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Announcements for Friday, October 7, 2011

Announcements

  • New position for Jess Robinson of CARD

    Jess Robinson, CARD Computer Services Manager, has moved to a new position within the University at Towne Engineering, in the Department of Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering. He was with the Department of Economics in various capacities for over 30 years.  The department sends Jess congratulations and well wishes on his new venture! 

  • Call for Nominations - 2012 University Awards

    I invite you to submit nominations for the 2012 Iowa State University Awards.  Please forward the attached announcement to all faculty and staff within your unit and encourage them to visit the provost’s website for details.

    Faculty Awards: http://www.provost.iastate.edu/faculty/awards/awards.html

    Staff Awards: http://www.provost.iastate.edu/staff/awards/

    Nominations are due in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost on Monday, February 20, 2012.  However, be aware of earlier deadlines set by colleges, departments, directors, or other units who are part of the process.

    College nomination deadlines are:

    • Agriculture & Life Sciences                                Nov 15, 2011
    • Business                                                             Jan 23, 2012
    • Design                                                                Feb 1, 2012
    • Engineering                                                         Jan 27, 2012
    • Human Sciences                                                 Jan 17, 2012
    • Liberal Arts & Sciences                                      Dec 14, 2011           
    • Veterinary Medicine                                           Jan 31, 2012

    Units will be notified on or about May 1, 2012 of award decisions.  All awards will be presented at the President’s Fall Convocation in September next year.  For specific questions about individual awards, please contact the appropriate liaison below.

    • Dawn Bratsch-Prince: Distinguished Professor, University Professor, Regents Faculty, and Departmental Leadership Awards
    • David Holger: Teaching, Graduate, International, and Advising Awards
    • Mary Holz-Clause: Extension / Professional Practice Awards
    • Chitra Rajan: Research, Economic Development, and Intellectual Property Awards
    • Emily Olson: P&S Awards
    • John Anderson: Regents Staff Award

News

  • World Food Prize Laureate Pinstrup-Andersen to present lecture on food policy

    The 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen (pictured left) will present a lecture entitled “Urgent and Emerging Food Policy Challenges and Opportunities” on Wednesday, October 12, from 10 AM to 11 AM in the Gallery of the ISU Memorial Union. Interim Department of Economics Chair John Schroeter will introduce Pinstrup-Andersen.

    Per Pinstrup-Andersen is the H. E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy, the J. Thomas Clark Professor of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Applied Economics at Cornell University. He is past Chairman of the Science Council of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Past President of the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA). He has a B.S. from the Danish Agricultural University, a M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University and honorary doctoral degrees from universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, and India. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Agricultural Economics Association. He served 10 years as the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Director General and seven years as department head; seven years as an economist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Colombia; and six years as a distinguished professor at Wageningen University. He is the 2001 World Food Prize Laureate and the recipient of several awards for his research and communication of research results. He teaches and advises graduate and undergraduate students on globalization and poverty and a social entrepreneurship approach to government policy for the global food system. His research includes economic analyses of food and nutrition policy, globalization and poverty, agricultural development and research and technology policy. Dr. Pinstrup-Andersen’s publications include “Seeds of Contention,” co-authored with Ebbe Schiøler and published in five languages, and more than 400 other books, refereed journal articles, papers and book chapters, including recent books on Ethics, Hunger and Globalization, co-edited with Peter Sandøe; Agricultural Trade Liberalization and the Least Developed Countries, co-edited with Niek Koning; Case Studies in Food Policy for Developing Countries, co-edited with Fuzhi Cheng; and edited the African Food System and its Interaction with Human Health and Nutrition.

  • 1943 Oleo/Butter Controversy detailed in new department display

    "The 1943 Oleomargarine/Butter Controversy: A simple question of a better spread?" is the title of a new display located on the second floor of the Department of Economics. The display details a series of events that took place in 1943, which brought the  issue of academic freedom into focus for the department, the university, and agricultural interests in the state. Historic tensions between dairy farmers and manufacturers of oleomargarine came to a head, resulting in the voluntary resignation of former Department Chair T.W. Schultz (pictured right) and many other prominent economists in the department.

    The display houses artifacts, correspondence, and photos, courtesy of University Archives. Learn more by visiting the second floor!

