News Archive
Saturday, June 8 2013
-
Team PrISUm hopes for Texas heat at this summer’s Formula Sun Grand Prix
The Team PrISUm campus garage is a busy place this summer: Student-engineers are tweaking last year's solar race car for a track race this month and they're starting to build the racer that will compete in next summer's cross-country race. Team members are confident about the upcoming Formula Sun Grand Prix. Their car has a history of strong performances in the heat and nd they'll be racing at the Formula 1 race track in Austin, Texas.
-
Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research awards announced
Four Iowa State research teams will receive up to $4.5 million over three years to pursue competitive grants to fund large-scale, multidisciplinary research efforts of national and international importance. The grants are part of the Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research, a program launched by President Steven Leath to support research efforts that could lead to major advances, discoveries and technologies. Three other projects received awards under a smaller, proof-of-concept category. These awards provide pursuit funds for emerging research areas that are more limited in scope or require proof of concept before investigators can pursue larger funding. Each project will receive up to $100,000 for one year.
-
Flood impact on mosquitoes unclear, according to Iowa State entomologist
Recent flooding throughout the state might give mosquito populations a boost. But, then again, it might not. It’s difficult to predict how the rainy weather of recent weeks will impact mosquitoes, according to an Iowa State University entomologist.
-
ISU architecture professor's new book reveals the backstory of early Chicago skyscrapers
Landmark Chicago skyscrapers like the Wrigley Building defined the city and inspired a nation during an era of prosperity and progress. In the years between Chicago's Great Fire of 1871 and the country's Great Depression, Chicago was an epicenter for architecture's modernization and urbanization. And it was a political hotbed of corruption, muckraking, unions and reform. Those worlds intersect in a new book by Thomas Leslie, Pickard Chilton Professor in Architecture at Iowa State University. "Chicago Skyscrapers, 1871-1934" weaves together the daily struggles, technical breakthroughs and negotiations that produced Chicago's magnificent buildings.
-
Mental block: Iowa State professor discovers way to alter memory
A series of studies conducted by an Iowa State University research team shows that it is possible to manipulate an existing memory simply by suggesting new or different information. The key is timing and recall of that memory, said Jason Chan, an assistant professor of psychology at Iowa State.
-
ISU’s Catt Center releases new report on municipal gender balance
More women are now serving on municipal boards and commissions in Iowa due in part to the state’s gender balance law. The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, in partnership with the Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, created the Gender Balance Project to track compliance at both the county and municipal level.
-
Jack Trice Stadium boasts the nation's best field
The natural, green grass of Jack Trice Stadium has been named College Football Field of the Year by the Sports Turf Managers Association. Tim Van Loo, Athletics turf grounds manager, and a team of students work diligently to make Jack Trice Stadium's field look plush and gorgeous.
-
Iowa State professor uses statistical analysis to make sports projections
With 24-hour sports networks and social media, there is no shortage of sports information and statistics for fans to access. But a desire for better analysis of those statistics led Gray Calhoun, an assistant professor of economics at Iowa State University, to create VisualScoreboard.com.
-
Iowa State formula racers think engine problems are finally behind them
Iowa State's Formula SAE Team likes a lot about this year's mini open-wheel racer: reliable engine, wider cockpit, roomier engine bay, new shock attachments. All those changes should make for a race car that's easier to run, operate and fix.
-
Iowa State design professor leads team in autism research and outreach
What started as a school project for her cognitively disabled son has turned into a career focus for one Iowa State University graphic design professor. Debra Satterfield's teenage son, John, has epilepsy and an autism spectrum disorder. A few years ago, she discovered his talents as a painter. Since then Satterfield has led a team of faculty and students on the design of educational, social inclusion and play experiences for children with cognitive disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders.
-
Iowa State student launches business to market new technology
An Iowa State graduate student is another step closer in the development of a bio-based raw material that could replace petroleum-based chemicals in many products. As part of that development, Shivani Garg has launched her own business to market the technology.
-
Iowa State’s Team LunaCY ready to repeat last year’s top results at NASA competition
Iowa State's Team LunaCY is looking for more success at NASA's annual competition for mining robots. Iowa State's team won three first-place awards at last year's competition. Team members think they have the machine to bring a few more awards back to campus.
-
Wind Energy in Iowa
Host Ben Kieffer of the River to River show takes a look at wind energy in Iowa with both large- and small-scale turbines. He also talks with an Iowa State professor and a graduate student working on designing a different wind turbine tower—one made out of concrete. Iowa State's Sri Sritharan and Grant Schmitz are at 30:45 on the podcast.
-
Iowa State engineers design, test taller, high-strength concrete towers for wind turbines
Iowa State's Sri Sritharan and Grant Schmitz have designed and tested a concept for building concrete towers to replace the steel towers used for wind turbines. Concrete towers could be a practical way to raise turbine towers from today's 80 meters to the better winds at 100 meters and higher. Even under extreme loads up to 170,000 pounds, the engineers' test segments performed well in structural tests.
-
Power Pullers preparing for national competition with new quarter-scale tractor
A team of students at Iowa State University is putting the finishing touches on a built-from-scratch 1/4-scale tractor to enter in a nationwide engineering competition at the end of May.
-
It’s all about reliability for this year’s Iowa State Baja racing team
The student-engineers of Iowa State's Baja SAE Team have been busy designing and building what they hope is a reliable off-road racer. Their first real test is later this week at an international competition in Bellingham, Wash. Team members are hoping the car can survive the contest's big event, a four-hour endurance race.
-
What the birth rate says about changing family dynamics
An Iowa State University sociologist is not surprised by a recent U.S. Census Bureau report showing a spike in the number of unmarried women giving birth. According to the report, nearly 36 percent of babies born in 2011 were to single mothers.
-
Harmon named associate vice president for student affairs
Martino Harmon, executive director of student success and retention at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Ohio, will become the next associate vice president for student affairs at Iowa State.
-
Spalding named College of Business dean
David Spalding, senior vice president and senior adviser to Dartmouth College's interim president Carol Folt, has been appointed the next Raisbeck Endowed Dean of the College of Business. He will begin his new position Aug. 1.
Down on the Dairy Farm
News Service videographer Alex Murphy takes you to the ISU Dairy Farm's fifth annual open house.
Iowa State University updates method for rating soil productivity
Advances in soil science have necessitated an update in the Corn Suitability Rating (CSR), a system for rating the crop-growing productivity of Iowa soil, according to Iowa State University agronomist Lee Burras.
Be prepared for weather extremes
Unsettled weather is an Iowa mainstay, and so is this annual reminder of the university's severe weather safety and preparedness guidelines -- for storms, extreme heat, flooding and more. Click on the headline for safety tips and resources on severe weather, lightning, flooding, tornadoes and heat stress.
Parents can help preteens with abduction concerns
When kids see news about a child abduction close to home, they might be dealing with their own fears based on what they see on TV or hear from others. Malisa Rader, ISU Extension family life program specialist, says parents can help by reacting with a sense of calm and reassurance. It's an opportunity to share important information to help avoid potentially dangerous situations, Rader says, but parents need to approach the subject in a way that doesn't create unhealthy fears in children.