Crop Sciences Newsletter #102, June 8, 2004

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

...Congratulations to Michael Plewa, who was elected to full faculty membership in the Division of Nutritional Sciences.

...Congratulations to Gustavo Caetano-Anollés, Steve Moose, Torbert Rocheford and Lila Vodkin, who were selected to receive Affiliate status in the new Institute for Genomic Biology. Affiliate appointments are made to individuals whose interests are complimentary to ongoing efforts of the Genomic Ecology of Global Change Research Theme.

...Congratulations to Darin Eastburn, who received $8,250 from the Provost’s Initiative on Teaching Advancement for his proposal “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Web-based Learning Modules in PLPA 200".

...Congratulations to Mike Gray, Snook Pataky and Michael Plewa, who were elected to three-year terms on the Promotion and Tenure Committee beginning August 21, 2004 and continuing through August 20, 2007.

...Nathan Schnettgoecke was elected to represent the Crop Sciences Undergraduate Students and Martin Uribelarrea was elected to represent the Graduate Students on the Department Advisory Committee. Congratulations!

...Congratulations to Don Ort, Evan DeLucia, May Berenbaum, Steve Long, Hans Bohnert, Ross Fitzhugh, and Steve Clough, who will receive a grant for $3 million over 3 years for "Genomic Regulation of the Response of an Agroecosystem to Elements of Global Change" from the Program in Ecosystem Research of the Department of Energy. This grant contributes to the IGB Theme, "Genomic Ecology of Global Change".

...Congratulations to Germán Bollero, who received $24,705 from the Illinois Department of Agriculture for the project “Transition to Organic Systems: How to Improve the Use of Winter Cover Crops to Enhance Nitrogen Cycling and Reduce Nitrate Leaching”; Fred Below, $32,500 from Monsanto for “Field Evaluation of Nitrogen Use Efficiency Traits in Maize"; Brian Diers, $29,161 from USDA/ARS for “Identification and Utilization of Exotic Germplasm to Improve Soybean Productivity”; Mike Gray, $23,521 from USDA for the North Central IPM Program; Curtis Hill, $170,500 from the USB for “Development of Aphid Resistant Soybean Germplasm”; Steve Moose, $607,989 from Pioneer for “Physiology and Genetic Regulation of Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency in Corn”; Ron Hines, $21,000 from Syngenta for “Enhanced Control of Lepidopterous Pests of Corn with New Traits”; Terry Niblack, $34,716 from Syngenta for the material transfer agreement; and, Jack Widholm, $30,000 from ISPOB for “Soybean Improvement Through Biotechnology and Functional Genomics”.

...Congratulations to Kelli Bassett, James Gambiani, Larry Martin, Nicholas Ochs and Steven Voss on the completion of their M.S. degrees. Nicholas was advised by Fred Kolb, Kelli and Larry were advised by Fred Below, James was advised by Kevin Steffey and Steven by Bryan Young.

...Welcome to the following RAP II students, who will be hosted by Crop Sciences faculty from June 22 through July 28: Yan Gao (Martin Bohn), Antoinette Sallis (Torbert Rocheford), Lindsey Nunez (Lane Rayburn), Maria Rivera-Morales (Steve Long), and Brittany Walker (Fred Below).

FROM OUR OFFICE TO YOURS

...NAME BADGES. If you are new to the department, have changed your job title, or lost your name badge, please let Linda Ingram know, so we can order one for you before Agronomy Day. E-mail Linda at ldingram@illinois.edu with your name and job title before August 1st.

...The Office of the Provost has established a fund that will provide financial support for the professional development of non-tenure track academic staff members. This is a matching program, and it's expected that 50% match should come from the faculty project for which the employee works. Please consider this opportunity for the non-tenured academic staff in your program. Applications will be accepted beginning July 1, 2004. Details about the program as well as the application form.

...This year’s Illinois Forage Expo will be held at the Frank and Homer Doll Dairy Farm near Greenville on July 14. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration gets underway at 8:30 a.m. The Expo features educational sessions, tours, equipment demonstrations, contests and much more. For more information about the Illinois Forage Expo, contact the U of I Extension office in Greenville, 618-664- 3665. Or, download the Expo schedule.

