- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
"His references all described him as a full-time creative scientist, a full-time wonderful teacher, and that he tends to carry the administrative load of the department on his shoulders," related UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, a longtime friend and colleague. "That's borne out by his stellar record at UC Davis. Walter is a wonderful researcher and innovative teacher who is making UC Davis and the world of entomology a better place."
Both Hammock and Leal are internationally celebrated scientists that make UC Davis proud. Among their many honors: members of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors, and fellows of the Entomological Society of America.
The Energizer Bunny was at full industrial strength at the 27th International Congress of Entomology (ICE2024), a weeklong conference in Kyoto, Japan that drew more than 4000 researchers from 82 countries. This year's theme: “New Discoveries Through Consilience."
Leal, a UC Davis distinguished professor of biochemistry in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and a former professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, chaired the ICE Council for International Congresses of Entomology, which decides the next venue (it's set for July 17-21, 2028 in Capetown, Africa). ICE meets every four years.
And as the chair, Leal delivered the welcoming remarks, declaring the congress open. He also presented three seminars--his own, and two others for colleagues unable to attend. In addition, Leal served as an entomology ambassador and video journalist, sharing news on social media and keeping conference attendees and the outside world up-to-date and informed.
Leal, a native of Brazil who speaks Portuguese, Japanese and English, is no stranger to ICE or to Japan. He and Alvin Simmons, a research entomologist with USDA-ARS, Charleston, S.C., co-chaired ICE2016, held in Orlando, Fla. It drew a record 6600 delegates from 101 countries.
Before joining the UC Davis faculty in 2000, Leal studied and worked in Japan. He received his master's degree in agricultural chemistry from Mie University and his doctorate in applied biochemistry from the University of Tsukuba, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in entomology (1991) at the National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science. He then served six years as the head of the Laboratory of Chemical Prospecting, becoming the first foreigner to be granted tenure there.
Research Presentation. At ICE2024, Leal delivered his research presentation on “The Circa-bi-dian Clock of the Large Black Chafer (Holotrichia parallela) Manifests in the Beetle's Sex Pheromone Reception,” at a chemical ecology symposium, co-chaired by three former Leal lab members: Zainulabeuddin Syed, now at the University of Kentucky; Wei Xu, Murdoch University, Australia; and Yuko Ishida, Research Institute of Luminous Organisms, Hachijojima.
Entomology Ambassador. As an entomology ambassador at ICE2024, Leal encouraged students and early-career entomologists. As a journalist he shared news of the event, filming some 50 videos, many of which he posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). His X account is https://x.com/wsleal2014.
Wigglesworth Memorial Award Lecture. When Leal learned that colleague May Berenbaum, professor and head of Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, would be unable to attend to present her Wigglesworth Memorial Award Lecture, he subbed in, delivering a lecture on “Insect Chemical Communication: Research Notes from Tsukuba and Davis.” Coincidentally, Leal's colleagues had nominated him for the Wigglesworth Award, and Berenbaum had provided a letter of support.
Third Presentation. When Leal learned that his collaborator, Haroldo Xavier Linhares Volpe of the Department of Research and Development, Fund for Citrus Protection (Fundecitrus), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil, had to cancel at the last minute, he stepped forward and presented the seminar, "Effect of the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Infection on the Asian Citrus Psyllid Response to a Putative Sex Pheromone."
"Your Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, Distinguished Guests, Presidents of Entomological Societies, and Entomologists from All Corners of the Planet," he began. "Welcome to The Resilient and Consilient International Congress of Entomology. (Kyoto he Youkoso, in Japanese)
"One hundred fourteen years and 24 days have passed since our first International Congress of Entomology (ICE), which was held in Brussels in Belgium. The 16th Congress in Kyoto in 1980 was the first to be held in Asia and it has taken 44 years and 19 days to return to Kyoto. ICE is young compared to the city of Kyoto – one of the oldest municipalities in Japan. Like Kyoto, we keep our traditions, but also, like Kyoto, we keep pace with an ever-modernizing world.
