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Research is an important activity at Iowa State
University. Faculty members engage in research pursuits as well as teaching. Graduate
students, and in some cases undergraduates, play an active part in this search for new
knowledge.
Support for research at Iowa State University comes from state and federal appropriations
as well as from contracts and grants involving the federal government and nonfederal
organizations. As part of its total program, the university also operates extension
services, special laboratories, centers, and institutes.
An abbreviated description of many of the various research organizations and their
activities is presented here. Additional information concerning any of these organizations
and student research opportunities they support may be obtained from their administrative
offices.
Airworthiness Assurance Center of
Excellence-Lisa Brasche, interim director. The purpose of this center is to
develop advanced technologies that will be a key factor in maintaining the U.S. leadership
role in aviation safety and global competitiveness in aviation systems.
Ames Center for Animal Health-James
Roth, professor in charge. The purpose of the Ames Center for Animal Health (ACAH) is to
further integrate and enhance animal health research and service activities at the animal
health institutions in Ames to better serve the animal health needs of the state, the
nation and the world. ACAH is a cooperative effort between Iowa State University, the USDA
Agriculture Research Service (ARS), National Animal Disease Center (NADC), the USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Veterinary Services Laboratories
(NVSL), and the USDA APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics (VB). In April 1995, ISU and
the USDA signed a Letter of Intent to work together to build the animal health
infrastructure in Ames through the Ames Center for Animal Health. It includes the
following five components: expansion and consolidation of APHIS activities in Ames;
construction of a biosafety level 3 large animal biocontainment facility that would be
shared by ISU, ARS, and APHIS; development of a collaborative training program; formation
of a technology transfer program; and increased sharing of resources among animal health
institutions located in Ames.
Ames Laboratory of the United States
Department of Energy-Thomas J. Barton, director. The laboratory staff conducts
basic and intermediate-range applied investigations that seek to discover new scientific
knowledge, improve understanding of natural laws and phenomena, and develop relevant
technologies pertinent to energy production, conversion, and transmission, as well as to
other critically important national programs. The laboratory prepares scientists for work
in the physical sciences, engineering, and energy-related fields through research
appointments for Iowa State University graduate students and postdoctoral associates.
Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI Design
Center-William Black, director. The purpose of this center is to educate graduate
students in the analog and mixed-signal VLSI field, to conduct research that will advance
the state of the art in the field, to promote industrial interactions and codevelopment,
to promote extended learning opportunities for off-campus students, and to provide
substantive exposure to undergraduate students to analog and mixed-signal design issues.
Biotechnology Council-Walter R.
Fehr, chair. The council, composed of faculty members engaged in biotechnology research
from the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Family and Consumer Sciences, Liberal Arts
and Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine, coordinates the university's interdisciplinary
biotechnology program. Council responsibilities include establishing and operating
university-wide instrumentation facilities for molecular biology research, recommending
allocations of biotechnology funds, and assisting in public education, technology
transfer, and economic development activities.
Bridge Engineering Center-Terry
Wipf, manager. Faculty and student researchers at the Bridge Engineering Center study the
design, behavior, repair, and rehabilitation of highway and railroad bridges. They work
closely with state and national transportation departments and offer short courses and
seminars on bridge inspection and rehabilitation for engineering professionals.
Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women
& Politics-Dianne Bystrom, director. This center offers leadership
development and educational opportunities to women and men of all ages who are interested
in politics, public administration and policy, and public service; it fosters research on
issues related to women and politics; sponsors conferences, workshops and lectures on
important national and international issues; and encourages women to pursue careers in
politics, public administration, and public service.
