News Archive
Sunday, October 25 2009
News
Reiman Gardens receives sustainable tourism honor
The Iowa Tourism Office and the Travel Federation of Iowa presented Reiman Gardens with a green/sustainable tourism award Oct. 22 at the Iowa Tourism Conference in Tama. Reiman Gardens was recognized for best practices in energy efficiency, waste/water minimization, environmental purchasing, air quality, economic impact and cost savings associated with its green practices. Educational efforts and innovation in sustainabilty were other reasons cited for the award.
Former presidential candidate Ron Paul will speak on Nov. 13
Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul will talk about his latest book, "End the Fed," at Iowa State on Friday, Nov. 13. His presentation, "Free Market, Sound Money and Non-Intervention," will be at 7 p.m. in Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building. It is free and open to the public. Paul, who has served 11 terms in the U.S. Congress, was a presidential candidate in the 2008 election.
Story County flu vaccination clinics cancelled
All flu vaccination clinics offered by Story County Public Health, both for seasonal flu and H1N1, have been cancelled. This includes the clinics that had been scheduled on the ISU campus. The clinics will be rescheduled and announced once new shipments of the vaccines arrive. The priority groups for H1N1 vaccine also have been modified for now, while the vaccine supply is limited. At this time, most Iowa State students would not be included in the priority groups. To learn more about the modifications, see story.
Iowa State researchers study materials, combustion, cancer with new T-ray instrument
Iowa State University researchers are beginning to work with a new $500,000 terahertz ray instrument that provides a new way to measure and characterize materials. The instrument should produce useful data for the automotive, aviation, food, energy, materials, pharmaceuticals, medical, forensics, defense and homeland security fields.
Rwandan genocide survivor and author to speak Nov. 4
Greenlee School professor participates in Obama broadband access program
Discharged gay soldier and Iraq war veteran Dan Choi to speak at Iowa State Nov. 3
Less than one month after Lt. Dan Choi -- a West Point graduate, Iraq war veteran and Arabic linguist -- announced that he was gay, the U.S. Army began discharge proceedings against him for violating 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Choi, who served honorably under that policy for 10 years, will share his story at Iowa State University on Nov. 3.
Two architecture courses earn national recognition for green building education
The U.S. Green Building Council recently honored two Iowa State architecture courses for advancing green building education. The Bridge Studio, which focuses on the design of affordable, sustainable housing, won a 2009 Excellence in Green Building Education Recognition Award in the higher education category. "SCI-TECH: A Technology Sequence for Generation Green" received an honorable mention. SCI-TECH is a sequence of graduate-level architecture technology courses that incorporates sustainable design principles. Iowa State was the only school to earn recognition for two different programs in any category.
Iowa State study finds high volume video gamers have more difficulty staying attentive
Budget updates available online
As Iowa State leaders work to cut $24.5 million from this year's budget, updates and information will be posted online.
Board of Regents president suggests options for meeting mid-year reversion
Board of Regents President David Miles outlined options Iowa State leaders might consider in developing a plan to cut $24.5 million from this year's budget. The plan is due by Oct. 29.
Iowa State associate joins AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows
Ryan Atwell, a recent ISU graduate with a doctorate from the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, is among the newest group of AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows. Atwell works for the U.S. Forest Service, Office of Research and Development, which is a division of the Department of Agriculture.
Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines president, CEO to give Stafford Lecture Oct. 27
Ambassador of Spain Jorge Dezcallar to give Manatt-Phelps Lecture Oct. 26
LearnDS student business grows from advanced instructional design class
In the news
Gamers 'zone out' quicker during 'boring' activity, doctor says
For years, researchers at Iowa State University have been investigating what happens when people play video games.
Now they've discovered the games affect some people after they've been shut off.
Report: Schools should adopt healthier meals despite costs
USA TODAY
A new report calls for dramatic changes in the meals served to school children, with more fruits and vegetables, low or no-fat milk, less sodium and fewer calories. ISU's Helen Jensen, an economics professor who served on the expert panel that prepared the report, says that bringing school meals closer to government guidelines could also help the food industry create new "healthy kid-friendly products."
Balloon boy's cultural moment
Associated Press
The "balloon boy" saga demonstrates that Americans
have become so enamored with spectacle, we sometimes confuse it
with real life.
"It may have been a grab for attention, but people were
happy to take a look at it - perhaps to distract from the real
business that we're supposed to be getting down to here,
health care and everything else," says Emily Godbey, an
Iowa State University scholar who studies how America gawks and
rubbernecks at spectacle.
See story.