"Indeed, the science of entomology has exploded in scope and depth over the past 114 years. This week, you will be presenting or hearing about research and new developments in all frontiers of entomology, some of which may have been considered inconceivable at our last congress, held in Helsinki, let alone the first International Congress in Belgium.
"As you may know, entomology is the most welcome field of all scientific endeavors. We proudly welcome amateur and professional entomologists, field entomologists and those carrying out fundamental research (which may not be applicable within a foreseeable future), early career scholars and world-renowned entomologists, and—of course—students—be they graduate, undergraduate, high school, or elementary school students. Throughout its lifetime the International Congresses of entomology have been exercising diversity and inclusion, something we are all very proud of.
"Entomology welcomed me as a chemical ecologist/biochemist working on insect science. Entomology made me a Fellow and Honorary Fellow of some of the most prestigious entomological societies, a Gakkaisho recipient, and even President of the Council of the International Congresses of Entomology. If you practice entomology, you are an entomologist, and be proud of that label – because we are the most all-inclusive profession.
"I sincerely hope that by the end of this week, you'll conclude that this was the best congress you have ever attended. Let the science begin!"
Helping New Faculty Members. Hammock also points out that Leal is always welcoming and encouraging new faculty members. Said assistant professor Sascha Ct Nicklisch of the Department of Environmental Toxicology: "I think that Walter is an indispensable advocate and role model for many junior and mid-career faculty. He actively voices the concerns that many young faculty have or think, but who are too afraid to speak up while still being nontenured and in a volatile, vulnerable position. A perfect example is Walter's fight for fair compensation: I think he realizes that it is not just about numbers. For many, if not all, of the faculty working in academia, it is about showing younger colleagues that their contributions to research, teaching, and faculty diversity are valued and that their future here at UC Davis matters."
Now Walter Leal has set his sights on ICE2028. “We hope that having the next International Congress of Entomology in Cape Town," he said, "will raise the profile of entomologists from the entire African continent.”
You'll see the Energizer Bunny, aka Walter Leal, at full industrial strength. Unlike the Energizer battery mascot, though, Leal won't be beating a drum while wearing a pink outfit with dark sunglasses, and sporting blue-and-black striped flip-flops.
He's the real deal, as Hammock will tell you. "Never runs down."
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
That's what UC San Francisco medical student Joshua Lang wrote in his piece, With Summer Coming, Can the Zika Virus Be Contained?, published April 14 in The New Yorker.
Meanwhile, at UC Davis, plans are underway for a public "Zika Public Awareness Symposium," set Thursday, May 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 1001 of Giedt Hall.
"It is very important that students and the public-at-large learn how to prevent a possible Zika epidemic as this is the first virus known to be transmitted both sexually and by mosquitoes," said coordinator Walter Leal, a chemical ecologist and professor in the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Leal, who collaborates with fellow mosquito researchers in his native Brazil, is the co-chair of the International Congress of Entomology (ICE) meeting, to take place Sept. 25-30, 2016 in Orlando, Fla.
"This symposium is important to host because Zika is a rapidly spreading across the globe so people need to be informed," said Amarita Singh, one of the 18 students organizing the symposium. "Recent studies have shown that this particular virus not only affects pregnant women, but is a threat to all. Since there is no vaccine or medication, it is better to educate now to help prevention."
"I became more aware of the disease when Professor Leal began to discuss it in our biochemistry class, which is what originally sparked my interest," Singh said. "After learning about how dangerous the disease was and the discovery of the first case in Yolo County, I decided to take the opportunity in organizing the symposium."
Singh added: "It is incredible how much research has been done on Zika virus in the short amount of time. I am hopeful that in the near future that a vaccine will be developed, but until then we should do everything in our power to prevent this horrible virus from spreading. My concerns are that people may not be well informed which allows the virus to spread even more rapidly."
Said James Warwick, also one of the student organizers: "I think one of the scariest things about Zika in the United States is the lack of public knowledge about it. The scientific community needs to research the virus and develop a vaccine, but can't without funding. And without public pressure, securing funding is going to be slow. Also, the sheer suddenness in which Zika has burst onto the global scene has left both scientific research and public knowledge behind. That is why we are hosting the symposium, to bring the public up to speed, update them on the current research, and to give them the knowledge they need to protect themselves against transmission. As a byproduct, public awareness will increase public pressure to get the world on the right track to stop the spread of Zika."
