Entomology 2020 President's Welcome

I have the unique pleasure to invite you, along with the entire entomological community and other interested individuals, to participate the virtual 2020 ESA Annual Meeting. At the start of my presidential term, I remarked that this will be an exciting and premier event. That was before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and we had planned to meet in Orlando, FL. Instead, our change to a 100% virtual format provided a historical and unique opportunity to have a premier meeting in an exciting and fresh format.

As President of ESA, I am committed to an ESA annual meeting that will be rewarding to all participants. Since becoming an ESA member in 1981, I have attended 36 annual ESA meetings because of the professional value from these events. The 2020 Annual Meeting theme is “Entomology for All.” With over 7,000 members, ESA is diverse among its people and among the entomological interests of the members. ESA strives to embrace diversity and inclusion in all that we do. Everyone is welcome to this virtual event regardless of which membership category or whether one is a member or not. There are many in the scientific community who are engaged in a myriad of entomological subjects, but their formal titles may not be entomologist. They are certainly welcome too. The virtual format makes it more convenient for anyone to attend as compared with an onsite meeting. Nobody will need travel funds or transit time to attend this meeting. Thus, anyone, anywhere around the globe can conveniently attend without concern about travel support, travel time, or their ability to secure a VISA.

So, what can one expect at the 2020 meeting other than travel savings? Expect not one, but two dynamic Plenary Speakers (Dr. Chavonda Jacobs Young, USDA-ARS Administrator; and Dr. Raymond Wheeler, NASA Senior Scientist). As the largest agricultural research organization in the world, USDA-ARS solves research problems with diverse expertise. It is no secret that NASA is conducting research for “space agriculture” to facilitate their mission to another planet. For the first time for ESA, the Founders’ Memorial Lecture will be presented by a speaker from an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Dr. Michelle Samuel-Foo, Alabama State University, will give an exhilarating lecture recognizing the outstanding accomplishment of the late Dr. Ernest Harris, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and former USDA-ARS scientist.  

The follow are a few other components to expect at the virtual event.

  • Concurrent live sessions (Monday, November 16 -Thursday, November 19).
  • On-Demand sessions (Wednesday, November 11 – Wednesday, November 25).
  • Participation from anywhere in the world.
  • Paper, poster, and infographic sessions.
  • Student paper, poster, and infographic competitions.
  • Symposia, workshops, business meetings, and affiliated meetings and functions.
  • Assortment of Virtual Exhibit Booths.
  • Programming to engage everyone’s interest.
  • Social interactions by video or chats: theme coffee breaks and Happy hours; Yoga, etc.
  • Entomology Games.
  • Antlion Pit Competition.
  • If connecting from home, your entire household can freely join you.
  • Front row seats for all.
  • Can bring your own favorite food & beverages.

Two outstanding entomologists, Juang-Horng “JC” Chong (Clemson University, Florence, SC) and Theresa Pitts-Singer (USDA-ARS, Logan, UT), are serving as Co-chairs for the program committee for the 2020 annual meeting. JC, Theresa and the other members of this remarkable committee have been quite nimble and creative as a team. The entire fabulous ESA staff team continues to provide meeting support that is second to none. Of note for this event are Rosina Romano, Becky Anthony, Cindy Myers and Executive Director Chris Stelzig.

No matter where your entomological interests lean, expect to have a pleasant and memorable experience at this event. Most of us have faced undue stress and disrupted lives this year; yet, we can find some relief by coming together virtually to share in “Entomology for All.” I look forward to sharing this historical virtual experience with each of you.

Best wishes,

Alvin M. Simmons
ESA President