- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
ESA will be meeting with the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) with an expected attendance of more than 7,000 scientists and researchers. The theme is "Synergy in Science: Partnering for Solutions."
Frank Zalom, president of the Entomological Foundation Board of Directors and the 2014 president of ESA, will preside over the Foundation meeting and present a number of awards. Michael Parrella, professor and chair of the department, will be introduced as the vice president-elect of ESA.
James R. Carey, distinguished professor of entomology, will receive the ESA's distinguished national teaching award.
Mohammad-Amir Aghaee, formerly with the Larry Godfrey lab, will receive the John Henry Comstock Award, Pacific Branch of ESA (PBESA). He holds a doctorate in entomology from UC Davis and is now a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University.
Jenny Carlson, who recently received her doctorate in entomology from UC Davis and now holds a postdoctoral position at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, will discuss her avian malaria research. At UC Davis, her major professor was Anthony Cornel. Carlson was based in the William Reisen lab.
The student debate will include the following topics: What is the single best genetically engineered technology for arthropod pest control? With the development of tools like RNAi, in the future we may be capable of eradicating species. If we can eradicate a species, should we? What is the single best tool for managing pesticide resistance?
The UC Davis Linnaean Team, which won the PBESA competition, will compete for the top honors. It won the PBESA competition with Ralph Washington Jr. (Steve Nadler lab) as captain; and members Jéssica Gillung (Lynn Kimsey lab), and Brendon Boudinot (Phil Ward lab). New to the team is Ziad Khouri (Lynn Kimsey lab). The Linnaean Games are lively college-bowl type competitions at which the teams answer questions about insects and entomologists.
The Insect Photo Salon includes two images by Kathy Keatley Garvey, communications specialist for the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. The text from the program: “Some of the most beautiful insect photos in the world will be presented this year in the Insect Photo Salon.”
Dozens of UC Davis representatives will participate. They will lead symposiums, discuss their research, compete in the student presentations, and/or discuss their research posters. (See program)
EGSA will be selling T-shirts at the meeting, including its 2015 winning T-shirt by Stacey Rice, junior specialist in the Larry Godfrey lab. It depicts a long-legged wasp on a penny-farthing or big wheel bike.