...The Division of Environmental Health and Safety was reorganized into two divisions: The Division of Research Safety (DRS) and the Facilities & Services, Division of Safety & Compliance (S&C). DRS provides advice and technical assistance in using biological, chemical and radiological materials safely. DRS also helps you understand and comply with required regulations. Contact DRS with any biological (244-9585; bss@illinois.edu), chemical (244- 0416; css@illinois.edu), and radiation (244-7605; rss@illinois.edu) concerns. To learn more about DRS programs, services and training, contact them at: 333- 2755, drs@illinois.edu or http://www.drs.uiuc.edu. S&C’s role is to assist campus units in fulfilling their responsibility to comply with environmental regulations concerning air, land and water and to provide a safe and healthful place of employment and l e a r n i n g . Visit their web s i t e at www.fs.uiuc.edu/sandc or contact David Wilcoxen (333-3655; dwilcoxe@illinois.edu) for environmental compliance or Maureen Banks (244-0415; maubanks@illinois.edu) for occupational safety and health questions.

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 11, Field Day at Ewing Field

June 17, Summer Horticulture Day

June 23, Weeds Field Day in Urbana

July 7, Weeds Field Day in DeKalb

July 15, Field Day at Belleville, research center operated by Southern Illinois University

July 22, Field Day at Brownstown

August 3, Field Day at DeKalb

August 5, Field Day at Dixon Springs

August 17, Field Day at Monmouth

August 19, Agronomy Field Day at South Farms

August 23, Field Day at Orr Center

September 8, Field Day at Ewing Field

UPCOMING CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA & WORKSHOPS

...The joint meeting of the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference and the Trifolium Conference will be held July 18-21, 2004 at the Hotel Plaza Quebec, Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada

...The Royal Society scientific discussion meeting “Beyond Extinction Rates: Monitoring Wild Nature For the 2010 Target” will be held July 19-20, 2004 in London, Great Britain.

...The 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology will be held December 4-8, 2004 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.

...A Symposium sponsored by the Plant Breeding and Genetics Group at Michigan State University will be held March 9-11, 2005. It is entitled “Plant Breeding and the Public Sector: Who Will Train Plant Breeders?”

GRAD STUDENT BULLETIN BOARD

...REGISTER FOR FALL COURSES EARLY If you are leaving campus for the summer, take a moment to register now for fall courses. Remember that fall registration uses the new UI-Integrate Self Service. You will need your Enterprise ID and password to access the system. Note that with the new system, graduate students must register themselves for courses and dissertation credit hours. Staff can no longer register students. Because of changes such as course renumbering and the switch from units to credit hours, it is best to register early and avoid last minute problems. Information about the new registration procedures is online at www.oar.uiuc.edu/register/UI2_index.html. To set up or change your EnterpriseID (or if you have forgotten your password), go to <https//apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice/>.

...GOING ON THE JOB MARKET NEXT YEAR? It's never too early to start preparing. The Graduate College Career Services Office (GCCSO) staff is available for one-on-one counseling. To make an advising appointment or to find out the schedule for walk-in hours, contact the Graduate College at 333- 0035 or e- mailto: CareerServices@grad.uiuc.edu>. For more information and for many online resources to help you prepare for your job search, go to www.grad.uiuc.edu/CareerServices/index.html.

...SUMMER HEALTH CARE Students not enrolled for summer courses can purchase health care coverage for the summer. Student Insurance can be purchased during the Summer II Health Insurance Enrollment/Change Period, June 14 to noon June 22, 2004. During this time students can add dependents, extend coverage over the Summer II term, prove exemption status, or reinstate coverage if previous exempt. For more information visit the Insurance Office Web site at www.si.uiuc.edu/. To purchase McKinley coverage for the Summer II, contact McKinley Heath Center at 333-2719.

...For The Latest News and Upcoming Deadlines from the Graduate College, see www.grad.uiuc.edu/latestnews/latestnews.html.

PERSONALS

Dear Colleagues in Crop Sciences

Words are inadequate to express our gratitude for the superb retirement reception we experienced May 17. Memories of the occasion, of the friends from far and near who attended, and of your kind remarks, will stay with us always. Iris and I are absolutely delighted with the Kanfer photo from Allerton Park, where we periodically walk the trails and observe nature. A touch of wildness--such a thoughtful and beautiful gift! It will occupy a special place in our new home. And the hand ax will be handy for splitting kindling when days are cold and the fireplace is hungry. We'll flip a coin to see who wins that task. Great thanks to all who made the afternoon a touching capstone to the part of my career that I spent at the UI, and the memories permanent. You are very special to us. With warm regards, Gary & Iris Heichel

PUBLICATIONS

Please share your most recent publications with our readers. Submit citations of publications in standard format to Linda Ingram, and we’ll publicize your scholarship department-wide.