The community of scientists who work on social insects has always had a home in ESA and will continue to do so under the new structure. A new Network is forming that will provide a focal point for social insect biology within the ESA.

In the past most of us have belonged to section C, but others have been members of A and B; we had used subsection Cb as our organizational center. The Network will function as Cb has in the past. In the new organizational structure our guess is that most of you will affiliate with either the Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity section or the Integrative Physiology and Molecular Insect Systems section. You will be fully able to participate in the Network regardless of which section you choose.

This Network will be able to organize Member/Network Symposia, ten-minute paper sessions, and poster sessions. We would hope to also be able to cluster student competition papers within the Network. International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) can continue to have its business meeting during the ESA meeting, but our guess is that in the absence of the old Section Cb, the IUSSI meeting will also function as the decision-making locus of the Network.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments. The 2007 ESA meeting is organized under the old structure, but will the launch pad for the new structure, so if you attend you'll be able to help determine how the Network will function and in particular to plan Network activities at the ESA meeting in 2008.

Co-organizers of the new Network:

Gene E. Robinson
University Of Illinois
505 S Goodwin Ave
Dept Entomol 320 Morrill Hall
Urbana, IL 61801-3707
Phone: 217-265-0309
Fax: 217-244-3499
Email: generobi@life.uiuc.edu

Michael D. Breed
University of Colorado
EPO Biology
Campus Box 334
Boulder, CO 80309-0001
Phone: 303-492-7687
Fax: 303-492-8699
email: michael.breed@colorado.edu