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Announcements for Friday, May 17, 2013

Announcements

  • Welcome to Christopher Jorgensen, Systems Support Analyst

    The department welcomes Christopher Jorgensen, systems support specialist. Jorgensen was formerly with the Gannett Midwest Group as a principal process systems analyst. You can contact him at the following: (515) 294-6718; cjorgens@iastate.edu.

     

  • Got computer issues?

    To report a computing issue please send any problem reports to the following email: econ-tech@iastate.edu

    For additional information about computer resources within the department go to: https://www.econ.iastate.edu/about-department/computer-resources

  • Office relocation for Bruce Babcock

    Bruce Babcock has relocated his office to 468H. His phone number remains the same, 4x5764.

  • Parking lot closure

    START DATE: Thursday, 05/23/2013 12:30 AM END DATE: Friday, 05/24/2013 11:30 PM

    AFFECTED PARKING LOT # & LOCATION: Lot 50A (west side of Forker Building): Saved for Special Olympics permits or handicap permits Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24 (all day- Special Olympics Iowa)

    COORDINATOR: Aaron Steffen, steffen@iastate.edu, 294-3169

     

News

  • Tesfatsion contributes to water and climate change initiative through LAS

    Professor Leigh Tesfatsion of the Department of Economics at Iowa State is a Co-PI on an LAS Signature Research Initiative Award for a project entitled, “Water and Climate Change (WACC): Building Community Consensus for a Sustainable Future for Iowa and the World.”

    The three-year award will support the research of a highly multidisciplinary group at Iowa State, drawing from the Departments of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, English, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and Economics.

    Researchers will address competing water demands of municipal, industrial, energy and agricultural interests in Iowa that are likely to grow in the future in the face of changing climate and economic factors. They will develop and apply to the Squaw Creek watershed (1) a prototype water-resources model that combines physical climate and hydrology modeling with agent-based modeling of human behavior; and (2) Iterative Participatory Modeling (IPM) to engage relevant communities of practice in co-developing steps toward sustainable water-resources planning.

    Tesfatsion will focus on economic policies and incentives governing water use in the target study area (the Squaw Creek watershed), with a particular concern for water usage by the electric power industry. She will also be assisting with the IPM development of an agent-based modeling of this watershed that takes into account both physical and social aspects.

     

  • IACBD 2012 Accomplishments

    The 2012 key accomplishments for the Iowa Alliance for Cooperative Business Development (IACBD) is now available for viewing at the following: www.extension.iastate.edu/coops/presentations_publications/2012accomplishments.pdf.

    IACBD is located at Iowa State and was initiated in 2003. It is led by Department of Economics faculty members Keri Jacobs (project director), assistant professor of economics and extension specialist for cooperatives; Georgeanne Artz, scientist in economics; Kevin Kimle, Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship and director of the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative; in addition to Darren Jarboe, program manager for the Center for Crops Utilization Research and the BioCentury Research Farm.

    IACBD combines outreach, teaching, and applied research programs to provide rural Iowans with viable alternatives for economic development. The overarching goal of the IACBD is to effectively serve eligible rural areas in the United States and improve the economic conditions of these areas through development, training, and applied research on cooperatives.

    Supported by the USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program, its affiliates engage with rural stakeholders, scientists, and industry leaders in agribusiness to address the following primary objectives:

    • Conduct training workshops to educate directors, officers, and managers about finance, strategic management, and other issues important to cooperatives and mutually-owned businesses.
    • Create educational materials and case examples that startup groups can use to compare the economic and management distinctions between cooperative and investor-oriented firms.
    • Use Cooperative Benchmarking Program data to provide cooperatives with benchmark-type reports and charts that allow them to compare their cooperative’s management outcomes with those of their peers.
    • Develop and support a pilot program that links student teams studying entrepreneurship with Iowa cooperatives to identify potential business opportunities.
    • Develop educational materials for small fruit and vegetable growers to assist them with production efficiency and growth.

    Through IACBD, graduate students in the Department of Economics are supported with research assistantships and have used the opportunity to develop research related to financing and management of cooperatives, as well as machinery and labor sharing arrangements. Undergraduate agricultural business students in the department are able to connect with agribusinesses and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities as part of their curriculum. IACBD’s work supports the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ mission to conduct mission-oriented applied research and to share the knowledge and outcomes with our stakeholders.

  • Weekly media contacts for the Department of Economics

    Dave Swenson spoke with Jaime Adame, Urban Tulsa Weekly, on the efficacy of buy-local initiatives in different cities.

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