News Service

Delaware Senator Biden to present Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science Oct. 31

U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., will present the fifth annual Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science at Iowa State University at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Sun Room, Memorial Union.

News release

Ravenscroft to become Roger P. Murphy Professor of Accounting

Susan P. Ravenscroft has been named the first Roger P. Murphy Professor of Accounting at Iowa State University.

News release

MSNBC's "Hardball" to broadcast live from Iowa State

As part of its nationwide College Hardball Tour, MSNBC's show "Hardball with Chris Matthews" will broadcast live from Stephens Auditorium Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. Matthews' guest for the one-hour show will be U.S. Sen. John McCain. The event is free and open to the public.

News release.

Webcast, mini-conference on ethanol Nov. 13

Experts will offer a variety of perspectives on the corn-based ethanol industry in Iowa in a statewide webcast and mini-conference Nov. 13. The conference is sponsored by the ISU economics department.

News release

Harris

Hank Harris has a winning plan

Sirrah LLC, a startup biotech company originating from the research laboratories of animal scientist Hank Harris and colleagues in veterinary medicine, was awarded $15,000 as runner-up in the first John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition. Sirrah develops vaccines for swine diseases. More than 80 business plans were submitted to the competition, which fosters entrepreneurial activity in the state. The award was announced at the recent Iowa Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship Conference in Des Moines.

Metallurgist named Iowa Inventor of the Year

Iver Anderson, senior metallurgist at Ames Laboratory and ISU adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, has been named Iowa Inventor of the Year for developing a patented, lead-free solder that's used worldwide and has generated more than $10 million in royalties to date.

News release.

Iowa State researchers recognized for work to inhibit meth production

George Kraus and John Verkade, University Professors of chemistry at Iowa State, discovered a way to make anhydrous ammonia fertilizer useless as an ingredient for methamphetamine.

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Engler will explore critical landscapes in Presidential Lecture Nov. 6

There's more to landscape architecture than moving dirt and planting flowers, says Mira Engler. The Iowa State University landscape architecture professor will discuss her ideas on critical design and present examples of her work during the fall Presidential University Lecture. "Critical Landscapes: From Pork Barrels to Otherworldly Dumps and Gardens," will be at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, in the Sun Room, Memorial Union.

News release.

See and learn at Iowa State's planetarium

Iowa State graduate students will present planetarium shows at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21, Nov. 10 and 11 and Dec. 8 and 9 in Room B57 of Physics Hall. The presentations will be followed by star-gazing sessions from Iowa State's astronomy observation deck. The presentations and sessions are free and open to the public.

News release.

Munkvold named to seed science chair

Internationally recognized seed pathologist Gary Munkvold has been named to a new endowed seed science chair at Iowa State.

News release.

Long-term study continues with $2.5 million grant

ISU researchers received a $2.5 million grant to continue a long-term study of 500 Iowans. In the latest study, researchers will focus on links between relationships and health.

News release.

Iowa State awards $3.69 million for technology and commercialization research

Iowa State University will use $3.69 million in state funding to establish a pilot facility to make flammable synthesis gas from Iowa crops, determine how flaxseed lignans can reduce cholesterol, establish an Information Science Technology Institute and advance many other research projects in the biosciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing.

News release.

Alumnus pledges $5 million toward new facility

Virgil Elings, a 1961 graduate of Iowa State, has committed $5 million toward a new building to house the department of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

News release.

New tool for nano vision

Ames Laboratory researchers have a new $1.8 million scanning transmission electron microscope to give them an unprecedented view of materials at the nanoscale.

News release.

Tight gubernatorial race reflects divided nation

Iowa's split polling in the gubernatorial race is a reflection of the nation's great political divide according to two ISU political scientists.

News release.