A Word From Our Department Head...
Dr. Kevin Heinz
It is hard to believe, but the majority of the holiday festivities we celebrate today did not exist more than 150 years ago (not much longer than the 110 year history of the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University). A universally common tradition of the winter holiday season is gift-giving with our family, friends, and at times even those who we do not know (ex. the secret Santa tradition). This gift-giving signifies the importance of our relationships with others, and during this season we often take a step back and remember the significance of these relationships.
The Department of Entomology is a network of faculty, staff, and students creating a culture of collegiality, cooperation and excellence. In 2009, this network conducted more than $3 million in discovery, transitional, and applied entomological research benefiting the health and well-being of Texans and their spheres of influence. Enrollment in the Entomology and Forensic and Investigative Sciences degree programs increased by 17% from the previous year, exemplifying our joint investments in the development of tomorrow’s leaders, visionaries, and responsible citizens. Extensions Specialists and Extension Agents – IPM molded research based information into practical and relevant technologies and practices benefiting each of the 254 counties in Texas and beyond. Texas Apiary Inspection Service provided vital assistance in keeping the beekeeping industry healthy, and thus most of agriculture, in Texas and all locations where Texas bees are used for pollination. In the many service projects linked to the department, individuals rolled up their sleeves in their commitments to improve the lives of the less-fortunate in their local communities. These represent some of the many gifts the network of faculty, staff, and students give to the citizens of Texas and the many stakeholders with interests in entomology.
This giving of gifts is truly an exchange. Due to the generosity of many donors who invest in the education of Entomology students, the Department annually awards approximately $60,000 through 24 individual endowed scholarships and fellowships (see http://insects.tamu.edu/scholarships/index.cfm). In 2010, the Department opens the doors to the "Janice and John Thomas, '59 Honey Bee Facility," which is a new 6,500 square foot building that will house the Department’s Honey Bee Research and Apiary Inspection Service programs (see http://insects.tamu.edu/feature/honey_bee_facility/index.cfm). Significant financial gifts from Janice and John Thomas (’59), AgriLife Research, Eastman Chemical, the Texas Beekeepers Association, and the Department of Entomology have made completion of this project possible. Programmatic gifts, such as those from the Department of Entomology faculty and staff in support of the new Entomology Student Enhancement Endowment (http://insects.tamu.edu/feature/honey_bee_facility/index.cfm) support excellence in student programs, and inaugural awards from this endowment are scheduled for disbursement in 2010. In addition to these and other financial donations, may give unselfishly of their talents and time in service to the Department and its many programs.
Indeed, this selective list of gifts signifies the importance of the Department’s many mutually beneficial relationships with others for which we are fortunate and thankful. As we move closer to our celebrations of Christmas, Eid al-Adha, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and New Years, we rejoice in the many gifts bestowed upon all of us and look forward to reinforcing existing relationships and building new ones in the coming year.
Remain safe in your travels and celebrate with us a joyous 2010.
Kevin M. Heinz, Professor and Department Head
Department Unveils 'Bug Bytes' Podcast
Have you ever wondered how insects moved or how scientists track where honey bees migrate? The folks at Solpugid Productions and the Department of Entomology have teamed up to unveil the Bug Bytes podcast series.
Each podcast will cover a broad range of topics, from research to popular culture and natural history to human interaction.(Read More)
Entomology Serves Local Community During Fall
Whether it be helping feed the hungry or helping to save the environment, the Department is there to help in the Brazos Valley. The Department's dedication to serving expands to not only the stakeholders and students but to the whole Bryan/College station area.
Every year, the Department participates in the Statewide Employee Charitable Campaign, a fundraiser that helps raise money for local charities. This year, our Department held bake sales and sold a cook book of a collection of staff members' favorite recipes. (Read More)
Research Updates Discussed at 2009 Science Conference
The Texas AgriLife Extension, Research, and the Department's faculty converged this year at the College Station Conference Center to discuss the latest research results, current trends and the state of the agency and department during the Entomology Science Conference.
Change was the topic of the keynote address section, in which Associate Department Head for Extension entomology Chris Sansone addressed the audience on the state of Extension and IPM Coordinator Charles Allen addressed the situation of the IPM Program. (Read More)
Roberta Priesmeyer and Mary Cobos Retire After Years of Service
Its hard to say goodbye—especially when it's a longtime friend of the department. Both Mary Cobos and Roberta Priesmeyer have retired from the Department this past summer.
Mary retired July 31 after working at least 26 years with the Texas A&M System. (Read More)
Nelson Receives Staff Meritorious Service Award, Drees Named To ESA Governing Board
This fall, the awards keep coming as faculty and staff receive numerous awards and recognition.
Laura Nelson received the President's Meritorious Service Award on December 1.
Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Association for Former Students (Read More)
New Faculty Hired for Teaching, Research and Extension This Fall
Dr. Aaron Tarone (left), Dr. Raul Villanueva
(center), and Dr. Mike Brewer.
The Department, AgriLife Research and Extension Entomology hired three additional faculty during the summer and fall this year, including Drs. Aaron Tarone, Mike Brewer and Raul Villanueva.
Dr. Aaron Tarone joined the Department's faculty on August 1 after working as a postdoctoral research associate in the Sergey Nuzhdin Lab at the University of Southern California.
Tarone's research at Texas A&M will focus on genomic studies of development and population biology in flies. (Read More)
Graduating Students Honored at Fall Commencement
From left, Callie Rosenbalm, Tim O'Brien. Ashleigh Faris and Lydia Wessner.
A number of Entomology and Forensic and Investigative Sciences students received an early Christmas as they got the chance to begin the next steps in their lives at fall commencement on December 18.
The students were part of a larger group of more than a thousand of students during the 7pm exercise on Friday, which included the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Architecture, Science, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.(Read More)
Graduate Students Shine at Twelfth Annual Graduate Student
Eighteen students waited nervously to present their latest research to their peers during the Department's 12th annual Graduate student Forum.
Topics that were discussed included forensically important flies to insect genome sizes to the effects of different ratios of good and sterols in the performance of Heliothis virescens. (Read More)
We are the Aggies, the Aggies are We! Former Student News
The Aggie spirit extends beyond the halls and classrooms of Texas A&M University. Wherever Aggies go they carry with them a spirit and pride that can be seen in their daily commitment to excellence in education, work ethic, and drive to accomplish their goals.
Former Entomology students embody the spirit of Aggieland and we are proud to recognize past and recent graduates in their daily lives. (read more)