"The virus itself is extremely alarming," Warwick said. "It can cause extreme neurological and immunological defects, as we see in babies born to infected mothers. But the direct hosts' symptoms usually consist only of temporary pain, rashes, fever, and the like; and only one in four or so people infected with Zika become symptomatic. So there is a very real possibility that a person could be infected, not be aware of it, and potentially pass on the undetected infection to sexual partners or their children. This is made all the more plausible by the fact that many people have never heard of Zika."
A flier (below) distributed at the campuswide UC Davis Picnic Day noted that the "Zika virus is a risk to all of us, not just to pregnant women." At the May 26th symposium, folks will "learn the symptoms and learn the facts and science about Zika and how you can protect yourself from this disease."
The scientific-based symposium will include "expert panels and speakers throughout the United States and the world, including those working on the front lines of the Zika epidemic." Speakers will be announced soon.
Attendance to the symposium is free, but due to limited space, those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to ucdstudentsagainstzikav@gmail.com
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
If you're nurturing a passionflower vine (Passiflora), you've probably seen "The Butterfly Ballet."'
The Gulf Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae), orangish-reddish butterflies with silver-spangled wings, stay close to Passiflora, their host plant. It's the circle of life. The males patrol for females, find them, and mate. The females lay eggs, eggs become caterpillars, caterpillars become chrysalids. The adults emerge, and the Butterfly Ballet begins anew.
The Gulf Frits have no borders or boundaries, nor should they, as they shoot and soar over fences and gates. Theirs is not a gated community.
The "no-borders, no-boundaries" scenario reminds us of the upcoming conference of the International Congress of Entomology (ICE), to take place Sept. 25-30, 2016 in Orlando, Fla. The theme: "Entomology Without Borders."
The conference, expected to be the world's largest gathering of entomologists--some 7,000 are expected to attend--is chaired by chemical ecologist Walter Leal, professor in the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, and vegetable research entomologist Alvin Simmons of USDA/ARS. They have lined up prestigious speakers, including two Nobel Prize winners: Peter Agre (Nobel Laureate, 2003 and Jules Hoffmann (Nobel Laureate, 2011). Among the other speakers is one of Cuba's leading entomologists, Juan Andrés Bisset, head of the Vector Control Department at the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine and an advisor to the Cuban Public Health Ministry.
Other UC Davis connections? Two of the plenary speakers are James R. Carey, distinguished professor of entomology at UC Davis, and Arizona State University Provost Robert E. Page Jr., former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology.
ICE is held once every four years in different countries around the world. Next year it will be held simultaneously with the annual meetings of the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, and other organizations. For more information, access the ICE website at http://ice2016orlando.org.
Meanwhile, think of "Gulf Frits Without Gulfs" or "Bugs Without Borders" closely linked to "Entomology Without Borders."
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Professor Walter Leal of the University of California, Davis, is co-chairing the 2016 International Congress of Entomology (ICE) conference, themed "Entomology Without Borders," to be held Sept. 25-30 in Orlando, Fla. Some 7000 entomologists from all over the world are expected to attend.
But he himself could be considered an "entomologist without borders."
Leal has achieved international, national and state recognition and stature for his work in insect communication and his leadership achievements.
Leal, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and former professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology. was just named an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Entomology at a conference held in Dublin, Ireland. He was recognized for his lifetime contributions to entomological science at the global level. He earlier was named a fellow of the society.
And, on Oct. 13, Leal will be inducted as a fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, "a governing group of more than 400 distinguished scientists who have made notable contributions to one or more of the natural sciences." Leal joins Lynne A. Isbell, a UC Davis professor in the Department of Anthropology, as the two UC Davis inductees this year.
Leal, born in Brazil and educated in Brazil and Japan, joined the UC Davis faculty in 2000. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Entomological Society of America and is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.
