Issue 13 - Oct. 17, 2007 |
CFANS People in the News
 John Foss, who earned his master's and Ph.D. degrees in soil science at the University of Minnesota, has been awarded the university's Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest honor for alumni. Foss is recognized for his work in successfully bridging the worlds of soil science and archaeology.
 Karl Lorenz is the new Director of Diversity Programs for CFANS. In the newly created position, he will oversee conceptualization and implementation of diversity programming. Lorenz had worked in the student services office overseeing honors and diversity programs.
 Darren Lochner is the new Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for CFANS, effective Oct. 30. He most recently worked for University of Wisconsin Extension. He earned his bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife at CFANS in 1996 and a master's in Forestry in 2000.
 Ping Wang, a professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, has been accepted as a member of the university's BioTechnology Institute.
 John Shutske, a professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, recently was recognized at
the annual "Community Partners" ceremony held by the
School of Public Health. Shutske has been an
adjunct faculty member in the school for 16 years, and was recognized
with other faculty for a "commitment to the education, training, and
guidance of University of Minnesota School of Public Health
students."
 Rob King, head of the Department of Applied Economics, has announced that he will step down from his position at the end of this fiscal year in order to resume full-time research and teaching.
  Members of the Minnesota 4-H dairy judging team placed first in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on Oct. 1. Sophomore Jessica Achen, right, was the high individual in the contest. CFANS freshman Abby Udermann, left, also was a team member. Coaches of the team were college alumni Eric Sonnek, Alicia Thurk and Tara Sammon.
 Dick Joerger, former professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, will be honored at a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in room 125 Coffey Hall. Joerger recently left the University of Minnesota for a position as System Director for Farm Business Management in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. To RSVP or to send notes for the reception, go to www.cfans.umn.edu/joergerrsvp.
 Professor emeritus Lewis Hendricks, 67, of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, died Sept. 24. He held an Extension position in CFANS for nearly 30 years before taking early retirement in 1995. He launched the Cold Climate Housing program and directed the Lumber Short Course.
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In This Issue
- From CFANS Dean Allen Levine: Enrollment stays stable
- A new "Speaking of Science" interview with Roger Ruan
- Associate deans take on new positions
- Grant will fund exotic-species symposium
- Soils team headed for national competition
- Open House planned for new BL3 containment facility
- Seats still available for Homecoming game
- Apples at the Arboretum
- Events
From Dean Allen Levine: Enrollment stays stable 
This fall, CFANS undergraduate enrollment totaled 1,791, with the largest undergraduate enrollment gains for the 2007-2008 academic year in the nutrition and animal science programs. Other majors experiencing percentage gains are applied economics, applied plant science, environmental sciences policy and management, food science, forest resources, pre-bioproducts and biosystems engineering and urban forestry. We’re pleased to see significant growth in these majors.
Read more
The enrollment total represents a slight decrease from the previous year; it is primarily attributed to the transfer of the college's scientific and technical communication major to the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). This summer the Department of Rhetoric, formerly in CFANS, was merged with other units to form a Department of Writing Studies in CLA.
Over the past eight years CFANS has increased its undergraduate enrollment by more than 250 students – a gain of more than 16 percent. This runs counter to a national trend toward declining undergraduate enrollments in similar programs. This fall’s enrollment figures show our most popular undergraduate programs include animal science; nutrition; environmental science, policy and management; fisheries and wildlife; and applied economics. Another impressive statistic is that our freshmen retention rate from fall to spring semester of last year was 94.3 percent.
CFANS’ graduate student enrollment this fall fell by 73 students from numbers a year ago.
The transfer of the Department of Rhetoric again accounted for most of the decline; however, graduate student funding is an important challenge.
We are investigating collaborative approaches to research by pioneering a unique education model that allows students to experience multiple research environments, with some students mentored by two or more scientists during the course of their graduate degree. Implementation of this initiative will make it possible to attract the best students from around the world.
CFANS is home to 13 graduate programs, five of which are interdisciplinary programs. These programs are unique nationally and internationally in the emphasis they place on translational research methods and the flexibility they provide for students to design truly interdisciplinary programs of study. Increasing our success in graduate education will significantly expand the contributions our graduates make to Minnesota’s and the world’s economy.