Center for Academic Information
Technology-Dorothy Lewis, interim director. Academic Information Technology
provides academic computing and networking for the university. Instructional and research
support ranges from microcomputing and local area networking to supercomputing and
wide-area networking. The center's research computing group is active in the development
of advanced computing techniques and aids researchers in efficiently carrying out the
computing needed for research projects. The center also provides support for SCHOLAR, the
library's on-line information system, and management services for Project Vincent,
high-performance workstations networked via a high-speed campus backbone. In conjunction
with off-campus network connections, Project Vincent provides computation capabilities for
supercomputing, visualization, and numeric computation. In the increasingly distributed
academic computing environment, the center seeks to promote computing standards and to
achieve commonality of operations and economies of scale where appropriate.
Center for Advanced Technology
Development-Robert Harris, interim director. The Center for Advanced Technology
Development (CATD) is a research and business development organization for technology
transfer. In this capacity it bridges the traditional gap between university basic
research and industrial commercialization. The technical work performed by the center is
predominantly applied research in the field of materials and related technologies. CATD
broadly supports this type of research in other research and academic centers throughout
the university.
Center for Agricultural and Rural
Development-Bruce A. Babcock, director. The Center for Agricultural and Rural
Development (CARD) is devoted to agricultural economic policy research, education and
publication in both domestic and international arenas encompassing four broad areas: trade
and agricultural policy, natural resources and conservation policy, food and nutrition
policy, and rural and economic development policy.
Center for Building Energy Research-Michael
Pate, director. The Center for Building Energy Research develops new technologies and
improves existing ones to help reduce energy consumption while maintaining performance and
productivity. In joint efforts with industry and government, center researchers develop
refrigeration equipment that can allow for a rapid shift to new, efficient, and
environmentally desirable refrigerant fluids. The center also provides opportunities
for technical and continuing education for engineering students, practitioners,
building operators, and others involved in building energy management.
Center for Crops Utilization Research-Lawrence
A. Johnson, director. The center conducts basic research on crop properties and applied
research directed at developing products and processes that will expand demand for food
crops such as corn and soybeans, as well as demand for alternative crops. It also acts as
a technology-distribution center for processors, export customers, and foreign scientists
and visitors.
Center for Designer Crops-Basil
Nikolau, interim director. The purpose of this center is to undertake fundamental research
that allows the design of crops specifically suited to their end use. Such uses include
improved human and animal nutrition, novel and environmentally friendly industrial
feedstocks and production of medicinal chemicals.
Center for Designing Foods to Improve
Nutrition-Diane Birt, director. The Center for Designing Foods to Improve
Nutrition was established at Iowa State University to improve nutrition and health
maintenance through a more integrated understanding of food selection and consumption;
nutrient utilization; and food production, formulation, processing, and distribution.
Research focuses on designing new foods; modifying food consumption; nutrient utilization;
food safety; and policy alternatives and implications.
Center for Excellence in Science and
Mathematics Education-Brian Hand, director. This center helps Iowa schools
develop their science and mathematics programs.
Center for Family Policy-Jacques
Lempers, director. The purpose of this center is to address current and future policy
issues, particularly focusing on infants, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly
and their families and communities, whose quality of life is constrained by economic,
social and/or developmental circumstances.
Center for Interfacial Materials and
Crystallization-Glenn L. Schrader, manager. The Center for Interfacial Materials
and Crystallization researches the chemical and physical phenomena that occur at
interfaces-the thin films or layers at the boundaries between solids, liquids, and gases.
The properties of these interfacial materials are crucial to the preparation and use of a
wide array of industrially significant materials. Center researchers use advanced
processing technology to develop new materials and then work with industrial partners to
apply them to social and industrial needs.
Center for Nondestructive Evaluation-R.
Bruce Thompson, director. The Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) sponsors an
interdisciplinary program that conducts fundamental and applied research leading to
improved NDE technology. Research areas include ultrasonics, electromagnetic techniques,
thermal wave imaging, microfocus x-ray techniques, artificial intelligence and expert
systems with application to NDE measurements, signal processing routines, NDE of
composites, NDE for material properties, and new instrumentations.
Center for Physical and Computational
Mathematics-Bruce Harmon, interim director. This center develops new mathematical
tools and researches the application of computers to special problems.
