OECD Fellowship and Workshop Opportunities
The Organization for Economic and Cooperation Development (OECD) is once again sponsoring travel fellowships between member countries. Fellowships are awarded under the “Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems” program. Details of the program are available at www.oecd.org/agr/prog/ The newly designed website provides ready access to components that address most commonly asked questions. Fellowship applications are now an on-line process. OECD sponsors travel fellowships for Ph.D. scientists (or equivalent) between 26 member countries (see website for list of member countries). The average fellowship is for about 10 weeks, but the range is from 2 to 26 weeks. The individuals must have a permanent position or similar post in a home laboratory to return to after the fellowship (i.e., this is not a short-term post-doc program). For questions, contact Dr. Jim Schepers (402-472-1513), who is the national correspondent for the U.S. and one of the scientific coordinators through 2008. You can also contact Dr. John Sadler who began a term as scientific coordinator in 2007.

Fellowships will be awarded annually through 2009. Please note that the deadline for 2008 fellowships is September 30, 2007. Individuals receiving OECD fellowships within the past 5 years are not eligible. Travel for 2008 fellowship recipients cannot begin until February 15 and must be initiated by December 15, 2008 at the latest.

Higher Education for Development RFA Announced
Higher Education for Development (HED), in cooperation with USAID, is issuing a request for applications for Nepal - Creating a Center of Excellence to Strengthen Capacity in Forestry and Natural Resources Conservation. The deadline for receipt of applications is June 29, 2007, 5:00 p.m. EDT. HED anticipates making 1 award of up to $400,000, contingent on USAID funding. Please view the full RFA at www.hedprogram.org/tabid/240/Nepal.aspx For more information about HED, please visit www.hedprogram.org

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 Study Abroad Employee Awarded Student of Distinction
Melissa Nasers, senior in Agriculture Education and International Agriculture, was named Student Employee of the Year Student of Distinction by the Student Affairs office. Melissa was recognized for her excellence as a Student Travel Consultant for the Agriculture Study Abroad Office and as an undergraduate coordinator for the Science With Practice Program

Over 100 College of Agriculture Students Taking ISU Classes Abroad this Summer
There are over 100 students studying abroad through College of Agriculture short-term programs this summer. These students are going to 9 countries including China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Panama, Tanzania, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Uganda.

Chinese Student Group Visiting ISU
Eleven Chinese students and one professor from Zhejiang University, China, visited ISU from April 30 – May 14. During their two-week visit, the group explored and studied issues in the following four areas: sustainable agriculture, agriculture entrepreneurship, biorenewables and agriculture forestry, and food system. They also learned about the culture through participation in different cultural activities. This program is part of a student exchange program between ISU and Zhejiang University. On May 15, an ISU student group will travel to China and work with the Chinese students to conduct case studies in the four areas mentioned above in rural China. The hosts of this Chinese delegation are Dr. Robert Jolly, Dr. Richard Schultz, Dr. Difei Shen, and Denise Bjelland.

Final Winners of Agriculture Study Abroad Photo Contest!
With the help of Dean David Acker, Brian Meyer, program director of Agriculture Communications, and Jamie Harpenau, an undergraduate student from ABE who has studied abroad in Ghana, the Agriculture Study Abroad office has picked three winners for its fifth study abroad photo contest. The winners for the three categories are: 1) Jamie Seeman who went to Costa Rica Spring 2007 winning the first place for ISU Around the World; 2) Franny Clary who went to Peru Summer 2006 winning the first place for Cultural Content; and 3) Maegan Oelmann who went to Australia Summer 2006 winning the first place for Artistic and Technical Quality.

ISU Around the World Winner: "Inquiring Minds" Jamie Seeman, Costa Rica Spring 2007
Cultural Content Winner: "Harvest of the Andes" Franny Clary, Peru Summer 2006
Artistic and Technical Quality Winner: "Ayers Rock" Maegan Oelmann, Australia Summer 2006