CoMSoB 2025

19th Annual Conference on the Materials Science of Bovines

Roping together experts in the field since 2007

The Conference on Material Science of Bovines (CoMSoB) brings together academics, industry professionals, and ruminant aficionados to explore cutting-edge advances in the materials science of bovines. Join us to exchange ideas, networking opportunities, and cow samples.

Featured Speakers

Talks will be untimed and instead end when the speaker is thrown off a bull. The bull will be chosen by the subsequent speaker.
Space Researcher

Jack Reid

Cows from Space

We present observations from NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) imaging spectrometer identifying skin constituents in various bovine breeds and species, both wild and domestic, across the Western United States. Looking forwards, we propose a global seasonal survey of bovine skin materials.

Jeb

Jebediah Paisley

Genetically Engineering Lactose-Intolerant Bovines

In order to increase the fraction of cow milk used for human consumption, we utilize CRISPR-Cas9 to develop bovines with the inability to digest their own lactose. We find the colloidal properties of our cows' milk makes it particularly amenable to the manufacture of semisoft cheeses. Novel manners of avoiding PETA are discussed.

Professor Thompson

Billie Jenkins

On the Tensile Strength of the Cow

We report the first measurements of the end-to-end tensile strength of the common dairy cow (Bos taurus). Technical innovations include the development of an Instron tensile testing machine of sufficient size. Novel manners of avoiding PETA are discussed.

Jamie

Jamie Simon

Mechano-Cow II

We extend the concept of the mechanical bull to the dairy cow. This talk will include a demonstration and a milk tasting.

Anyka

Anyka Bergeson-Keller

Keynote: TBI Mitigation Strategies for Bovines

We present three TBI mitigation strategies that serve to buffer the sharp horns of male bovines: tennis balls, pool noodles, and helmets. We propose a pool-noodle-based intervention for broad adoption.

August 20, 2025

Conference venue

Cletus Redding's Abandoned Barn
(don't tell him)
307 X Ave
Ames, IA 50014

Schedule

  • Survey of the field - 8:30 AM
  • Lesser talks - 9:00 AM
  • Keynote - 10:45 AM
  • Panel: what percentage should you tip a cow? - 11:30 AM
  • Lunch - 12:00 PM
  • Panel: alloys vs. crossbreeds - 1:00 PM
  • Lunch (regurgitate and chew) - 2:00 PM
  • Panel: recognizing bullshit science - 3:00 PM
  • Reverse rodeo - 5:00 PM

Submit Your Abstract

Interested in presenting at CoMSoB 2025? Fond enough of beefy herbivores to brave our predatory fees? Like fracture mechanics enough to break the law and trespass on Cletus Redding's property (seriously, don't tell him)? We cordially invite researchers and professionals to submit their abstracts for consideration. Please include your name, affiliation, a bribe, and a 236-word abstract of your proposed presentation.

Email Your Abstract
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