ESA President Dr. Grayson C. Brown has just announced that the Entomological Society of America will host ICE 2016, the XXV International Congress of Entomology, September 25-30, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
ICE 2016 is expected to be the largest gathering of scientists and experts in the history of the entomological sciences, with an expected attendance of over 6,000 delegates. The Congress will be co-located with ESA’s 64th Annual Meeting, along with other scientific society meetings. The latest global research on insect science will be presented under the theme “Entomology without Borders.”
“ICE 2016 will provide a dynamic forum for the exchange of the latest science, research, and innovations among entomologists all around the world," Dr. Brown said. "Research shared will cover every aspect of the discipline and will bring thousands of experts together from every corner of the globe, many in person in Orlando and others remotely through the latest technologies. Students and early career scientists will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their research in front of a global audience, to compete in global competitions, and will make important connections to last a lifetime. This event, supported by other international initiatives ESA has in the works, will help us significantly broaden the awareness of the science and Society around the world, help us build more collaborative partnerships, and aid us in providing access for our members and others around the globe to the latest research and science.”
ICE History
The first International Congress of Entomology was held in Brussels, Belgium in 1910. Over the past 102 years, Congresses have been held every four years throughout the world, with interruptions occurring only during World Wars I and II. The last Congress hosted in the United States was in 1976 in Washington, D.C. The most recent Congress was just held in Daegu, South Korea, August 19–25, 2012, where an estimated 2,500 attendees gathered for the XXIV International Congress of Entomology.
Each Congress provides a forum for scientists, researchers, academia, technicians, government, and industry representatives to discuss the latest research and innovations in the many diverse fields of entomology, to share expertise in their specific fields of interest, and to present their research and products. ICE delegates represent many countries in both hemispheres, and include both the developed and developing world. The week-long meetings allow participants to meet others from around the world with similar focus areas and to form important networks to collaborate and share knowledge, with an overarching goal of supporting and protecting the world’s population through better science.
Congress programs include presentations by world-renowned entomological leaders, oral and poster presentations throughout each day, exhibits, awards, social events, tours, cultural events, and gala dinners.
ICE 2016 Organizing Committee Co-Chairs
The ICE 2016 Organizing Committee will be co-chaired by world-renowned entomological leaders Dr. Walter S. Leal and Dr. Alvin M. Simmons. Professor Leal, former chair of the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, is a pioneer in the field of insect communication. Dr. Alvin M. Simmons is a research entomologist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. He is recognized internationally for his innovative research on integrated pest management (IPM) in vegetable and field crops.
“ICE 2016 will allow a unique opportunity for scientists to interact with the world’s leading experts in many fields to exchange ideas and build on their research at the largest gathering in history," said Dr. Leal. "We expect to see scientists come out of retirement who won’t want to miss this event. We will now begin the important work to form an Organizing Committee made up of experts from around the world to provide a comprehensive scientific program to support our 'Entomology without Borders' theme."
Dr. Simmons adds, “The symposia will highlight the most recent advances in a wide diversity of entomological subjects around our global theme. And with the addition of ESA competitions, such as a world-class Linnaean Games and other recognition programs for students to the Congress program, we expect a large number of students and junior scientists from all around the globe to attend. Just think of the breadth of science that will be discussed in five days and the important professional connections that will be made!”
The theme: "Entomology without Borders"
In the 21st Century, entomology has gone beyond borders. With its multidisciplinary approach, entomology explores new scientific frontiers. Insect populations are moving beyond human-established geographical borders and the insect world is rapidly becoming a global system. The ease of international transportation and increasing global trade allow the convenient dispersal of pests and associated diseases. Invasive arthropod pests in their new environments typically leave behind their natural enemies. Climate change is already causing global changes in species diversity and distribution, and patterns of outbreaks of arthropod-borne pathogens can be affected.
Changes in current climatic boundaries, urban population development, and agro–ecosystem borders have significant implications for population dynamics of native and invasive species. As the entomological world becomes a global system, there are increased challenges and opportunities for sustainable programs. New resistant cultivars, major changes in integrated pest management programs, increased funding, and improved response time to new pest and associated disease outbreaks are essential to meeting the needs of the world’s food supply as the human population grows. Internet and open access publication sources make it more convenient to communicate globally about entomological problems and solutions, and to forge collaborations.
"With ESA’s long history of providing well-organized and well-attended Annual Meetings, we are looking forward to broadening our scope and joining forces with several other scientific societies to present an event that will be one for the record books?-one the entomological community will be talking about for decades to come," said ESA Executive Director C. David Gammel. "The scientific program will be unmatched, and the beauty and convenience of Orlando will be remembered long after 2016.”
ICE 2016 Highlights
Planned ICE 2016 highlights will include scientific presentations organized by experts in the field covering every discipline of the science, virtual poster and remote presentations that will bring additional research to the meeting through the latest technologies, events and opportunities for building networks and collaborative research across the world, lively competitions for students from around the world with opportunities for prizes and recognition, exhibits showcasing the latest products and services available for the entomological sciences, exciting cultural events, tours, and attractions for attendees and their families, opportunities for scholarship and travel assistance, unique opportunities for participants to share research with a worldwide audience and to be published, a multitude of sponsorship opportunities to build brand awareness, and assistance for travelers with letters of invitation, luggage and shuttle bus service, and more.
Supporting Societies and Organizations
The following societies and organizations supported ESA’s bid to host ICE 2016:
• Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies
• American Society of Agronomy
• Arab Society for Plant Protection
• Australian Entomological Society
• Crop Science Society of America
• Ecological Society of America
• Entomological Foundation
• Entomological Society of Canada
• Entomological Society of China
• Entomological Society of Japan
• Entomological Society of Southern Africa
• European Congress of Entomology
• Florida Entomological Society
• Hungarian Entomological Society
• International Society of Chemical Ecology
• IR-4 Project
• Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology
• Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
• Orange County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners
• Royal Entomological Society
• Sociedad Chilena de Entomología
• Sociedad Mexicana de Entomología
• Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil
• Soil Science Society of America
The Entomological Society of America is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA has more than 6,400 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government.
For logos, photos, or more information on ICE 2016, contact Rosina Romano, ESA Director of Meetings, at rromano@entsoc.org or call +1-301-731-4535 x3010.
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