  • Slovenian Ambassador Roman Kirn to present lecture on global financial crisis

    Slovenian Ambassador to the US, Roman Kirn, will present a lecture entitled "Slovenia, the European Union, and the Global Financial Crisis," on Friday, October 14 at 10 AM in the South Ballroom, Memorial Union.

    His Excellency Roman Kirn is Ambassador of Slovenia to the United States, a position he has held since May 2009. He will discuss how Slovenia, after twenty years of independence, has shaped its role in the European Union and the global economy. Ambassador Kirn most recently served as Director of the Department for North and Latin America and the Caribbean for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the head of Transatlantic Relations and Preparations for the EU-U.S. Summit during Slovenia's European Union presidency in June 2008. He was Slovenia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, 2002-06, during which time he was Vice President of the U.N. General Assembly and Vice President of the 2005 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. He also served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 2000-02.

  • Weekly media connections for the Department of Economics

    Information courtesy of Jackie King, ISU News Service.

    Chad Hart did a live interview this noon on “The Big Show”, WHO radio’s ag program, discussing the USDA Grain Stocks report and the factors influencing crop markets. Hart has also I exchanged e-mails over the past several days with Scott Kilman, Wall Street Journal, on Iowa’s value of agricultural production and net farm income.

    Hart also talked with Tim Hoskins, Iowa Farmer Today, for two articles. One is covering the response of the corn and soybean markets to USDA’s Grain Stocks report (released this morning); the other is a piece exploring the future of agriculture particularly how corn and soybean markets may evolve as world’s populations and incomes grow and bioenergy sources develop.

    Additional articles presented in the following:

    • Matthews-based Family Dollar not wanted out West, Charlotte Observer, NC , 09-24-11 (Kenneth Stone, Professor Emeritus Economics, Iowa State University); See: Article .
    • United States can't cut its way to prosperity, Des Moines Register, IA , 07-25-11 (David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Economics, Iowa State University); See: Article .
    • We need patience and additional revenue, Des Moines Register, IA , 09-25-11 (Neal Harl, Professor Emeritus Economics, Iowa State University; See: Article .
    • What's next? We need expert help, not more rhetoric, Des Moines Register, IA , 09-25-11 (Dave Swenson, Associate Scientist in Economics, Iowa State University); See: Article .
  • Student seminars this week

    Yu Jin will present a Macro/Financial Economics Workshop entitled "Bank Monitoring and the Secondary Market for Loans," on Wednesday, October 12, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm in 468D Heady Hall.


    Nathan Kaufman will present an Ag Econ Workshop on Friday, October 14th, from 3:40 pm - 5:00 pm in 368A Heady Hall.

Conferences and Calls for Papers

  • Sustainability Conference - Vancouver, Canada, 10-12 January 2012 - Call for Papers

    EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY - Robson Square, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 10-12 January 2012

    more information available at: http://www.SustainabilityConference.com

  • RES 2012 Conference Calls for Papers and Special Sessions Reminder: Deadline 15 October 2011

    All conference information is also available at http://www.resconference.org.uk/.

  • Sustainability Conference - Vancouver, Canada, 10-12 January 2012 - Call for Papers

    EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, Robson Square, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, January 10-12, 2012, http://www.SustainabilityConference.com

Funding Opportunities

  • L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women In Science 2012 Program

    On October 18, the L'Oréal USA Fellowships For Women In Science program call for applications for the 2012 Fellowship Program will commence. The program is entering its ninth year and since its launch in 2003, L'Oréal USA's Fellowship program has recognized and rewarded 40 extraordinarily talented young women scientists engaged in breakthrough research projects at leading universities and research institutions across the country.

    The L'Oréal USA Fellowships For Women In Science awards five post-doctoral women scientists with grants of up to $60,000. Applicants are welcome from a variety of fields, including the life and physical/material sciences, technology (including computer science), engineering and mathematics.

    More information on the Fellowships can be found on our website, http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience. Address specific questions to: vniz@us.loreal.com

  • AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships

    The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) manages and administers Science & Technology Policy Fellowships to address the science and engineering challenges that society faces today.  

    Post-docs and faculty at all career stages are strongly encouraged to consider applying for one of these prestigious fellowships.