We have strong programs, great students, and outstanding faculty expertise. Our success in educating tomorrow’s leaders will continue.
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A new "Speaking of Science" interview
 The latest installment of "Speaking of Science" is now online. This series of interviews between CFANS dean Allen Levine and key faculty and staff showcases the research and outreach work happening throughout the college. The latest interviewee is Roger Ruan, a professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering.
Read the Q and A with Roger Ruan
Listen to raw MP3 audio of the interview:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
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Two associate deans take on new positions
  Associate Deans Mike Schmitt, left, and Bob Stine, right, have both accepted new positions within the University of Minnesota. Schmitt will become senior associate dean of Extension and associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He began his new position Oct. 15. Stine will become associate dean of degree and credit programs in the College of Continuing Education, effective Nov. 5. Searches for their replacements are expected to begin soon.
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Grant will fund exotic-species symposium
 A group of CFANS and other faculty led by David Andow of the Department of Entomology has been awarded one of three Phase I Minnesota Futures grants awarded by the University. The $25,000 grant will fund an interdisciplinary symposium on "Predicting Invasive Potential of Exotic Species." The symposium is expected to convene in March 2008. The group's goal is to build interdisciplinary
collaborations to develop models that predict invasion risk and assemble empirical data to test
the models. Phase II funding, which can include up to $250,000 over two years for research projects identified through Phase I, will be awarded in 2008.
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Soils team headed for national competition
 The University of Minnesota's Soil Judging Team placed first in the team contest and third in overall competition at the recent Region V American Society of Agronomy soil judging contest. Team members are, from left, Nick Reep, Nick Saumweber, Meryl Larson and Erin Andrews and coach Terry Cooper. The top three teams advance to national competition in Rhode Island next spring.
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Open House planned for BL3 containment facility
After a year of construction, the new $4.8 million Bio-Safety Level (BL3) laboratory/glasshouse on the St. Paul campus is nearly complete. The BL3 maximum containment facility is the culmination of years of effort by the Department of Plant Pathology (and the USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory), the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. It's the only facility of its kind in the Midwest and one of only three in the United States. An open house and dedication, including one of the last chances to tour the facility before it's secured, is set for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 and is open to all.
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Seats still available for Homecoming 2007 game
 This year's Homecoming theme is "Golden Oldies." Events during Homecoming Week, which runs from Oct. 29 through Nov. 3, include a parade, dances, a lip-sync competition and a blood drive, all capped off by the football game vs. Illinois at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Metrodome. The CFANS Alumni Society has reserved a section of seats for the game; tickets are $25 per person and seats are located in Section 205. But hurry! Only a few tickets are left.
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Apples at the Arboretum
The AppleHouse is open through Oct. 31 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can buy apples from a changing inventory of 50 varieties, from long-time favorites to recent University of Minnesota introductions. Proceeds benefit the University's apple research program. For a daily update of available apple varieties, call the AppleHouse Hotline at 952-443-1409.
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Events
Here are a few of the upcoming events of interest to the College of
Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences community. Visit www.cfans.umn.edu to
see more events.
Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes
15th Annual Kuehnast Endowment Lecture
Thursday, October 18, 3:30 p.m.
Borlaug Hall, University of Minnesota
This year's lecture will be presented by Dr. Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Emanuel was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's "100 People Who Shaped the World." He's also the author of one of the most popular science books in recent years, "Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes," 2007 winner of the Louis Battan Author's Award from the American Meteorological Society.
Biofuels, Carbon and Trade:
Leadership
Challenges for the Interdependent Americas
Monday and Tuesday, October 22-23
Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota East Bank
Leaders in the sciences, public affairs, and business will discuss and develop a consensus on how to make biofuels policy work across public, private, NGOs, and geographic boundaries. Keynote speakers include
Lois Quam, Managing Director of Alternative Investments at Piper Jaffray Companies and Roberto Dobles Mora, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. Registration is $75. For the complete agenda, see www.biofuels.umn.edu/agenda.html.