Center for Plant Genomics-Patrick
Schnable, director. The purpose of this center is to conduct biological research and
training at the frontiers of genomics and to develop advanced technologies for this work.
Center for Plant Responses to
Environmental Stresses-Charlotte Bronson, interim director. The purpose of this
center is to obtain fundamental information on the ways plants respond to environmental
stresses and how they can be modified to tolerate those stresses.
Center for Plant Transformation and Gene
Expression-Patrick Schnable, director. The purpose of this center is to develop
more efficient methods for producing transgenic plants that will be safe for human health
and the environment and to develop gene expression technologies to ensure that transgenes
are stably expressed in the desired parts of plants and under the correct conditions.
Center for Portland Cement Concrete
(PCC) Pavement Technology-Dale Harrington, director. This center advances the
state-of-the-art of Portland Cement Concrete pavement technology (including design,
materials science, construction and maintenance) to produce a durable cost-effective
sustainable product.
Center for Sustainable Environmental
Technologies-Robert C. Brown, director. This center develops and demonstrates
renewable energy and chemical technologies and environmental technologies related to
fossil fuels.
Center for Technology in Learning and
Teaching-Jerry Willis, director. This center promotes, supports and facilitates
research, development, use and evaluation of applications of technology which enhances
learning and teaching.
Center for Transportation Research and Education-Stephen Andrle, director. This center
acts as a focal point to promote transportation education, research and extension on the
ISU campus. It develops and implements innovative methods, materials and technologies for
improving transportation efficiency, safety and reliability, while enhancing the
educational experience of students in transportation-related fields.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Center-John
C. Tannehill, manager. This center uses powerful computers to solve complex engineering
design problems associated with liquids or gases in motion. This research has applications
in aerospace and other industries; for example, significant funding from NASA has
supported studies of flow fields around the space shuttle. The center also administers
interdepartmental course offerings in computational fluid dynamics.
Electric Power Research Center-Vijay
Vittal, director. This center promotes and expands research in electric power and
energy-related fields, attracts students and faculty to the power engineering field, and
develops seminars and short courses for professionals. The center is an umbrella for the
Power Affiliates Program, an electric power research effort established in 1963; the Iowa
Test and Evaluation Facility, a research and demonstration facility founded in 1979 near
Fort Dodge; and the Power System Computer Service, a program for conducting load flow and
fault studies for a power systems network covering Iowa and the surrounding area.
Food Safety Consortium-James S.
Dickson, professor in charge. The Food Safety Consortium consists of researchers from the
University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, and Iowa State University. It was
established by Congress in 1988 to investigate meat production in the poultry, beef, and
pork industries, from the farm to the consumer's table. The goal of the multidisciplinary
program is to improve food safety.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Facility-Kevin Kane, director. The GIS Support and Research Facility was
established to support the use of GIS in research and education. It provides hardware and
software platforms and technical services for researchers to use for GIS-related projects.
The facility has twelve Vincent workstations and a variety of input and output devices. It
also provides support and periodic training for GIS software products. Software supported
by the facility includes the ARC/INFO GIS software, ERDAS for image processing, and Oracle
for relational data base management.
Industrial Relations Center-Peter
Orazem, director. The central focus of research is on the behavior of individuals and
organizations in an employment and labor force relationship. It provides an
interdisciplinary approach to related studies.
Information Assurance Center-Doug
Jacobson, director. This center draws faculty from several different disciplines to
enhance education and research in computer security. Through its efforts, the center
strives to help address the national concern for producing more information assurance
professionals and for advancing the state-of-the-art.