    Fellowships are in six areas to provide the opportunity for accomplished scientists and engineers to participate in and contribute to the federal policymaking process while learning firsthand about the intersection of science and policy. Fellowships in Congressional offices are funded by approximately 30 partner scientific and engineering societies, and Fellowships in Executive Branch agencies are funded by the hosting offices. Selection is peer-reviewed.

    Fellowship recipients come to Washington, DC, in September of each year and participate in a comprehensive orientations program before beginning their fellowships in the various sectors of government.  Applications must have PhD or an equivalent doctoral-level degree at the time of application (or master’s degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience).  Applicants must be U.S. citizens, and federal employees are not eligible.  2010-2011 stipends ranged from $55,000 to $99,420, depending on type and level.

  • 2012-2013 IAF Fellowship Deadline Announcement

    The Inter-American Foundation Grassroots Development Fellowships

    Funding Ph.D. Dissertation Research; Visit www.iie.org/iaf for eligibility criteria and how to apply.

  • RWJF Funding Opps: Applying Behavioral Economics to Perplexing Health and Health Care Challenges

    Brief Proposal Idea Deadline: November 2, 2011 3:00 PM EDT

    Full Proposal Deadline: December 21, 2011 3:00 PM EDT

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Pioneer Portfolio seeks innovative ideas that apply the principles and theories of behavioral economics to perplexing health problems. We are particularly interested in supporting either experiments or secondary data analyses that test innovative solutions to the challenges of obesity and consumer engagement. However, we also are interested in and open to investigator-initiated ideas that have the potential to offer break-through solutions to persistent and perplexing health and health care problems.

    This solicitation is a two-stage process. Under the first stage, applicants are asked to submit a 1500-character brief proposal that describes their idea. Applicants of selected brief proposal ideas will be invited to submit full proposals. Full selection criteria can be found in the Call for Proposals.

    Find more information at: http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=21372&cid=XEM_2762652

  • Int'l STEM Collaborations - NSF Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) Program
  • AFRI Request for Applications Released

    The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is pleased to announce the release of the FY 2012 Request for Applications (RFA) for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI): Food Security challenge area. This AFRI challenge area focuses on food availability and food accessibility. Adequate food availability implies that the population has a reliable source of food. Food security is achieved when food availability and food accessibility goals are met successfully. The long-term outcomes for this program are to increase food availability through increased sustainable food production and to decrease the number of food insecure individuals, families, and communities by addressing key constraints to food accessibility and implementing solutions that enhance sustainable food systems. To achieve these outcomes, this program will support single-function Extension projects, multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants that address one of the program area priorities.

    NIFA Funding Opportunity Page:

    www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/foodsecurityafri.cfm. This page includes links to the request for applications (RFA), the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide, the application package, and abstracts of funded projects.

    Grants.gov Synopsis Page:

    www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=LvDGTGPV7wDCyNnZQnGFGDzjfmlv0v59GhBQBnfyzRbpW0pNsK5t!1014880958?oppId=125473&mode=VIEW. This page includes a synopsis of the funding opportunity, a link to the full announcement (RFA) and the application package.

    Grants.gov Application Package:

    apply07.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=80570. This page links to the application instructions and the application package.

    The following FY 2012 AFRI RFAs have also been recently released:

    • Sustainable Bioenergy
    • Agricultural and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change
    • NIFA Fellowships

    These RFAs, and all other open AFRI RFAs may be viewed or downloaded from www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri.html.

  • RFP for NSF Sustainable Energy Pathways

    Sustainable Energy Pathways is part of the NSF-wide initiative on Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES). The Sustainable Energy Pathways solicitation calls for innovative, interdisciplinary basic research in science, engineering, and education by teams of researchers for developing systems approaches to sustainable energy pathways based on a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, technical, environmental, economic, and societal issues.

    A minimum of three investigators is required, the Principal Investigator (PI) and two or more co-PIs from the lead or participating institutions who are eligible to serve as PI or co-PI on NSF proposals submitted through their respective institutions. These investigators should represent more than one scientific discipline in order to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to sustainable energy.

    Eligible institutions may submit no more than three (3) proposals as the lead organization in response to this solicitation for FY 2012. Full proposal due February 01, 2012. More details can be found at http://nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11590/nsf11590.htm

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