Minnesota's Deer Health & Management
Tuesday, October 23, 7 p.m.
Gander Mountain store, Forest Lake, Minn.
Monday, October 29, 7 p.m.
Gander Mountain store, Lakeville, Minn.
Chronic wasting disease -- its transmission and risk to humans -- as well as current trends in Minnesota's whitetail deer population and future herd management are the topics of discussion sessions and public forums at two Twin Cities-area locations.
Speakers will include Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Big Game Coordinator Lou Cornicelli and Wildlife Health Program Coordinator Michelle Carstensen.
The sessions, sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History, are the first in a series offering information and a public forum for current events related to Minnesota wildlife. The sessions are free and open to the public although reservations are suggested. Call (612) 624-9050 for reservations.
Minnesota Water Resources Conference
Wednesday-Thursday, October 23-24
Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center
The annual conference sponsored by the Water Resources Center features innovative and practical water resource management techniques and highlights research about Minnesota’s water resources. The conference is intended to promote interaction among water resources professionals including resource managers, researchers, local, state and federal agency staff, consultants and practicing engineers, as well as students.
Demystifying Farmers Markets
Ag Issues Roundtable
Wednesday, October 24, 11:30 a.m.
Sheraton Four Points hotel, Minneapolis
Farmer and consumer interest in local foods and farmers’ markets has grown rapidly in recent years. Guest speaker Larry Lev, a professor at Oregon State University who is a visiting Senior Fellow at CFANS this year, will examine the recent growth in farmers’ markets and provide insights on factors that are critical for farmers’ market success. Cost for lunch and the discussion is $30. To register, contact Sue Pohlad at 612-625-8779 or spohlod@umn.edu.
Why We Eat More Than We Think
Wednesday, October 24, 5:30 p.m.
Carlson School of Management Auditorium, U of M West Bank
Brian Wansink, author of the best-selling book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, will discuss the influence of advertising and marketing on eating habits. As director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, Wansink seeks to help companies develop “win-win” strategies to help people eat more nutritiously and control their food portions. In turn, companies are able to leverage those strategies to build their businesses in a fast-paced, competitive market place. Cost, including a reception is $45 (free to current U of M students). Registration is suggested.
The Global Biofuels Debate: Science, Policy & Ethics
Wednesday, October 31, 11:30 a.m.
St. Paul Student Center Theater
The 2007-08 Lecture Series on "Emerging Debates on Oversight and Policy in Biomedicine & the Life Sciences" begins with a discussion featuring Suzanne Hunt, formerly of Worldwatch, Bob Elde, dean of the College of Biological Sciences and C. Ford Runge of the Department of Applied Economics. The series is sponsored by the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences and the Joint Degree Program in Law, Health & the Life Sciences. Advanced Biomass Workshop
Thursday, November 15
University of Minnesota-Morris, Morris, Minn.
Speakers and panelists will provide practical information to farmers, business/home owners, public officials, students, and citizens interested in their role in biomass energy as well as current and near-term biomass use in energy production. The conference is sponsored by UMM and the West Central Research and Outreach Center. Cost of the conference is $15 per person (free to students with ID) and includes lunch.
Pre-registration is requested by November 8. For details or to register, call Jean or Joel at 320-589-1711. Advanced Wind Energy Conference
Friday, November 16, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Old No. 1 Bar and Grill, Morris, MInn.
Speakers and panelists will provide information to farmers, business/home owners, public officials, students, and citizens
interested in wind energy. Cost is $60 per person, $20 for spouses and $20 for students; pre-registration is requested by Nov. 9. The conference is sponsored by the West Central Research and Outreach Center.
For more information or to register, call Jean, Cory or Joel at 320-589-1711. E3 2007
The Midwest's premiere Energy, Economic and Environmental conference
Tuesday, November 27
Coffman Memorial Union, East Bank campus
E3 2007 will focus on the intersection between innovative technologies, visionary policies, environmental benefits, and emerging market opportunities as they relate to developments in the renewable energy sector. Sponsors include the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) , and the Institute on the Environment. Early registration is accepted through October 16.
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