Institute for International Cooperation
in Animal Biologics-James Roth, executive director. In October 1995, the Iowa
State University (ISU) of Science and Technology, the USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service's (APHIS), National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), and the
USDA Agriculture Research Service's (ARS), National Animal Disease Center (NADC) jointly
formed the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics (IICAB). The
overall goal of the IICAB is to improve the availability, safety, efficacy, and use of
veterinary biologics (vaccines) throughout the world. The institute works with the
veterinary biologics industry, government regulatory and research
agencies, universities, veterinarians, and producers in an effort to improve the
availability and use of biologics for animals worldwide. The IICAB objectives are to serve
as an internationally recognized body that works to build consensus on policy issues, and
that works for the establishment of international standards in animal biologics, and in
harmonization efforts; to coordinate assistance for countries in receiving and/or
manufacturing veterinary biologics to meet specific needs; to serve as an international
resource center that conducts impartial testing, and assists in the development and supply
of reagents and technology transfer; to implement cooperative research programs involving
government, university and industry scientists to conduct basic research; and to develop
new technologies for targeted diseases in specific regions of the world.
Institute for Physical Research and
Technology-Thomas J. Barton, director. The institute consists of a federation of
basic and applied research entities (primarily U.S. government and industrially funded).
The coordination and unified planning provided by the institute result in a significant
enhancement of the overall effectiveness of the enterprise and facilitate the achievement
of the specific goals and objectives of its components. The laboratories and centers of
the institute represent a major consortium for the pursuit of vital educational, research,
technology transfer, and technology development thrusts of the university, state, and
nation.
Institute for Social and Behavioral
Research -Ron Simons, director. Research and educational efforts in the Institute
for Social and Behavioral Research are directed toward improving the quality of life in
Iowa's communities. The center improves cooperative efforts among universities, hospitals,
businesses, and other state and community agencies in promoting rural health by expanding
the knowledge base to develop and deliver innovative health promotion and care
technologies; improves accessibility to health services; enhances the use of limited
health care resources; and provides collaborative research and educational programming
opportunities in the area of rural health.
International Institute of Theoretical
and Applied Physics-Alan Goldman, interim director. The purpose of this institute
is to empower scientists of developing countries to carry out research and teaching in
their own countries and thereby to help strengthen the science and technology
infrastructure of their regions; and to foster collaborations between U.S. scientists and
their colleagues throughout the world.
Iowa Beef Center-John Lawrence,
director. The purpose of this center is to enhance the vitality, profitability and growth
of the beef cattle industry in the state.
Iowa Energy Center-Floyd
Barwig, director. The State of Iowa created the center in 1990 to support efforts to
increase energy efficiency in all areas of Iowa energy use. The center is administered by
Iowa State University, with input from an advisory council representing Iowa educational
institutions, utilities, and state agencies. Competitive grants are awarded by the center
to nonprofit organizations in Iowa, including universities. Research and demonstration
projects supported by center grants focus on energy efficiency, assessment of
energy-related technology, development of alternative energy systems based on renewable
sources, and educational programs encouraging energy efficiency. Conferences and workshops
are also supported through center grants.
Iowa Space Grant Consortium-William
J. Byrd, director. The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) is part of the NASA National
Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, authorized by Congress in 1987 to promote
interest in aerospace and related scientific, mathematics and technology fields. The ISGC
was formed in 1990 by ISU, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa and
now includes Drake University and affiliates from government, industry and non-profit
organizations. The base program at ISU is the Spacecraft Systems and Operations
Laboratory. Through this lab, many student activities are supported including senior
design projects and the High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology project which
launches weather balloons to develop technology and techniques for all levels of
educational development.
Iowa State University Industrial
Assessment Center-Greg Maxwell, project director. This center provides energy
audits to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and recommends ways to reduce
their energy consumption and become more profitable. ISU teams that include both
professional researchers and students visit the site, collect data, conduct analyses, and
write reports for each company.
Laurence H. Baker Center for
Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics-Hal Stern, interim director. The purpose
of this center is to develop advanced methods, algorithms and programs for acquiring
massive amounts of genetic data on thousands of individual plants, analyzing the data and
providing the analysis back to plant scientists all over the world for further
interpretation and use in their studies.
