m.
ISU study finds link between a mother's stress and her child becoming overweight
A mother's stress may contribute to her young children being overweight in low income households with sufficient food, according to a new Iowa State study that is published in the September issue of Pediatrics, the professional journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Point/Counterpoint: Speakers debate development of a bioeconomy
The annual Biobased Industry Outlook Conference at Iowa State University will feature prominent speakers debating three major issues facing the growing bioeconomy -- food versus fuel, climate change and biomass conversion technologies. The point/counterpoint session will be 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, in Iowa State's C.Y. Stephens Auditorium.
Iowa State University researcher shows proteins have controlled motions
Iowa State University researcher Robert Jernigan believes that his research shows proteins have controlled motions. Most biochemists traditionally believe proteins have many random, uncontrolled movements.
Monsanto pledges $1 million to renovate Curtiss Hall
The Monsanto Company has pledged $1 million to enhance the offices and programs serving students in ISU agriculture and life sciences. The company's commitment will support the planned renovation of Curtiss Hall, the building housing the main offices of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
ISU Financial Counseling Clinic director offers students tips on avoiding credit card debt
Doug Borkowski -- director of Iowa State University's Financial Counseling Clinic, which provides credit management counseling among its services -- says students should do a little prudent planning before using a credit card. He provides students some tips to think about before they swipe.
Past, present and future look at numbers that shape our state
A new book, "Iowa's Numbers: 150 Years of Decennial Census Data with a Glance to the Future," by ISU professor emeritus, Willis Goudy, highlights Iowa population issues and demographic trends.
Iowa State University experts can discuss new FDA produce irradiation rule
Dennis Olson, ISU animal science, and Sam Beattie, ISU food science and human nutrition, are available for interviews on the new FDA regulation that will allow fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to be irradiated.
U.S. News rankings: Iowa State remains among top 25 percent of public national universities
Iowa State University is among the top one-fourth of all public national universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 "America's Best Colleges" annual rankings.
Two writers from The Onion will speak Sept. 4
Chad Nackers and John Harris, writers from the satirical news source The Onion, will explore their unconventional approach to covering current events during a multimedia presentation at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. "The Onion and the World of Fake News" is free and open to the public.
Breaking down the census: Iowa's becoming more diverse, Iowa State experts say
Analysis of census data by ISU's Regional Capacity Analysis Program (ReCAP) found that Iowa is actually becoming more diverse -- particularly among young people. Total minority population grew by more than 32 percent between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2007 -- increasing by 68,000 to reach nearly 280,000.
Carly Fiorina is fall Mary Louise Smith Chair
Carly Fiorina -- Victory '08 chairman for the Republican National Committee and the former chair and CEO of Hewlett-Packard -- is the Fall 2008 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics and will conduct a free, public lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.
In the news
Bonobos may have greater linguistic skills than previously thought
ScienceDaily
What happens when linguistic tools used to analyze human language are applied to a conversation between a language-competent bonobo and a human? The findings, published this month by Iowa State Ph.D. student Janni Pedersen in the Journal of Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, indicate that bonobos may exhibit larger linguistic competency in ordinary conversation than in controlled experimental settings.
Survivor
National Wildlife magazine
New science is helping biologists understand how some bobcats can thrive in human-altered landscapes. ISU Professor William Clark has studied Iowa's burgeoning bobcat population since 2003. Clark and his fellow researchers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are learning that the cats are "highly adaptable, expanding their range, and reestablishing populations in more fragmented landscapes."
When will Iowa elect a woman to higher office?
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Iowa is one of only two states to never have elected a woman governor or as a member of Congress. Dianne Bystrom, director of ISU's Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, says that's mostly been an issue of timing. Qualified female candidates have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.