A chemical ecologist, Leal is a past president of the International Society of Chemical Ecology and received the silver, medal, the society's highest honor, in 2012. He was the first non-Japanese scientist to earn tenure in the Japan Ministry of Agriculture.
Leal investigates the molecular basis of olfaction in insects and insect chemical communication. (See the Leal lab's work on DEET in Entomology Today.) He researches environmentally friendly alternatives to control insects of medical importance, and also targets agricultural pests. (See research projects.)
Leal is truly an entomologist without borders. In addition to his many global accomplishments and achievements, he is a citizen of the world, speaking his native Portuguese, as well as Japanese, and English.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Especially since the United States is busily restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Think entomology. Think ICE. Think ICE'ing on the cake. Think ICE'ing on an entomological cake.
When the 2016 International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2016), co-chaired by a UC Davis chemical ecologist Walter Leal takes place next year in Orlando, Fla., it truly will follow the theme, “Entomology without Borders.”
One of Cuba's leading entomologists will deliver an invitational lecture on the mosquito that transmits dengue, announced Leal, professor of biochemistry and chemical ecology at the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology
Juan Andrés Bisset, head of the Vector Control Department at the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine and an advisor to the Cuban Public Health Ministry, will speak on “Aedes aegypti Management Strategies for Dengue Control in Cuba.” He studied at UC Riverside with G.P. Georgiou in 1986.
“When I received my first passport as a Brazilian citizen, it was stamped ‘not valid' for Cuba,” recalled Leal. “That sparked a curiosity about that country. After I become an entomologist and a U.S. citizen, my curiosity shifted toward entomology in Cuba. Fast forward to today: The International Congress of Entomology could not justify its theme, ‘Entomology without Borders,' if we did not have at least one delegate from Cuba.”
“We are absolutely delighted to host Dr. Juan Bisset.”
Added ICE 2016 co-chair Alvin Simmons, U.S. Department of Agriculture research entomologist: “We are dedicated to providing a premier congress experience for 7,000 to 8,000 international attendees. This includes fostering an environment of scientific breadth and all-inclusiveness. So, it is quite fitting for participation from Cuba to be a part of this historical event.”
The conference, expected to be the world's largest gathering of entomologists, takes place Sept. 25-30, 2016. Bisset will speak from 4:30 to 5:30 p. m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Many mosquito researchers, including those from the University of California, are expected to attend.
In an email to Bisset, Leal called attention to a recent editorial in Science magazine “Science in U.S. Cuba relations” (May 15, 2015).
“ICE 2016 will be a historic global event, as this conference will return to the United States after a 40-year hiatus,” Leal told him. “We are expecting the participation of 7,000-8,000 delegates, including Dr. Peter Agre (Nobel Laureate, 2003 - a strong advocate for science diplomacy, particularly Cuba-US relations) and Dr. Jules Hoffmann (Nobel Laureate, 2011), Dr. John Hildebrand, and many other distinguished scholars."
Bisset is heavily involved in the control of vectorborne diseases, including diseases transmitted by several mosquitoes, such as Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles albimanus, and Aedes aegypti. He focuses his main research on ecology, dynamic population of insects, insecticide resistance, and resistance mechanisms.
The recipient of some 18 international and national awards, Bisset has been published his research in 106 scientific papers. Since 1990, he has participated in more than 45 technical activities as an adviser on malaria and dengue vector control in Latin American countries, and is a frequent lecturer in Cuba and other countries.
ICE is held once every four years in different countries around the world. Next year it will be held simultaneously with the annual meetings of the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, and other organizations.
“Each Congress provides a forum for scientists, researchers, academia, technicians, government, and industry representatives to discuss the latest research and innovations in the many diverse fields of entomology, to share expertise in their specific fields of interest, and to present their research and products,” said Richard Levine, ESA's communications program manager, in a news release. “The week-long meetings allow participants to meet others from around the world with similar focus areas and to form important networks to collaborate and share knowledge, with an overarching goal of supporting and protecting the world's population through better science."
For more information about ICE 2016, access http://ice2016orlando.org.