Leopold Center for Sustainable
Agriculture-Fred Kirschenmann, director. Named for conservationist Aldo Leopold,
the center was established to conduct research on the environmental and social impacts of
farming practices and to help develop and demonstrate profitable farming systems that
preserve the productivity and quality of natural resources and the environment.
Materials Preparation Center-Lawrence
Jones, director. The purpose of this center is to support basic research and provide to
researchers worldwide materials unavailable from domestic suppliers.
Meat Export Research Center-Joe
Cordray, contact person. The Meat Export Research Center (MERC) conducts research to
develop a stronger agricultural economy through increased exports of U.S. meats and meat
products. Research areas include trade policy, cultural preferences in potential export
markets, and development of meat products and processing technologies. MERC is a
technology-distribution center for meat processors, export customers, and foreign
scientists and visitors.
Microanalytical Instrumentation Center-Marc
Porter, director. This center addresses challenges presented by environments hostile to
conventional analytical instrumentation and/or alien to experience.
Microelectronics Research Center-Vikram
Dalal, interim director. The Microelectronics Research Center conducts mission-oriented
basic and applied research on electronic materials, devices, and applications. The center
works closely with academic departments to promote and support graduate education in
electronic sciences.
Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and
Information Center-Bruce A. Babcock, executive director. This center is one of
several international trade development centers established by the USDA. It was founded in
1987 as a joint effort of ISU and the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce to link the
research capabilities of the university with the needs of agribusiness in Iowa and
surrounding states. The center is working to enhance trade in agricultural products
produced by small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Midwest.
NASA Food Technology Commercial Space
Center-Anthony L. Pometto III, director. The NASA Food Technology Commercial
Space Center (FTCSC) is leading a national effort to develop foods and food-processing
technologies that enhance space missions and advance commercial food products for
terrestrial use. As a commercial space center, NASA FTCSC develops partnerships with
companies to meet the challenges of developing food systems for space exploration and
habitation through cooperative efforts with NASA scientists and technologists and academic
researchers.
National Soil Tilth Laboratory-Jerry
L. Hatfield, director. The laboratory is a federal research facility administered by the
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at Iowa State University.
Activities involve research on the fundamentals and management of soil tilth to solve
national problems such as maintaining water quality, enhancing soil quality, controlling
soil erosion, improving air quality and developing a profitable, sustainable agriculture.
The laboratory has a scientific staff from the areas of agronomy, soils, physics,
chemistry, microbiology, agricultural engineering, and micrometeorology.
North Central Regional Aquaculture
Center-Joseph E. Morris, associate director. This center is administered jointly
by Michigan State University and Iowa State University. It is one of five regional centers
established to develop collaborative interstate research and cooperative extension
programs for commercial aquaculture-the culture or husbandry of aquatic organisms under
controlled conditions.
North Central Regional Center for Rural
Development-Cornelia B. Flora, professor in charge. The center is supported by
the land-grant universities of the North Central Region and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The major purpose of the center is to conduct a multidisciplinary research
and extension program addressed to improving the social and economic opportunities of both
farm and nonfarm people of rural America.
North Central Regional Plant
Introduction Station-Candice Gardner, research leader. One of four regional
centers, the station is a joint venture among the USDA Agricultural Research Service,
agriculture experiment stations of the 12 north-central states, and the Iowa Agriculture
and Home Economics Experiment Station. The station's three main areas of activity are: (1)
conservation to accomplish long-term viability of the germplasm collections, (2) to
conduct research to characterize and evaluate the collections, and (3) to serve as a
distribution center for plant scientists around the world.
Nutritional Sciences Council-Donald
Beitz, chair. The Nutritional Sciences Council consists of faculty members and qualified
collaborators who are engaged in research, extension, or teaching in the nutritional
sciences and closely related disciplines. The council develops symposia on topics of
international interest, sponsors an interdepartmental seminar, "Modern Views of
Nutrition," and arranges short courses designed to fill specific needs in the total
nutrition program.
