ESA North Central Branch Recognizes Three Entomology Faculty
Print
EmailThe Department of Entomology is proud to announce that Rufus Isaacs, Amanda Lorenz, and Zsofia Szendrei have been recognized by the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America (NCB ESA).
The Department of Entomology is proud to announce that Rufus Isaacs, Amanda Lorenz, and Zsofia Szendreihave been recognized by the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America (NCB ESA). The NCB-ESA award recipients will receive acknowledgment of their accomplishments and serve as the Branch nominee at the Entomological Society of America National Meeting which will take place in November 2023.
Distinguished Achievement in Extension Award– Rufus Isaacs
“My extension program is primarily in berry crop pest management, and it has emphasized development of decision tools, conservation practices, and research-based recommendation for various controls to support IPM programs in these crops.” Isaacs said.
“This work has been dominated in recent years by information transfer and coordination in response to the arrival of spotted wing Drosophila in our state.” Isaacs explained, ”We have provided statewide and regional leadership on this pest and how to respond. Our findings are extended to grower, extension, and industry stakeholders by talks, printed and online publications, websites, webinars and through on-farm evaluation and demonstration trials providing real-world experience with new practices. I include students and postdocs in planning and delivering extension activities, helping to ensure the availability of the next generation of entomologists with experience interacting with farming communities.”
Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Award - Amanda Lorenz
“I am an Academic specialist in teaching in the Entomology Department. I teach some large enrollment courses in entomology and environmental science. But I also advise our undergraduate students in entomology programs and direct the MSU Bug House.” Lorenz said.
“My favorite thing about teaching is opening people's awareness to the marvelous aspects of our world. A lot of what I teach about are insects, and a lot of folks either dislike insects, or they don't notice them very much. And there's not a lot of attention goes that goes into the fact that they are super beneficial. They are worth conserving, they're important to our ecosystems. And so the more that I can convey that to people, the more excited I get.”
Excellence in Integrated Pest Management Award - Zsofia Szendrei
“Chemical ecology and biological control offer sustainable approaches for suppressing insect pests; these themes have been a central focus in my research.” Szendrei explained. “In particular, I’m interested in developing pest management systems where these can be used in combination and as part of an integrated approach to manage pest populations.”
Szendrei went on to say, “My program has gained acceptance and recognition among peers for our work on local (field-scale) habitat management and biological control. We have contributed to our understanding of the interactions of habitat traits and arthropods in agroecosystems. In our investigations we use novel techniques that allows the growth of a field called 'molecular detection of trophic interactions'.”
