UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal at the podium of ICE2024, delivering a substitute lecture when May Berenbaum was unable to attend.

"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."

ICE2024 theme at the conference in Kyoto, Japan.

"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."