Department of Entomology
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EGSA

Featured Image Above by Megan Asche

2016-2017 EGSA Officers:

PRESIDENT – ROBERT ORPET
VICE PRESIDENT – KAROL KREY
TREASURER – JOSEPH TAYLOR
SECRETARY – ADRIAN MARSHALL
FACULTY LIAISON – EMILY WINE
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR – RACHEL OLSSON

Meeting Minutes:

4/7/17

[section title="Page Section" bgcolor="" fullbleed="0" csshook=""][row layout="single" bgcolor="" textcolor="" padding="pad-top" gutter="gutter" csshook=""][column csshook="" bgcolor="" verticalbleed="0"][textblock ] Note: Congratulations to Kunle, Karol, and Abigail, and Linnaean Games team for placing in PBESA competitions! Jeb visits to discuss Prelim expectations -Jeb and Dave want to work on a way to create standards for prelim exams and what is required to pass the exams. -They have put together a list of topics that summarizes what they think you need to know and be able to describe. They cover basic biology and key entomology topics with thresholds for what it takes to get a passing vote. -These standards are being put in place not arbitrarily, they are based on current troubles graduates and post-docs are facing. History -There used to be 3-4 written subject exams, and were written by people who were not specialists. Rationale was to make sure exams are not too difficult for anyone. -Over time, no correlation was found between oral exam performance and written exam performance. -So they switched to writing a proposal (grant) and having an oral exam, however, there is still great variability between lab requirements. -Another issue is there has been too much variability between quality and execution of exams which has resulted in almost no exam failures showing almost no need for the exam in the first place. -On average there are only about 4 faculty who attend preliminary exams. Despite attempts no other faculty attend these exams. Current Dilemma -We are currently lacking courses to fully prepare you for the preliminary exams.

  • Requires more initiative on the students to find resources.
-There is extreme variation in robustness and quality of dissertation work
  • Need to have better defined expectations.
-Today post-docs and careers are not available to those who have not published -Some faculty believe this increase in work for students is too much work for faculty -Largest noticeable gaps in knowledge: Basic ecology concepts (Lotka-Volterra model, life table, etc.), basic biology (DNA replication, insects vs animals), Describing the processes of evolution and natural selection, mutation causes and rates, IPM concepts and pillars. Solutions -Idaho is hiring people, so potentially more classes there. However, the graduate school is refusing to give credit for classes from Idaho. -Make book of previous questions available to everyone. -Give each other harder mock exams the better, actual prelim should be easier than you expected not the other way around. -Read textbooks from classes that are not offered.   ----------Conclude Meeting with Jeb and Begin EGSA Meeting--------------   Item #1: Voting for officers will start April 14 President: Adrian Marshall Vice-prez: Josh Milnes, Ben Lee Secretary: Alix Whitener, Maggie Freeman Treasurer: Joseph Taylor, Josh Milnes, Abigail Cohen Faculty Liaison: Josh Milnes, Olivia Smith, Abbey Hayes, Jim Hepler, Rachel Olsson Communication Director: Abbey Hayes   Item #2: make nominations for next year’s Faculty Advisor to EGSA Nominated Dr. Zack, Dr. Owen, and Dr. Turner for EGSA faculty advisor next year.   Item #3: Insect Expo! Discussion/feedback for next year? Need more small plastic cups for mealworms, we have run out of mealworms for the last two years. Shoutouts: Alix is great at facepainting!! Thank you Rachel great job organizing!   Updates:   -Socialization (Olivia) ----Entomprom: Friday 21st (during E Paul Catts dinner) or Saturday 22nd in downstairs Vote for Saturday, will check to see availability for Saturday. Can do homecoming next year. -Last Donut and Coffee hour for the semester was today. -Etzi Bravo for April social hour   -Merch -Called both farmers markets: Want us to do informative booth where we don’t sell things. (It would be free). If we want to sell things it gets complicated. -The packets only carry 6 native seeds, our goal was to find 12. May look at new companies. -Getting on patches to have them by the end of the semester.   -Outreach (Rachel) ----Cub scout camp Wed. and Thursday, June 21st and 22nd. 50 min drive from Pullman, east of Potlatch, ID. Option for a rotation in daylong schedule or do a 40 minute presentation during lunch. (will be forwarded to Abby) - Megan agreed to do talks for Kathryn Daniels, will do girl scout presentation in morning and elementary in the evening. (April 19th-20th) Contact Megan if you are interested in joining. ROAD TRIP!   -Faculty meeting - Presentation in Wapato by Pete Landolt, fun with wasps. Will double check on date and time. Will need to reserve another room on campus. - Entomology BBQ is April 21st, it’s a potluck.   -GPSA (Joseph, Emily, Adrian) -Minutes are available to look at. There were some by-law changes.   Event updates:
  1. Paul Catts + I.C.C.C (Josh and Abbey)
-Laura sent out email with itinerary and sign up for everything you want to do (Dinner). Keep it on your schedule. [/textblock][list display_type="accordion" img_size="full" display_accordion="1" title="" tag="h2" headline_tag="h5" hide_excerpt="" hide_link="" posts_per_page="10" csshook="" bg_image="" source="feed" post_type="post" taxonomy="category" terms="EGSA" remote_posts_per_page="5"][/list][/column][/row][/section]

