AIARD Competitive Scholarship Program
The Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) administers a competitive scholarship program to nurture and support students. Partial scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to students who have a sincere interest in international agriculture and rural development issues and their solutions. The scholarships facilitate experiences to enhance the students' understanding and appreciation of issues and opportunities in international agriculture and rural development. Scholarship applications are evaluated by an AIARD committee. Scholarships may be used to cover expenses related to travel, lodging, registration fees and meals. Undergraduate or graduate students, international and American, are encouraged to apply. The deadline for receiving applications is March 31, 2007. Scholarship recipients will be notified by April 15, 2007. For more information and an electronic application form, please visit http://aiard.org/meetings/2007annual/student.htm

Vietnam Education Foundation Announces Visiting Scholar Program
The Vietnam Education Foundation is pleased to announce the VEF Visiting Scholar Program for Vietnamese nationals who already hold a doctorate in a field of science, technology, engineering, or math - referred to as the STEM disciplines. The Visiting Scholar Program is intended for support of professional development training, which may include studies, research, and/or observational activities, to take place in cooperation with a leading U.S. academic institution. The visiting scholar will undertake a program of up to one year in length, which may include formal courses, workshops, seminars, laboratory or field research, or other types of professional development activities. Upon returning to Vietnam, the Visiting Scholar must use the knowledge and skills acquired in the U.S. to train others. In this way, the VEF Visiting Scholar Program is a training-of-trainers (TOT) program. The online application period is February 1 – April 6, 2007. Deadline for all applications: April 6, 2007. Visit http://www.vef.gov/news.php?id=160 for more information.

Zamorano Days, April 15-18, 2007
Zamorano, a private international university located near Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is sponsoring Zamorano Days, April 15-18, 2007. The Zamorano Office of International Education is currently recruiting participants and accepting reservations for U.S. faculty and staff to visit their campus, see the facilities, and meet the students. Please contact Mike Owen mdowen@iastate.edu or Kim Diehl kdiehl@zamorano.edu

Exchange Visitor Form for Visiting Scholars (DS-2019 Forms) - Reminder
DS-2019 (Exchange Visitor Forms for Visiting Scholars) forms no longer need to be signed by the Dean of Agriculture or by Global Agriculture Programs. They may be forwarded directly to ISS from the departments.

Ag Travel Courses Set for Spring Break

Undergraduate Field Experience in the Sonoran Desert. Faculty leaders John Nason (EEOB) and Mary Harris (ENT) and 8 students will travel to the Sonoran Desert in Baja California, Mexico. This course will engage students in field research and cultural experiences in the Sonoran Desert. Team-oriented research will include terrestrial and marine components and will encompass experimental design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation (visual and oral). Research will be interspersed with field trips to the spectacular beaches of Bahia Concepcion and to palm oases and Spanish missions nestled deep in the Sierra Giganta.

Soils and Crops of Costa Rica. Students will tour the northern part of Costa Rica looking at soils and crops of the area. They will see yucca, pineapple, and citrus crop production. The tour will include time on the Pacific coast and a tour of the College of Agriculture at the University of Costa Rica. Agronomy faculty leaders are Randy Killorn and Lee Burras.

Integrated Management of Tropical Crops. The focus of this program is integrated pest management. It is a truly multi-disciplinary look at pest problems in tropical agriculture and creative solutions to building a sustainable system. Students will be based at the University of Costa Rica and will be able to interact with UCR students regularly. They will learn about tropical agriculture, swim in 2 oceans, hike active volcanoes, eat exotic fruits and vegetables, see howler monkeys, iguanas, and cloud forests and practice Spanish. This is part of an exchange. In alternating years, UCR students come to ISU to do a week-long workshop. Faculty leaders are Mark Gleason (PHP), Donald Lewis (ENT) and Gail Nonnecke (Hort).

After-trip Reflection Workshop Available for Returned Study Abroad Students
A reflection workshop, “Reflections of Study Abroad – What Did You Bring Back With You?” sponsored by the Agriculture Study Abroad office, will be held at 2121 Martin on April 5. This workshop is designed to help returned study abroad students finish the circle of their international learning experiences and maximize their study abroad experiences. During the workshop, students will have the opportunity not only to share their international experiences with each other, but also learn to identify useful skills they have gained from these experiences. Contact Difei Shen at dfshen@iastate.edu or Jamie Harpenau at jharp@iastate.edu with questions.

Agriculture Study Abroad Photo Contest
The "There and Back" photo contest is designed by the Agriculture Study Abroad office to help students who have traveled the world to share their experiences through photos and encourage others to take part in study abroad experiences. The application deadline is March 23, 2007. Each applicant can submit up to 3 photos in 3 categories (cultural content, artistic and technical quality, and ISU around the world). Photos should be submitted to the Agriculture Study Abroad office at 111 Curtiss Hall or emailed to Franny Clary fclary@iastate.edu in JPEG format. For more information, please contact Franny Clary fclary@iastate.edu.