Plant Sciences Institute-Stephen
Howell, director. This institute administers and coordinates a cluster of nine centers
focused in specific areas of the plant sciences. Researchers are seeking fundamental
knowledge about the functioning of plants. They are developing ways to help feed the
growing world population, strengthen human health and nutrition, improve crop quality and
yield, foster environmental sustainability and expand the uses of plants for biobased
products and bioenergy.
Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant
Breeding-Arnel Hallauer, director. The purpose of this center is to further
enhance the plant breeding research programs in corn, forages, soybeans, popcorn, small
grains and potential new crops while educating high-quality graduate students and
postdoctoral fellows for employment in both the public and private sectors.
Seed Science Center-Manjit K.
Misra, director. The purpose of this center is to serve as a focus for research, teaching
and outreach and international programs on seeds including the scholarly study of seeds,
seed services, publications, training of seed specialists and scientists and
extending of the information to growers, conditioners and sellers of this commodity.
Statistical Laboratory-Dean L.
Isaacson, director. This research and service institute conducts research in statistical
theory and methodology. It promotes and fosters the use of sound statistical methods in
university research through on-campus consulting. Similar consulting aid, research
cooperation, and services are extended to off-campus groups, other colleges and
universities, and government agencies when such activities are of mutual benefit or
otherwise in the public interest.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory-Gary
D. Osweiler, director. The laboratory provides a research, teaching, and service facility
to which the veterinary medical profession may bring animal health problems for counsel
and diagnostic assistance. Disciplines utilized are pathology, bacteriology, virology,
serology, chemistry, racing chemistry, molecular diagnostics and toxicology. A graduate
residency program for pathology, microbiology, and toxicology is active.
Virtual Reality Applications Center-James
E. Bernard, director. The mission of the Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC) is to
develop ways to improve manufacturing productivity and support Iowa manufacturers through
technology transfer. VRAC emphasizes visualization techniques.
Water Resources Research Institute-Ramesh
Kanwar, director. The institute coordinates and administers an interdisciplinary program
in water resources research. It administers the research funds received from the U.S.
Department of the Interior, as made available through the Water Resources Research Act of
1983, and from the State of Iowa. Funds received from private, state, and federal sources
are allocated for research in all aspects of water resources, and are directed primarily
at solving state, regional, and national water problems. Technology transfer and
information dissemination are additional elements of the program.
College
Research Institutes
Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station- Richard Ross,
director. The Experiment Station supports research in the biological, physical, and social
sciences to contribute to the advancement of the agricultural industry and to improve the
economic and social conditions of families and communities. Scientists in about 30
departments across campus work in campus laboratories, at 12 outlying research farms, and
in the fields and business places of cooperators throughout the state. The station's work
is organized into two dimensions-academic departments and research centers. The research
centers focus on problems that require an interdisciplinary research effort.
Business Research Institute-Benjamin
J. Allen, director. A component of the College of Business's mission is to create and
disseminate knowledge and to offer innovative programs to prepare managers and leaders for
a technologically oriented world. The BRI plays an important role in carrying out this
mission. Through the institute, support is provided for applied research by college
faculty and graduate students, resulting in the advancement of new knowledge for the
business world. A concerted effort is made to encourage research within each of the
college's departments.
Engineering Research Institute-James
L. Melsa, director. The institute coordinates staff research in areas involving all
engineering academic departments and maintains major laboratories and technical service
groups to support the various research programs. Funds are derived from state
appropriations and from industrial and government grants or contracts. Activity is
directed toward graduate instruction, basic research, and applied research.
Family and Consumer Sciences Research
Institute-Mary Winter, associate dean. The focus of the institute is to improve
the quality of life for individuals and families through basic and applied research.
Graduate education, support of college research facilities, and staff support comprise the
bulk of the remaining activities.
