CAHNRS, WSU faculty grow as leaders in Provost Academy
Twenty-three WSU faculty members, including four from CAHNRS—James Pru, Animal Sciences; Mark Lange, Biological Chemistry; Kate Evans, Horticulture; Elizabeth Soliday, Human Development—completed the Provost’s Leadership Academy this spring.
The semester-long training program, based on CAHNRS’ Tidal Leadership course, develops self-awareness and confidence, bringing faculty members in touch with WSU leaders and building knowledge of the university and its challenges.
Read more and see a list of all participants here.
Eggert Organic Farm hosts weekly produce sales
The Eggert Family Organic Farm hosts weekly public produce sales every Friday afternoon, between 3 and 6 p.m., through late October. The sale includes fruits, vegetables, herbs, and eventually, cut flowers. Pay by cash or check. Read more about Eggert sales here.
The farm is located on Animal Sciences Road, just off Terra View Road, and directly behind the WSU Bear Center near Grimes Way.
Blustery weather didn’t dampen the interest of Northwest dryland and irrigated growers, industry and faculty, who learned about new canola varieties, agronomy and technology in Washington Oilseed Cropping Systems-hosted field tours held in May in Odessa and Pomeroy, Wash.
Eight 4-H campers learned what it takes to produce a movie in the 4-H Tech Wizards Day Camp, hosted May 14 by Ferry County 4-H.
“I didn’t expect to learn so much,” one group leader said. “I have a much better understanding of what is needed to make a high-quality movie. It was fun to work with student presenters who were obviously enjoying bringing their ideas to, and working together smoothly with kids they had just met that morning.”
Tech Wizards is a mentoring program in Ferry County that encourages youth interest in science education.
Awards and Grants
CAHNRS teams take on Grand Challenges, Student Success
CAHNRS seed grant recipients, from left, Mary Kay Patton, Elizabeth Soliday, Anand Jayakaran and Sara Waters.
Researchers in CAHNRS earned seed money for their projects building student success and meeting global challenges.
Co-lead investigators, Mary Kay Patton, assistant director of the Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership (CTLL), and Elizabeth Soliday, associate professor in the Department of Human Development at WSU Vancouver, received a Student Success Seed Grant. Anand Jayakaran, associate professor with the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Unit, and Sara Waters, assistant professor in Human Development, received Grand Challenge Research Grants.
Five students in the School of Food Science—Matthew Tanoei-Husada, Dian Masli, Deepali Jain, Poonam Bajaj, and Ewa Pietrysiak‚won first place in the 2015-2016 DDW Natural Coloring Competition for Students.
Their eye-catching product, “Beadsicles”, adds flavored beads to frozen treats, mingling different colors and flavors for a wide variety of products.
The five students will receive $2,500 to split, free entry into the 2015 Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo, July 16-19 in Chicago, with their poster displayed at the DDW booth, and an award presented at the WSU/University of Idaho Reception at IFT by one of the judges.
Hall Medal for Economics Emeritus Whittlesey
Norman Whittlesey, Professor Emeritus in the School of Economic Sciences, will receive the Warren A. Hall Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Water Resources from the Universities Council on Water Resources at their annual conference, June 22 in Pensacola, Fla.
Working at WSU since 1964, Whittlesey has made novel and impactful contributions to knowledge of the economics of irrigated agriculture, the effectiveness of agricultural water conservation policies, the evaluation of costs and benefits of large-scale water projects, and specialized water transfers designed to increase stream flows for fish while protecting sustainable food production.
Learn more about the Hall Medal here. Read an oral history of Whittlesey’s work here.
Ulappa wins award for work on forests, deer
Amy Ulappa, a recent Ph.D. student in the School of the Environment, won the Gil Pauley Award in April from the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The $1,000 travel award recognized her presentation, “Silvicultural herbicides and forest succession affect understory biomass and black-tailed deer foraging dynamics in managed forests.”
Her doctoral research investigated foraging behavior and nutritional ecology of black-tailed deer in forest stands of varied ages and management strategies.
Ulappa’s doctoral advisor is Lisa Shipley, associate director and professor in the School of the Environment. Associate professor Mark Swanson contributed to the study, as did Rachel and John Cook of the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement.
Learn more about the Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit here.
CAHNRS mentee takes 2nd at international science fair
Sarah Strickler, a Bonney Lake High School student mentored by WSU and CAHNRS faculty, took second place in the microbiology division at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair, held in May in Phoenix, Ariz.
Strickler was mentored by Joe Harrison, animal scientist and Extension specialist at WSU Puyallup, and several faculty members in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Her project looked at reducing e. coli in livestock waste through plant extracts.
Bonney Lake is one of two high schools with active ag-related science programs, which have sought assistance from WSU for mentors and study sites. As a mentor, Harrison provided suggestions on the scientific method and connections to literature, scientists and knowledgeable staff.
“My experience at INTEL ISEF was amazing!” said Strickler, who competed against 1,700 students from over 77 different countries. “The connections I made… and all of the ideas and inspiration gained is truly priceless.”
She will have an asteroid named after her by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Planetary Society, and also receives a cash prize to use for college.
Gaterama Primary School was part of WSU’s award-winning Global 4-H Partnership with Burundi.
Their outstanding work has now been sent on for judging at the national level. All winners will be recognized at the annual NAE4-HA Conference in New Orleans in October.
Communicator Awards
• Mary Katherine Deen and Janet Edwards, Mary Arnold and Liv Gifford, Oregon, received the Educational Piece award for their Teens as Teachers Training Curriculum.
• Lauren Hrncirik, Mary Katherine Deen, Kevin Wright, Suzanne Smith, Sam Tower, Pat Munts, Carey Roos, Darrel Kilgore, Sarah Storm-Tower, Darleen Munson, Andrew Mack, Matt Ziegler and Charles Berahino were named for the Promotional Package award for their Global 4-H Partnership with Burundi package.
Specialty Awards
• Jan Klein, Brian Brandt and Rachel George won the Citizenship in 4-H Youth Development Award for their 4-H Know Your Government project.
• Mark Heitstuman and Janet Schmidt won the Excellence in Animal Science award for their Regional Youth Livestock Field Day.
• Mike Jensen won the Excellence in Camping award for Camp Training Resources.
• Scott VanderWey, Kevin Wright, Dan Teuteberg, Nancy Baskett, Robby Cooper, Ken Turner and Jason Clark won for Excellence in Urban 4-H Programming for their Camp Long Challenge Program.
• Toni Gwin won for Search for Excellence in Teen Programming for the Cosplay Costume Role Playing program.
