K-State is continuing to make progress in implementing federal guidelines on research security and integrity. In March of 2021, the K-State president’s cabinet chartered the Research Security and Integrity Working Group, or RSIWG, to implement the federal mandates regarding research security contained in National Security Presidential Memo-33, or NSPM-33, issued in January 2021. 

The Office of Science Technology and Policy has pushed NSPM-33 implementation into the indefinite future to give the various research funding entities the opportunity to coordinate their requirements into a more uniform approach, including a common disclosure form across all federal entities. Therefore, the RSIWG is continuing to focus on implementing K-State’s response in the remaining areas that are not affected.

Last spring, K-State implemented a foreign travel policy to protect researchers and their IP while abroad. The RSIWG has also confirmed K-State’s policy regarding the receipt of foreign gifts is in alignment with federal law. Additionally, the RSIWG is completing a proposed visitor policy with the intent to clarify the process to protect the data and the researchers’ reputations while remaining compliant with federal policy and guidelines. Hopefully, this will be released in early 2023. 

Satisfying NSPM-33’s requirements has the potential to add a tremendous administrative burden and overhead on the research community. Because of this, please do not hesitate to bring up any questions or concerns about the RSIWG’s progress you may have. Please feel free to reach out to Waithaka Mwangi, Office of the Provost, or other team members:

Chair – Jonathan Snowden, Ofice of the Vice President for Research

Beth Montelone, OVPR; Gary Pratt, CIO; Chad Currier, ITS; Paul Lowe, OVPR; Brad Woods, OVPR; Lisa Brummet, OVPR; Abby Lear, OVPR; Elliott Young, risk and compliance; Robert Large, general counsel

The following K-State researchers were issued a U.S. patent in August of 2022:

High-Efficiency, Directional Microwave Ablation Antenna           

Inventors: Punit Prakash, Brogan McWilliams* and Emily Frederick (nee Schnell)*

Patent Number: 11,419,677

Issue Date: August 23, 2022

*No longer at K-State.

The full list of K-State patent and plant variety protection certificate awardees since 2009, is available on the awards page of the research website.

Have a patentable invention or interested in the commercialization process?

Contact K-State Innovation Partners as early as possible in the discovery process to ensure proper protection of your intellectual property and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the options available in commercializing your research.

K-State Innovation Partners strives to assist K-State faculty, staff and students in developing and protecting their discoveries and inventions to return the greatest advantage to the creators, K-State and the general public.

Food and life challenges: A discussion with Ukrainian ag economist and refugee, Antonina Broyaka

The latest episode of "Something to Chew On," a podcast produced by K-State's Global Food Systems Initiative, features Antonina Broyaka.

Broyaka left the Ukraine with her two children when Russia invaded the country and is now an extension associate of the department of agricultural economics at Kansas State University. She talks about the economic impact of the Russian military aggression on both Ukrainian agriculture and global food security.

3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept.28

The Graduate School, the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships and the Office of Research Development are hosting an information session on Identifying Graduate Fellowship Opportunities at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 via zoom.  

Key funding opportunities will be discussed from NSF, DoD, DoE, Hertz Foundation, and the American Association of University Women. Opportunities in the humanities and social sciences will also be addressed — plus learn to search for fellowships on your own.  

Please register to attend. 

DARPA Forward is taking national security innovation on the road. 

From August to December 2022, six regional events held at leading research and development universities nationwide will connect Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency leaders with new communities of talent and partnerships. The ultimate goal: to energize regional and national innovation ecosystems, fuel breakthroughs in national security, and help deliver the U.S. technological advantage. 

Virtual events will be hosted by the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab. Upcoming events will be held:

• October 4-5, 25-26.
• November 15-16.
• December 13-14. 

For more information or directions, please contact Jeffrey Sheldon jsheldon@k-state.edu.

October 19-21

Bluemont Hotel in Manhattan, Kansas

KibbleCon is the premier pet food event of the year! This year's speaker lineup is filled with top pet food visionaries and influencers who will be discussing everything from palatability to packaging, safety to supply chains. Check out the full list of speakers and itinerary on the KibbleCon website.

Attendees can register online through Sunday, Oct. 16. To register at no cost, K-State faculty and staff should use the code, facultykc22. K-State students should use the code, studentkc22. Space is limited, so don’t delay!

Register to attend.

Do you know students with research relevant to pet food? Have them submit their poster abstract to Stephanie Pierce, smpierce@k-state.edu, by Sept. 30 to be entered into a poster presentation competition. The top submissions will be asked to present their research at KibbleCon for a chance to win scholarships — first place will receive $500 and second place will receive $300.

Note: If COVID-19 protocols necessitate a change to the format of the event, registrants will be notified by email.

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new $20 million investment in Entrepreneurial Fellowships through a multi-year cooperative agreement with Activate.org. The Activate Fellows supported by NSF will be scientists and engineers from a variety of backgrounds and regions across the U.S. who will translate research breakthroughs to new products and services with broad societal benefits.

The Entrepreneurial Fellowships will help make entrepreneurship more accessible for people in less-developed innovation ecosystems, expanding geographic diversity and increasing participation of women and others who have been traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Learn more about Entrepreneurial Fellowships including how to apply.

