The following article appears in the Spring 2012 issue of American Entomologist. Click here for a PDF version.

ESA President Grayson Brown, a professor at the University of Kentucky, has been an ESA member since 1973. During the last decade he has helped ESA to communicate with overseas entomologists by introducing live international presentations at the ESA Annual Meeting in 2005, and by implementing Virtual Posters, which have been a part of our Annual Meetings since 2009.

As this year’s President, he wants to expand ESA’s global outreach even more by increasing the number of international members. Richard Levine, ESA’s communications program manager, recently interviewed Dr. Brown about his plans for the future.

RL: Why do you think it is so important for ESA to expand internationally?

GCB: Growth in international membership is the strongest growth area in the ESA. While other branches are not growing much (if at all), the International Branch is growing at nearly 50% each year. This trend is likely to continue into the future, so if we want to keep ESA strong and healthy, we must acknowledge and manage this trend.

RL: What was the impetus for the initiative to grow internationally? Where did it come from?

GCB: We have always had international members, but historically we have not had very many of them. It was just too hard for them to participate fully in the Society. However, with the continuing advancement of technology, participation has become easier. In 2005, it became possible to deliver oral presentations at our Annual Meeting from anywhere in the world. In 2009, we introduced Virtual Posters that made remote presentations available to all entomologists outside of North America. That same year, the International Branch held its organizational meeting. Also in 2009, the Society adopted as its mission statement the following: “The Entomological Society of America promotes opportunities for entomologists and enables them to share their science globally.”  So we’ve been going in this direction for some time; we recognize the global nature of the science as central to the ESA’s mission. As the technology to remotely participate in the Society and to share our science globally improves, we can expect this trend will continue. By adopting a specific initiative for international expansion, we’re acknowledging that continuing trend and we are committing to managing it for the benefit of the ESA, its members, and the science.

RL: What steps will be taken in order to grow ESA’s international membership?

GCB: First, we continue to assist the International Branch in its growth efforts. Second, we are exploring various ways in which we can interact with our sister societies around the world (see below). Third, we are actively seeking to establish collaborative relationships with other international groups, such as UN-related organizations, and various international NGOs. Finally, we are working to attract international conferences such as the International Congress of Entomology.

RL: Can you elaborate on ESA’s collaboration with other entomological societies?

GCB: There are a number of societies throughout the world with whom we are collaborating at various levels. Each society has its own priorities, and each benefits by interacting with the ESA in different ways. Examples of collaborations that we are currently discussing/exploring include:

1. Joint Memberships allowing members of other entomological societies to join ESA for a small additional fee, and allowing current ESA members to do the same with other entomological societies.

2. Joint Meetings – The International Branch can co-locate its Annual Meeting with other societies throughout the world. And in some cases, the other societies can co-locate with us.

3. Certification – Our certification program is an excellent one. We could market it to other societies in various ways, from offering certification preparatory courses in the local languages to franchising aspects of the program. This effort is very early in the exploratory phase, but it could become a crucially important effort in the future.

4. Meetings of Entomological Society Leaders – We would like to initiate a scheduled meeting of entomological society leaders from around the world. Such a meeting would enable us to discuss our joint concerns, share how we meet our common challenges, and develop plans to further our collaboration.

5. Facilitating collaboration among the individual entomologists in each society (see below).

I should emphasize that none of these are realities today, most will require approval by the membership, and the membership will be fully informed as these possibilities take shape.

RL: How would international expansion benefit current ESA members?

GCB: First, by managing this growth, the ESA will remain a strong and vibrant society for the foreseeable future regardless of the future situation (financial, institutional, etc.) in any one country or region. Second, current members will have access to more entomological science, both in our journals and in our meetings. Third, by growing internationally, we will be increasing the networking opportunities for our members, which will lead to increased professional opportunities in all areas of entomology.

RL: How would this benefit entomologists in other countries?

GCB: Like current ESA members, entomologists in other countries will have access to more science and professional opportunities. Additionally, the ESA is a globally respected organization and, in many countries, a publication in an ESA journal or a presentation at an ESA meeting can advance one’s career. This is especially important for students and young professionals in developing countries. Finally, most countries have national entomological societies. However, most of them are small and their scope is geographically limited. Membership in a global ESA will provide these entomologists with a much broader view of their disciplines and improve the quality of their own efforts.

RL: How would it improve the science of entomology?

GCB: The ideal is to have all entomological science available to all entomologists in a structured, organized, and useable form. If one is studying a particular entomological subject, you would like to have all of the information on that subject, regardless of where that information was obtained or in what language it was originally published. When you go to an ESA meeting, you would like to exchange information with the best entomological minds in the world (and they are not all in the U.S.). In these, and many other ways, an internationally expanded ESA will enrich us all as entomologists, and our science will thus advance more rapidly. This is exactly why the ESA was formed in the first place, so international expansion is, in a sense, simply an extension of the ESA’s raison d’etre.

RL: What changes, if any, will current members of ESA’s International Branch notice?

GCB: The International Branch will grow more rapidly and will have more money to work with. A long-term plan for meetings will emerge, and the Branch’s meetings will become more exciting and attractive. The Branch will grow in influence, particularly with respect to elected officers.

RL: Is this just a one-year effort, or is it the way of the future?

GCB: International growth for the ESA is locked in at this point; the International Branch is not going away. The current effort is primarily recognition of that fact and an attempt at developing a management program so that the Society and its members can best benefit from that growth. Future administrations will certainly have their own priorities, but the Society’s international growth will continue to demand attention.

RL: What can ESA members do to help the international expansion effort?

GCB: First, think about how they, the ESA, and their science could benefit from this effort. Second, talk amongst themselves and talk to their Section and Branch leaders about their ideas and concerns. There is a network on International Entomology (http://tinyurl.com/7jkhk54), and I participate in it whenever it’s active, so ESA members can make better use of that forum. Third, the Society’s leadership (its presidential officers and other members of the Governing Board) are always happy to hear from the membership, and all of our contact information can be found on the ESA Web site. I will personally be at each Branch meeting this year, and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with our members.