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Insect Expo 2017

Insect Expo 2017

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3/3/17

[section title="Page Section" bgcolor="" fullbleed="0" csshook=""][row layout="single" bgcolor="" textcolor="" padding="pad-top" gutter="gutter" csshook=""][column csshook="" bgcolor="" verticalbleed="0"][textblock ]EGSA 2017. Agenda #4   AMS #: 5703232. Or phone: (509) 335-9445. When prompted, enter the meeting ID 03232.   Time: 11AM, March 3, location FSHN164   Upcoming stuff --Pioneer symposium Friday March 17. Speakers might be interesting: a lot of industry and start up presentations. http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/pioneeringideas2017/home/schedule/ --Mary Barbercheck SCS March 19-22 --Student of year, Paper of the year, and Errett Deck Research Fellowships coming up: usually a small pool of applicants. Submission deadline is March 17th.   When should next meeting be? --2 weeks from now is March 17 (Spring Break) --Re-schedule to March 24? --Decided to reschedule to March 24th, and Dave & Jeb want to come talk with us about potential prelim changes.   Committee updates                              

  1. Merch
-Last talk was about patches and potential suppliers. Need to decide where we will get them and get a price. We will use the standard beetle badge. Trying to get them finished by PBESA. -Less than 10 calendars left, could bring them to PBESA and advertise at the table. However as of now don’t plan for that since PBESA usually doesn’t have tables. -Could sell Calendars at Insect Expo (Megan) -Working on getting the phone square to work for purchasing (Joseph)  
  1. Faculty meeting (Emily)
-No Updates
  1. GPSA (Emily + Joseph)
-Next Monday election debates at GPSA meeting (5:30), however, there is only one candidate for each. -A new opening for student regent position, comes with tuition waiver but also a significant time commitment (Entire academic year). -Health insurance update. AmeriBen is no longer part of our plan, it will be just United Healthcare (probably initiating in Aug 15th-ish). -Bowling next week (probably Thursday)
  1. Outreach / Advertising (Rachel) - Insect Expo, send flyer to elementary schools in Pullman/Moscow: need time to be approved.
-Events have been approved!! Only serving packaged things from establishments with food handling licenses so we don’t have to deal with food handling hassle. (Mary Barbercheck and Insect Expo). -Need someone to start making a flyer for Insect Expo (Megan volunteered). Will be in contact will local schools to raise awareness.  
  1. Socialization (Olivia)
- Doughnut coffee hour today, next one is April 7th. Went to Paradise creek brewery great turnout, next one at Rants and Raves in Moscow 23rd of March at 5:30 cheap beer and wine! Spring EGSA hike? Suggestions: Step-toe, Coeur D’alene, TBD on date and time. (Probably towards end of April). Prom still working on date and budget, possible April 29th.  
  1. Linnaean Games (Alix)
- No Updates  
  1. Herma Memorial
-Official guidelines from Adam opened up the idea of having an outside memorial also. Looking for feedback if we should stay with the inside memorial or if you would prefer a outside memorial. Currently there is $1,000 + faculty donations. Need:  $2,000 for a tree or $5,000 for a bench. Discussion: -Really liked the idea of the memory book that everyone could contribute to because it embodied her personality by always providing a helping hand (Rachel) -Wants to stay with inside memorial since it is already well planned out, will stay clean, and be accessable for many students (Robert) -Will replace Jakes position on the committee (Rachel)   Event updates   Mary Barbercheck SCS (Robert) --Wenatchee students are coming afternoon of 19th (Sunday), leaving morning of 21st (Tuesday) --Still need --Pickup from Pullman airport, 3PM March 19 (Sunday) [Josh Milnes] --3 meeting slots available Tuesday March 21 --More people welcome to hike at 2:30 PM on Tuesday March 21, Mary is all about it! Most students have class at that time however. --Room for going out to breakfast or more meetings Wednesday March 22 before 10:30 --https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JBmjhlJWX_03s5pbCulxV1gxRT0w-G4ZDAdsPPBjcQ0/edit?ts=5813bdaa --Currently working out room bookings for coffee hour and lunch, purchasing drinks and refreshments, catering, etc. -Cougsync search and reach out to other clubs that might be interested, tell undergrads, tell the world.   Insect Expo (Arpil 1st) -We are getting an observation hive. Tell Joseph other things you want -Rachel has been working on paperwork       I.C.C.C (Josh) --Josh met with Dr. Sheppard! -Dr. Sheppard will be checking into movies he wants to watch that day, working on getting permission for the movies. -Suggested using KQQQ for advertising, should be free. -Dr. Sheppard will take the lead and Josh will be supporting his efforts.     Upcoming events   There has been concern about E.Paul Catts and ICCC being on the same day. It turns out the night talk is Friday, and the day talk is Thursday so there is no conflict. Working on developing a shirt for PBESA: Currently looking for an insect that represents Portland:
  • Suggestions: Oregon Swallowtail butterfly, or the Symbolic Bumblebee
  New presentation opportunity EARThS conference Theme: Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of Environmental Issues Date: Saturday, April 1st Location: Washington State University: CUE 518 Keynote Address: Dr. Dan Spencer, University of Montana Abstracts due March 10 Event is April 1 (Same day as Insect Expo day!!) Seems focused on how to help the environment in some way.   The interdisciplinary Spring 2017 EARThS Conference seeks papers that address such questions from graduate students in the humanities, social sciences, and biophysical sciences at University of Idaho and Washington State University. Ideal papers will focus on case studies or cross-sectional analyses of (1) creative approaches to examine the past, present, or future of environmental issues or (2) interdisciplinary efforts that seek to address or adapt to such problems in local, regional, national, and/or international venues.   --SCS March 19-22 --Insect expo April 1 --PBESA (April 2-5, Portland): register now --E. Paul. Catts memorial lecture April 20, 2017 (Mark Brown) --ICCC: April 20?[/textblock][/column][/row][/section]