1-2 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 27

The NSF’s new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, TIP, advances use-inspired and translational research in all fields of science and engineering, giving rise to new industries and engaging all Americans — regardless of background or location — in the pursuit of new, high-wage jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Join this introductory webinar to learn more about the vision for TIP, programs/funding opportunities, and more.

Register for the Intro to NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships webinar on Zoom. 

No prior review experience is needed. Learn more about how you can participate in this important process.

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation Engines program is recruiting reviewers to evaluate its first set of NSF Engines proposals. With awards of up to $160M per NSF Engine, the program focuses on driving innovation and regional economic growth in all parts of the U.S. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved on the ground floor with a brand-new federal program model that we expect to serve as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, workforce development, technology translation, and new models for driving innovation for decades to come.

Who We Need

NSF is looking for a diverse group of reviewers representing all backgrounds, technical disciplines, and technology sectors to evaluate program proposals. NSF is searching for seasoned as well as new reviewers who may have less experience with the NSF merit review process but may have deep experience as practitioners in core focus areas — namely use-inspired research, economic and workforce development, regional innovation ecosystem building, and translating ideas from the lab to the market.

Learn more. 

1-2:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6

NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences, or EAR, invites the Earth science community to a virtual town hall with updates on community and NSF activities, including those that address the National Academies report A Vision for NSF Earth Sciences 2020-2030: Earth in Time, the decadal vision for NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences. Join this Town Hall to hear from EAR leadership and program officers on new programs and opportunities in Earth science research, education, and infrastructure.

The town hall will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Pre-registration is required for this event.

You can submit questions you'd like EAR program officers to address during the town hall by emailing ear-communication@nsf.gov. Please include the subject line “Earth in Time Town Hall Question.” We will also utilize the Q&A feature in the Zoom webinar.

October 11 deadline

The goals of the Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations, or AccelNet, program are to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand research challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts. The program seeks to foster high-impact science and engineering by providing opportunities to cooperatively identify and coordinate efforts to address knowledge gaps and research needs.

This solicitation invites proposals for the creation of international networks of networks in research areas aligned with a grand challenge identified as a priority by the research community or NSF, such as the NSF Big Ideas or in an active program solicitation. AccelNet awards support the connections among research networks, rather than supporting fundamental research as the primary activity. Each network of networks is expected to engage in innovative collaborative activities that promote synergy of efforts across networks and provide professional development for U.S. students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers. Two proposal categories covered by this solicitation include design and implementation. 

It is strongly recommended that prospective PIs contact the AccelNet program officer(s) to ascertain that the focus and budget of their proposed activities are appropriate for this solicitation.

Learn more. 

5:30-9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 20

THE FUTURE IS OURS 

The BioNexus KC Annual Event will unite 500 leaders for a common purpose – healthcare innovation. Immerse yourself in KC’s rich life sciences ecosystem as we stimulate collaboration and FOCUS FORWARD on the future of KC.

Learn more. 

Stressed out, burned out and dropping out: Why teachers are leaving the classroom Yahoo! News

Reintroducing bison to grasslands increases plant diversity, drought resilience, study finds NSF

Tonsor Reports Meat Demand Holding Steady Feedlot

Which Cows Are Worth Keeping? Select Cows That Best Fit Your Operation Drovers

Kansas farmers to supply grain to Taiwan as part of $576 million wheat trade deal Topeka Capital-Journal

Get ready for a food fight: High grocery costs are here to stay Politico

NSF invests in bio-inspired and bioengineered systems for artificial intelligence, infrastructure and health

The U.S. National Science Foundation announces an investment of $30 million to support new interdisciplinary, fundamental research projects for the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation, or EFRI, program. Awardees will work on projects that involve engineering brain-inspired systems and creating safe and sustainable engineered living systems. Each $2 million, four-year award integrates research with ethical, legal, and social considerations and with broadening participation activities. NSF

The importance of bee-ing together

From habitat loss to pesticides, many bees face threats to survival, and in turn, so do the flowers that depend on them.

However, simply saving a greater number of bees is not enough. Whether in fields, forests or farms, flowers rely on a wide range of pollinators to be most productive — including dozens of species of wild bees. NSF

NIH-funded team develops method to identify future SARS-CoV-2 mutations that could affect rapid antigen test performance

A research team funded by the National Institutes of Health has shown that commercially available rapid antigen tests can detect past and present variants of concern and has identified potential mutations that may impact test performance in the future. As new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to emerge, concerns have been raised about the performance of rapid antigen tests. Nature

Can wolves bond with people like dogs do?

A new study of young wolves suggests they are indeed capable of making doglike attachments to people. Under some circumstances, they might even view humans as a source of comfort and protection. Science

Scientists are using AI to dream up revolutionary new proteins

In June, South Korean regulators authorized the first-ever medicine, a COVID-19 vaccine, to be made from a novel protein designed by humans. The vaccine is based on a spherical protein ‘nanoparticle’ that was created by researchers nearly a decade ago, through a labour-intensive trial-and error-process.

Now, thanks to gargantuan advances in artificial intelligence (AI), a team led by David Baker, a biochemist at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, reports in Science that it can design such molecules in seconds instead of months. Nature

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