News Archive
Saturday, October 18 2008
News
ISU Alumni Center to be dedicated during Homecoming
The new Iowa State University Alumni Center will be dedicated at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, during Homecoming 2008. The $10.7 million facility was made possible solely by the generous support of ISU alumni and friends, particularly lead donors Roy and Bobbi Reiman.
Sustainable Food Conference will feature Will Tuttle, Oct. 27 and 28
Will Tuttle, a Zen Buddhist monk and author of the book, "World Peace Diet," will speak and lead panel discussions at Iowa State's Sustainable Food Conference, "A New Paradigm for a Peaceful Planet," Oct. 27 - 28. The sessions will address the effects of animal agriculture on world hunger and the environment, and the cultural and health benefits of a vegan diet.
Consumers using more media, new and old, according to ISU professor's four-year study
A four-year study led by Jay Newell, an ISU mass media professor, found large gains in the use of new media (like the Internet and e-mail), but also a slight increase in the use of traditional media (newspapers, magazines, radio and television). The results are summarized in a paper that will be published in an upcoming issue of the International Journal on Media Management.
ISU psychologist assists in study finding babies distinguish between happy, sad music
ISU Assistant Professor of Psychology Douglas Gentile was one of the researchers on a study of 96 infants finding that babies as young as 5 months old can distinguish an upbeat song from among gloomier compositions. Their paper "Infants; discrimination of happy and sad music," will be published in the upcoming issue of the academic journal Infant Behavior and Development.
Financial crisis roundtable features distinguished alumni financial leaders, Oct. 23
Three financial leaders, whose collective expertise encompasses the regulatory and regulated sides of finance in domestic and international markets, will discuss the financial crisis during a roundtable at Iowa State. The speakers are all Iowa State alumni. "The Financial Crisis: What Now?" will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 in the Memorial Union Great Hall. The roundtable is free and open to the public.
Robert C. Brown: biofuels are best option to harness solar energy
Robert C. Brown, who studies the conversion of biomass to biofuels, will deliver this fall's Presidential University Lecture at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Sun Room of Iowa State's Memorial Union. He'll discuss, "Why are We Producing Biofuels?" The lecture is free and open to the public.
Iowa State University researcher developed forerunner of Nobel research in 1986
This year's Nobel Prize for chemistry was given to researchers for their work on illuminating living cells. An Iowa State University professor developed something similar more than 20 years ago.
Iowa State researchers developing wireless soil sensors to improve farming
Iowa State University researchers are developing wireless soil sensors that could one day help farmers maximize their production while minimizing environmental impacts. The prototype sensors are designed to collect and send data about soil moisture -- and eventually soil temperature and nutrient content -- while working completely underground. Farmers and their equipment could work right over the top of them.
ISU economists assess recessionary conditions, give tips for tough times ahead
Meghan O'Brien, an economist with Iowa State's Regional Capacity Analysis Program (ReCAP), authored a new report titled "Retail Economics 101: Lessons and Strategies of a Recession." O'Brien and fellow ISU economist Joydeep Bhattacharya both see economic indicators that suggest a deep recession is underway, or on its way.
As good as it gets for a furniture design student
Iowa State senior Andrew Kopp's bench won Best of Show in the International Woodworking Fair's Design Emphasis '08, considered the nation's premier furniture design competition for students. The honor includes a $2,000 prize and a trophy.
ISU College of Veterinary Medicine to dedicate new Veterinary Medical Center
The new Dr. W. Eugene and Linda Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine will be dedicated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. The dedication event will be held outside of the medical center on the east side of the new complex.
Award-winning landscape architect will present P.H. Elwood Lecture Oct. 22
Gary Hilderbrand, an award-winning landscape architect and adjunct professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, will present the P.H. Elwood Lecture in Landscape Architecture on Wednesday, Oct. 22. His presentation, "Space of Trees," will be at 6 p.m. in Kocimski Auditorium, College of Design. The presentation is free and open to the public.
College of Human Sciences dean's search committee finalized
Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will lead an 18-member committee in the search for the next dean of ISU's College of Human Sciences.
Magazine features ISU furniture design students
The current issue (Dec. 2008) of Woodwork Magazine features a two-page spread of work by students of Chris Martin, associate professor of art and design. The photo gallery shows work by eight BFA and MFA students in Martin's furniture design course last year. And the magazine's back cover features a piece by Chris Martin, associate professor of art and design. Martin's article describes processes involved in creating a desk inspired by Czech Cubism.
Alumni, working on the wild side
Alumni who work at top zoos and aquariums are featured in the latest edition of the ISU alumni magazine.
In the news
Is Your Company Really Eco-Conscious?
U.S. News & World Report
"From the research I've done, it's clear that a firm that is proactive environmentally is going to be more progressive in general," says Frank Montabon, a professor of supply chain management at the College of Business at Iowa State University.
Ethanol could be key to Iowans on the fence
USA Today
Bob Bowman, who farms 2,000 acres, illustrates what agriculture and political experts such as Iowa State University political scientist Steffen Schmidt say is a potential lever to sway on-the-fence voters in Iowa. Ethanol might have slipped off the national radar, he says, but could grow in importance if the race in Iowa tightens between Republican John McCain and Democratic Barack Obama.
Identity-theft threats seem to be a constant, thanks to porous networks and laid-back users.
University Business
Iowa State University officials, for example, are pilot testing a two-hour online identity theft seminar that students, and even parents, can take. The material was developed through testing with law enforcement and insurance industry representatives, notes Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science at ISU and co-author of The Silent Crime: What You Need to Know About Identity Theft (Twin Lakes Press, 2008).
At home women hold the power
USA Today
Making decisions equally is the "socially desired response" forcouples today, but it's not necessarily the reality, says Megan Murphy,director of the marriage and family therapy program at Iowa State University-Ames and co-author of a study of 72 couples that also found women in charge at home.