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2/17/17

EGSA 2017. Agenda #3   AMS #: 5702895. Or phone (509) 335-9445. When prompted, enter the meeting ID 02895.   Time: 1PM, Feb 17, location FSHN164   Special appearance: Benjamin Derrick explains his water monitoring project and need for insect-knowledgeable volunteers on Saturday   Stream protection in town, two transects east and west. Both in city limits. Habitat assessment: recommended once a year, biological assessment: three times a year (looks for macroinvertebrates, Spring, Summer, Fall), physical chemical assessment: once a month. Prefers to do it on Saturdays, but is flexible. Probably towards twilight at night (5 or 6pm) Will probably need waders, not very fun without them especially in winter. Joseph has helped before. He has a lot of the supplies that are needed. Doesn’t take a long time, and can be very fun. Great opportunity. Would like interested people to contact him and schedule when they would like to help. (Joseph was in the Seattle Times!!)   Committee updates                                              

  1. Merch - Talked about patches, knows a person with an embroidery shop, just need to work out a budget. Potentially have stickers.
 
  1. Faculty meeting (Emily) - No updates except Jeb will be coming to our March 17th meeting to talk about student evaluations. Pioneer symposium – a letter was delivered to Adam, so we are progressing.
 
  1. GPSA (Emily + Joseph) - Elections are coming, Joseph will be running again. March 6th, people will be giving speals who are running for executive positions. May not be useful to attend because there probably wont be any contested positions.
PDI on Stem academic Job market Feb 23rd 10:30-1 Writing workshop: submitting your thesis March 9th 1-3  
  1. Outreach (Rachel) - Fundraising event (Would need a lot of people min. 20 people) 15% of profits go to club. Pattys and Rants & Raves have a fundraiser where we reserve a time slot and 15% of the funds they make during that time go to the club. Potential outreach event, may be hard to get enough people. Could co-locate it with another event, but time slots are scarce.
 
  1. Advertising
 
  1. Socialization (Olivia) – Wednesday 22nd going to paradise creek get a dollar of your beer, the more you buy the more you save! March 3rd doughnut worry drink coffee. Entom Prom still happening! Friday March 31st (coincides with GPSA Research Expo) or Friday April 21st (coincides with E. Paul Catts, and ICCC). Could rent Minh’s!!!
 
