Hello CALS Colleagues,
Thanks again to those of you able to attend or watch the CALS Town Hall and hear my update on our college. It’s truly amazing what we accomplish together and what each of you accomplish individually.
The purposes of higher education and land grant schools especially are stronger and more important than ever. Each year that passes brings more understanding of the world around us and how to make it better, and more opportunity for misunderstanding and the stresses imposed on a limited planet by humanity, even with our unlimited potential. It’s our role, with the privilege we have to work at Iowa State, to address these challenges through our students, our science, and our engagement. I find it helpful to remind myself of this. We have an incredible opportunity here to make a difference.
This week some of us will attend or tune in to the World Food Prize Symposium and Borlaug Dialogue events, and I hope you will (if not this year, then please consider for next year). The very purpose of the symposium and dialogue is to advance the global demand for more sustainable societies, surely starting with food. I have forgotten who said the following, but it’s surely true: "a hungry person has only one problem, everyone else has the privilege of many more problems…."
My best wishes for a great week and please take time to remember and build on those things that inspire your work here. - Dan
Nature in Focus
This was Tom Brumm's morning coffee view on Bear Lake on the Superior Hiking Trail near Tettegouche State Park on the north shore of Lake Superior. This summer Brumm, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, backpacked for four days with his two sons and nephew. This lake is only accessible by foot after a bit of up-and-down to get there. He said this was one of his favorite moments on the trip and he'd love to get back there in the fall (and winter) to observe the different seasons.
To keep in shape for whenever his next backpacking trip might be, Brumm frequently walks in the mornings with a full pack. With a later sunrise, he's now walking in the dark. Often he climbs the stairs of Curtiss Hall a few times. This is a shot from Curtiss looking towards the Campanile at about 5:30 a.m. earlier this fall. It was a bit eerie.
Tom Isenhart, professor of natural resource ecology and management, shared this photo of students in Stream Ecology (AEcl/EnSci 418/518) fish sampling on the South Skunk River north of Ames. They came across this slender madtom, a member of the catfish family. This species is uncommon in Iowa and is sensitive to poor water quality.
Please keep sharing your photos with me via email!
