Entomological Society of Pennsylvania
About Us
Welcome to the Entomological Society of Pennsylvania!
ESP or EntSocPA is one of the oldest entomological societies in the United States. At one time, the Society published the Melsheimer Series, a journal of entomoligical interest. People sometimes contact the Society looking for old reprints. If you are searching for Melsheimer articles, please contact the webmaster and he wll forward your request to the proper parties.
ESP holds an annual conference each Fall in Pennsylvania. We try to pick a new location around the state for each meeting to allow for equality in travel time for members attending the conference and to explore the various areas of this large state.
ESP also holds or participates in other events throughout the year. We try to hold at least one collecting trip per year to an area not normally accessible to insect collecting. Participation in these collecting trips is not limited only to current members and their families. If you'd like to come out on a trip and see what we're about, check out our Collecting Trips page. Members have also helped out at the Penn State Great Insect Fair, the Ned Smith Festival, and at other events around the state. If you'd like us to staff an informational booth or offer educational outreach at your next event, please contact us and we'll see what we can do.
Association By-Laws
An Adobe PDF version of the Society by-laws may be read by clicking here.
Association Awards
As mentioned above, the Entomological Society of Pennsylvania holds an annual meeting each year. More information about upcoming annual meetings can be found under ESP Meetings link. At each annual meeting, ESP presents awards in three categories:
-
Outstanding Student
This award is presented to a worthy student pursuing an undergraduate or
graduate degree in biology or entomology and who is conducting research
in the field of entomology or utilizing insects in biological research (i.e.
aquatic insects as indicators of pollution). The recipient of the award
must be able to attend the annual meeting and give a presentation on their
work.
- Young Entomologist
This award is for a young person or student who has shown a great interest
in entomology through activities such as maintaining an insect collection,
conducting a 4-H, Scouts, or other group project in entomology, assisting
a park, school, or science fair with entomological displays, or has been involved
in other insect related activities. An undergraduate college student who is
a natural or environmental science major and who has shown a great interest
in entomology by joining or establishing an entomology club or by assisting
with a professor's research or by working as an intern in an entomology related
field may also be eligible. The intern or college student must show an interest
above and beyond their normal expected work and convey an interest in pursuing
full time work as an entomologist or a biologist with aquatic entomology or
water pollution biology emphasis.
- Outstanding Amateur
This award is for an adult layperson who holds no formal training or schooling
in entomology or a related biological science and who has developed a great
interest in entomology or who has demonstrated entomological expertise. The
person should also be able to demonstrate that they are participating in activities
dealing with or related to entomology (such as training children and/or adults
about insects as the head of a Scout, 4-H, or other group or club, by photographing
or collecting insects, or by volunteering at an entomological museum. This
award is intended for an individual who has studied entomology on their own
or under the guidance of a scientist but who has never never receved formal
schooling as a biology or entomology major in college. This person should
not have been employed as an entomologist or related biological scientist.
Nominations for awards should be made to the ESP Awards
Committee for consideration at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting so
as to allow time for a review of the candidate. A thorough explanation should
also be supplied explaining why the nominee is the best candidate for the award.
Correspondance to the Awards Committee can be sent via email:
Jane Earle, ESP Awards Chairwoman
email: JaneEarle7 at msn.com