  1. Linnaean Games (Alix) - Next meeting is Wednesday 22nd. We talked about a roster, but next week will be nailing down a roster.
Event updates   Mary Barbercheck SCS (Robert) --Sign up for slots/volunteer (5 still available, 1 dinner, 1 lunch slot, volunteers for drivers) --Advertising is coming made an amazing flyer!! --Soon it will be open to faculty, and public   Insect Expo -We are getting an observation hive. Tell Joseph other things you want   I.C.C.C (Josh) --Josh met with Dr. Sheppard! -Was a great meeting and has a lot of great information, sounds like he will be working everything out. -April 20th   Upcoming events --SCS March 19-22 --Insect expo April 1  - Getting an assassin bug, and a vinegaroon. Dr. Zack very excited to update collection boxes. --PBESA (April 2-5, Portland): register now --E. Paul. Catts memorial lecture April 20, 2017 (Mark Brown) --ICCC: April 20? --RIP B.U.G.S.S. (wants to restructure department first, we are very disappointed)     Next Meeting:  Returning to 11:00am on Friday’s

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2/3/17

EGSA 2017. Agenda #2   AMS #: 5702569.   Time: 11AM, Feb 3, location FSHN164   Special guest Dr. Steve Sheppard may drop in via Wenatchee at any time (!!!)   Item 1: permanent meeting time Friday 11AM?   Committee updates  

  1. Merch – Made money from calendars, ~16 left over, give calendars to non-wsu speakers throughout semester (6 of them). Placed one calendar in display case, selling them at a discounted rate ($8). Still considering having a patch, looking for distributors.
 
  1. Faculty meeting (Emily)
Seemed willing to pitch in for funding towards Pioneer Symposium once they are aware of what they will be funding and who it affects.  
  1. GPSA (Emily + Joseph)
Two budget resolutions. Both from transportation services 1) $5/year to maintain existing bus service. Project with this increase they can maintain existing service for another 7-10years. President is requiring balanced budgets due to deficit. Voted to put it on the ballot. 2) Add express service and increase frequency of buses. Would be an addition $5/semester. Vote: approved to put on the ballot. General Elections: Applications opened Wednesday (2/1/2017) to be a GPSA senator, executive member, etc. Events: Industry job Series Negotiating Feb 4th 10am-12pm -Excellence awards due Feb 15th -GPSA bowling night at Zeppos Feb 10th 7-9pm -Writing workshop series Feb 17th 1-3pm writers block -Student forum w/ president Schulz Feb 16th 4-5pm, Response to graduate student feedback he received from the drive to 25 townhalls. GPSA is in the process of hiring a new coordinator.  
  1. Outreach (Rachel)
 
  1. Advertising
--Mary will give talk title to Robert monday  
  1. Socialization (Olivia)
-Have happy hour at tapped, not many people showed up. (People not wanting to go to restaurants financed by cult, needs research) Doughnuts and coffee this morning, huge success. Next happy hour at Paradise Creek. Entom Prom: Have it towards the end of April (Friday/Saturday)? Will be sending out in email. Taxonomy is planning a bunch of collecting trips, all are welcome.  
  1. Linnaean Games (Alix)
Timing conflict with original time due to colloquium lunches. Rescheduled to Wednesdays at 9am. Practices are 8th/22nd of February, and 8th/22nd of March. Game masters know we will have a team.
  1. BUGSS (Abigail)
Dave emailed schwardzlander, still hasn’t responded. Emailed Ed Bechinski, Dave said he thinks BUGSS is dead…  
  1. PBESA (Alix)
Photo salon March 24th deadline, usually not many submissions, Send to Lisa Brain, $50 prize for 3 different categories. Travel awards due Feb 8th, so far no submission. Abstracts for student competition due Feb 8th. Student leadership award has no applications yet, due Feb 6th. Working on developing a fun run, earn raffle tickets for prizes, is there any interest? (Mixed approval). T-shirt are sold/given away at these branch meetings. Need anyone interested in spearheading the design of the shirt, contact is Sanford Eigenbrode.   Event updates   Mary Barbercheck SCS (Robert) --Presentation will be colloquium time, campus-wide invitation (single talk) --Will open sign-ups for meeting --Will have a coffee hour, lunch for everyone, and intimate dinners for three people with speaker and it will be provided by club funds.   Should have talk title by Monday, then we can start advertising it.   Please make sure you can make it, this is a big event and we should show the speaker our maximum respect.   Insect Expo (Robert) April 1st CUE Atrium There is money for --Live insects --Pinned insects --Edible insects --Insect displays --Mini observation hive   No one has approached with purchase orders yet. Have been in contact with Dr. Zack for updating displays, will be giving a list of needed items. Will need purchase order for snacks for kids at the Expo. Need special permission for edible insects and they are very expensive, so we are moving away from that. Discussion: Should move towards cultivating a live insect collection, and being more proactive with outreach. Make a list of potential insects/arthropods.   I.C.C.C (Robert) --April 20 in conjunction with E. Paul Catts. --Josh Milnes volunteered to be point person. Thankyou Josh   Upcoming events --Insect expo April 1 --PBESA (April 2-5, Portland): register now --E. Paul. Catts memorial lecture April 20, 2017 (Mark Brown) --ICCC: a mystery

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2016 EGSA Meeting Minute Archive

2015 EGSA Meeting Minute Archive

2014 EGSA Meeting Minute Archive