Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
500 S LIMESTONE 109 KINKEAD HALL
LEXINGTON,KY 40526-0001
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
The field of insect molecular physiology has been fragmented in recent years by a variety of trends. Major meetings have increasingly focused on individual physiological processes and hormones (ecdysone, juvenile hormone, and neurohormones) and have convened at locations outside the United States. These meetings have also drawn the attention and support of foreign governments and businesses seeking novel methods for insect pest management. The field has been further fragmented because some workers are focused on the use of model organisms to address basic issues, whereas others are focused on aspects of insect molecular physiology that are more relevant for economically important pests. Further, some workers primarily work at the developmental level, whereas others are using molecular methodologies. The proposed symposium is intended to counter many of these fragmenting trends and reinvigorate this area of research and raise its visibility within the United States.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Provide a domestic forum for the presentation of current information relating to research in insect molecular physiology Promote an integrated view of insect molecular physiology in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of various factors that regulate insect life cycles. Identify strategies and approaches that are novel, environmentally sound, and effective for controlling pest insect populations. Invite prominent scientists who may not be familiar with trends in research presented at the ESA, in an effort to broaden their participation and interaction with entomologists in related and relevant fields (e.g. insect resistance, integrated pest management, plant-insect interactions) Offer current research information to entomologists who may not be familiar with recent developments in insect molecular physiology research. Celebrate the lifelong contributions of Dr. Judy Willis in the field of insect molecular physiology especially in the areas of metamorphosis, cuticular proteins etc. and seek her counsel concerning ways to promote interaction of basic and applied insect molecular physiology research within the United States.
Project Methods
The theme for the next Annual Meeting is Celebrate Entomology: Colleagues, Science, Ideas. The proposed program symposium will celebrate entomology by bringing together leading scientists conducting cutting edge research in insect molecular physiology. The invited speakers will present original research and perspectives in their area of expertise. We anticipate that these presentations from the leading scientists will induce excitement and new ideas in young entomologists especially graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and new investigators. It is also anticipated that some new collaborations and friendships will be developed among scientists working in basic and applied entomology. We invited about 50 scientists working in insect molecular physiology to participate in this symposium. We also sent an invitation to all the members of Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology section (old section B) of the Entomological Society of America Network to contribute to the symposium. The contributions that fit the theme of symposium were selected for 30 or 15 min talks. The rest of the contributions will be presented as posters. The posters will be on display throughout the day of symposium and there will specific time set aside for discussion with poster presenters. We plan to publish the papers presented at the symposium in a special issue of an insect journal. In fact, we already have an invitation from Journal of Insect Physiology editor, Dr. Denlinger to contribute a special issue based on presentations at the proposed symposium. We expect about 200 participants and 20-25 additional attendees at ESA because of this special symposium. We plan to prepare a book containing summaries of all oral and poster presentations and distribute it to the symposium participants at the beginning of meeting. ESA annual meeting book normally does not include summaries of symposium talks.