Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

09/04/2026

Pumpkin spice season has some competition.

Brianna McBride (’22 dairy science, food science) helped develop Horizon Organic’s new Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll creamer, blending creativity, science and consumer testing to bring a new flavor to market.

See how skills learned in the classroom helped turn an idea into a product now lining store shelves and get her advice for students exploring careers in food product development.

https://www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2026/iowa-state-alum-creates-one-kind-coffee-creamer

Iowa State University-Animal Science Iowa State University Alumni

09/03/2026

Thousands of monarch butterflies will soon pass through Iowa on their annual migration to Mexico and you can help scientists track their journey.

Researchers with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium are asking Iowans to report monarch roosts, which are clusters of dozens to hundreds of butterflies resting in trees and other sheltered areas. These observations provide important data that help guide conservation efforts across the migration corridor.

Learn how to identify a monarch roost, why these reports matter and other ways to contribute to monarch migration research this fall.

Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium

Iowa landowners are being asked to help document the remarkable monarch migration as thousands of butterflies make their journey south to Mexico this fall. Researchers with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium (IMCC) ask for assistance to identify areas where monarchs rest in clusters, like tree...

09/02/2026

What if you could explore some of Iowa's biggest environmental solutions in one place?

That's the goal of Iowa State's new Watershed Innovation Farm, a hands-on demonstration site where visitors can see water quality conservation practices in action. The farm will serve as a living laboratory for research, education and student learning while showcasing innovations that help protect Iowa's waterways.

Read more about Iowa State's newest farm ⬇️

All Articles New ISU demonstration site to put public spotlight on water-quality best practices September 02, 2026 Lab-on-a-drone technology developed by Iowa State University professor of mechanical engineering Jonathan Claussen, shown in use last month at Big Creek northeast of Madrid, will be par...

09/01/2026

Lucille Jonas came to Iowa State planning to become a veterinarian. One microbiology class changed everything.

Now a fourth-year Ph.D. student, she's studying the communities of bacteria that live in the reproductive systems of cattle, pigs and sheep. Her research is challenging assumptions about which microbes are actually harmful and helping scientists better understand animal fertility.

Read more ⬇️

ISU Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology

Lucille Jonas did not set out to become a microbiologist. In fact, she arrived at Iowa State University with a very different goal in mind: to become a veterinarian. A general microbiology course in her first year shifted that trajectory and set her on a path toward graduate research examining a lit...

08/31/2026

From tracking black bears in Mississippi to supporting literacy programs in Ghana and working alongside midwives in Ecuador, CALS students spent the summer gaining hands-on experience around the world.

Thanks to the Robert H. Maxwell International Service Learning Scholarship, eight global resource systems students are building skills, expanding their perspectives and exploring career paths through internships that make a real impact.

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Seven global resource systems students completed internships this summer, while another will complete one this fall, all thanks to the Robert H. Maxwell International Service Learning Scholarship.

08/28/2026

It's never too early to start building your future.

That is the advice Eric Anderson and Katy Griner, the newest members of the CALS Career Services team, have for students. Whether you're a first-year student exploring possibilities or preparing for an internship, Career Services offers support to help you develop skills and confidence every step of the way.

Get to know the new team members and discover what CALS Career Services can do for you. ⬇️

Students will find two new faces in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Services office this semester.

08/26/2026

What if a class assignment could take you to a tropical rainforest without ever leaving campus?

A global team led by Ann Russell, emeritus adjunct associate professor of natural resource ecology and management, is creating immersive online learning modules that bring tropical ecology to life through virtual field tours, storytelling, real research data and interactive activities. The OCELOTS network has already created 29 modules used by learners around the world, making authentic field experiences more accessible than ever.

ISU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management

What do you get when you bring together tropical biology researchers, educators and software developers? Interactive and immersive learning modules for students!

08/25/2026

Your next walk across campus could introduce you to a tree you've never seen before. Iowa State University is adding 50 to 60 rare tree species to campus this year!

From sawtooth oaks to striped maples, these new additions will give students a chance to see and study species they might not encounter anywhere else in Iowa while helping strengthen the future of the campus canopy.

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With more than 12,000 trees, Iowa State University’s campus is recognized as one of the country’s most beautiful colleges. This summer, an additional 50-60 trees will be added to that count, all of which are considered “rare” species.

08/24/2026

Have a great fall semester Cyclones!