In case you haven't already
heard, Texas gets to play host to a major event in the world of entomology
and pest control this year. The annual conference of the
Entomological Society of America will be held November 10-13 in Austin.
The theme of this year's meeting is Science Impacting a Connected World
and approximately 3,000 entomologists from all over the world are expected to
attend.
Many
of you might be asking, "What's in it for me?" In our opinion,
plenty. The ESA meeting draws urban entomologists from all over the country to
hear the latest in structural pest control research and activities. For a taste
of the kind of information that you can hear at ESA, check out my
past posts on ESA meeting highlights. In recent years, ESA has become very
welcoming to the pest control industry, even to the point of sponsoring special
sessions for ACEs and other PMPs.
Rates for attending the meeting include early bird and on-site registrations. If you register before September 23, ACEs can register for $455 (comparable to the member rate of $430). Others pay $635 for early-bird and $765 for late registration. The meeting will be held at the Austin Convention Center.
This year the Texas IPM Association for Public Schools (TIPMAPS) will be holding their annual meeting jointly with ESA. The TIPMAPS group is Texas' professional association for Public School IPM Coordinators. They and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will be sponsoring a daylong program called Under the Lens, a CEU granting educational program and annual meeting featuring entomologists speaking on various topics including delusions of parasitosis, mosquitoes, pyrethroid label changes and fire ants, bed bugs, and rodent management around schools. Advanced registration for the day is $100 (includes lunch) and $125 for onsite registration. Although the program is designed for school IPM professionals, PMPs should also find the presentations and speakers of great interest. Registrants for the program will get access to the meeting exhibits and limited access to some of the scientific paper sessions. If you are interested in registering, or just want to learn more, click here. There is also a chance to become a sponsor or vendor for this event – hurry space is limited.
A few of the symposia and paper sessions at the ESA meeting that might be of special interest to you as a PMP include:
Rates for attending the meeting include early bird and on-site registrations. If you register before September 23, ACEs can register for $455 (comparable to the member rate of $430). Others pay $635 for early-bird and $765 for late registration. The meeting will be held at the Austin Convention Center.
This year the Texas IPM Association for Public Schools (TIPMAPS) will be holding their annual meeting jointly with ESA. The TIPMAPS group is Texas' professional association for Public School IPM Coordinators. They and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will be sponsoring a daylong program called Under the Lens, a CEU granting educational program and annual meeting featuring entomologists speaking on various topics including delusions of parasitosis, mosquitoes, pyrethroid label changes and fire ants, bed bugs, and rodent management around schools. Advanced registration for the day is $100 (includes lunch) and $125 for onsite registration. Although the program is designed for school IPM professionals, PMPs should also find the presentations and speakers of great interest. Registrants for the program will get access to the meeting exhibits and limited access to some of the scientific paper sessions. If you are interested in registering, or just want to learn more, click here. There is also a chance to become a sponsor or vendor for this event – hurry space is limited.
A few of the symposia and paper sessions at the ESA meeting that might be of special interest to you as a PMP include:
- Applied Research on Bed Bug Management
- Arthropod Associated Allergy
- Healthy Schools: Research, Benefits and Impacts in the Classroom (Sponsored by the U.S. EPA School IPM program)
- The Impact of Repellent Research and Development of New Arthropod Repellents
- Chagas Disease in the USA? A New Risk?
- Transmitting Mosquito Information: From Laboratory to Surveillance and Management in the Field
- How Cool is Entomology?
- Stored Product Entomology: Impacts on a Connected World
- Urban Entomology Presented Papers
- Medical/Veterinary Presented Papers
- Informal Conference on Insects of Ornamentals
- Click here for a full listing of special symposia topics
Though
some of the papers are highly technical, most of the urban entomology sessions
should be accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of entomology and an
interest to see the latest science behind the craft. Dr. Mike Merchant and I
hope many of you will consider attending.