Institute for Design Research and
Outreach-Mark C. Engelbrecht, director. The institute coordinates and facilitates
research, artistic and creative design efforts of faculty and graduate students of the
College of Design. It also coordinates the integrated outreach efforts of the college by
providing a linkage between design extension and the research and instructional efforts of
the college. The institute maintains the Design Simulation Laboratory, the Design GIS
Laboratory, and the Architecture Technology Laboratory.
Research Institute for Studies in
Education (RISE)-Walter Gmelch, director. RISE provides leadership for and
participates in research and contract and grant activities conducted by faculty, staff,
and students of the College of Education. RISE promotes and conducts research that
is directly related to the mission of the College of Education and Iowa State University
of Science and Technology. RISE emphasizes efforts to secure external funding for
research and development activites related to the mission of the college and the
university. The institute provides linkage with other units on and off campus and
facilitates collaborative research activities through financial and personnel support.
To support its mission, RISE is organized administratively into two primary
components: research, and contracts and grants.
Veterinary Medical Research Institute-Harley
Moon, professor in charge. The institute is multidisciplinary with a responsibility
to conduct research and offer research training in animal diseases. Research and
research training are conducted in the areas of viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases,
immunology and basic biology.
University
Extension
ISU Extension builds partnerships and provides research-based learning opportunities to
improve quality of life in Iowa. Extension is the institution-wide mechanism
through which ISU shares its research and educational capacities, and through which
these programs are informed of the priorities and interests of Iowans.
ISU Extension also is part of a national
network, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 104 land-grant institutions, and
3,150 county programs. ISU Extension has offices and staff in every Iowa county. These
offices provide Iowans easy access to ISU and a local presence for the University. ISU
Extension also partners with Iowa community colleges, the other Regents universities, and
the private colleges and universities, providing an array of inter-institutional technical
assistance, training and education programs.ISU Extension serves Iowans and other clients
in six program areas—Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry,
Communities, Families, 4-H Youth Development, and Extended and Continuing Education. A
description of the units follows.
Extension to Agriculture and Natural
Resources
Agricultural programs serve primarily producers and agricultural support service
industries statewide through education and service. Agricultural programs lead to
increased profitability through enhanced management and marketing in an environmentally
and socially acceptable system.
Extension to Business and Industry
Extension programs that assist business and industry firms are provided statewide through
several cooperating organizations, including the College of Business, the College of
Engineering, the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership (IMEP), and the Center for
Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). Educational services are provided to contractors,
consultants, manufacturers, the food service industry, and utilities to help maintain and
increase profitability. IMEP provides consulting services to small and medium-sized
manufacturers throughout the state.
Extension to Communities
ISU Extension to Communities helps organizations and local governments develop and build
their capacity to make Iowa communities better places to live and work. The aim is to help
Iowa communities analyze and understand their needs, identify alternative courses of
action, make informed decisions, plan for the future, and evaluate their efforts.
Extension to Families
The Extension to Families unit provides education for families on: aging, child care,
consumer decisions, family financial management, family relationships, housing choices,
nutrition and health, parent education, and public policy affecting families.
Extension to 4-H Youth Development
This unit helps youth become self-directing and contributing members of society. 4-H youth
programs teach through experiential learning, use prevention and early intervention
approaches, and promote a sense of closeness between every youth and at least one
significant adult. Subject matter is built on the knowledge base of ISU and other
land-grant universities.
Extended and Continuing Education
As part of ISU Extension, the Extended and Continuing Education program supports ISU
faculty and staff in developing and delivering off-campus credit programs and noncredit
conferences and seminars to meet the lifelong learning needs of more than 270,000 adults
each year. These distance education programs are offered via the Iowa Communications
Network (ICN), the World Wide Web, and through videotapes shipped directly to students.
Extended and Continuing Education is working with the ISU colleges and extension field
staff to explore the possibilities for expanding the use of existing degree programs and
adding new distance education opportunities.
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