Entomological Society of Canada – Gold Medal

Dr. Peter G. Mason is the 2019 recipient of the Entomological Society of Canada’s Gold Medal. This award, now in its 57th year, recognizes outstanding achievement in Canadian entomology.
Dr. Mason is a world recognized biological control specialist and has been influential in a number of arenas. His research has contributed to developing new tools to improve biological control agent risk assessment, to better understand the dynamics of pest-natural enemy systems, and to identify new threats posed by non-native species. He established national collaborations to develop climate models to predict the potential establishment of pollen beetle and leek moth in Canada, and to assess the impact of cabbage seedpod weevil in Ontario and Québec. These innovations provided tools to better quantify the risks posed by invasive alien species. He has also conducted studies to validate hypotheses on host-range in the field. These novel methods provide a significant advancement to improve science-based decisions by regulatory agencies in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Dr. Mason has been instrumental in updating national guidelines related to the containment and release of insect biological control agents. His research was the basis for revision of the ‘Host-Specificity Testing’ and ‘Post-release Monitoring’ sections of the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) Regional Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (RSPM) 12, Guidelines for Petition for First Release of Non-indigenous Entomophagous Biological Control Agents. His innovations have been central to formulating a science-based response to a changing regulatory environment for biological control agents worldwide. To protect and conserve biodiversity, biological control agents are being scrutinized more carefully, yet not to the point where requirements are impossible to meet. Through his leadership in NAPPO, RSPMs have also been developed for the release of non-Apis pollinating insects, for the construction of containment facilities, for certification of commercial biocontrol agents for cross-border movement, and for international shipment of live arthropods used for biological control.
Dr. Mason has also been instrumental in farmer-participatory implementation of biological control in Canada, recognizing that the front-line people must be involved for biological control to be successful. He brought together teams of provincial, federal and international experts to develop science-based methodology for engaging farmers so they can better understand the dynamics of some of the pest problems they are facing. By presenting to the growers information on the biology of these pests, and how the parasitoids contribute to mortality, capacity is built so that growers can make decisions about how their crop might be best managed using biological control.
As well as his research accomplishments, Dr. Mason has had the opportunity to mentor students, and he was instrumental in establishing an internship program at CABI. which offers Canadian undergraduate students the opportunity to gain hands-on field research experience on classical biocontrol of insect pests/weeds. Between 1997 and 2018, 105 Canadian students from 21 universities gained places at CABI’s research centre in Switzerland.
Since obtaining his PhD at the University of Saskatchewan in 1983, Dr. Mason has been employed by Agriculture Canada / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Ottawa Ontario. He has been a Principal Investigator or collaborator in grants totalling more than $12 million and has published 95 scientific and review papers, two books, and 19 book chapters. He has been an ESC member since 1974, has served as President (2010-2011), and chaired the Achievement Awards, Science Policy and Education and Headquarters committees. Dr. Mason has also been actively involved in ESO (director 2001-2003), ESS (President 1985-1986). He is an honorary member of the International Organization for Biological Control, awarded at the International Congress of Entomology in Orlando 2016. He was member-at-large (NRS 2000-2002) and is current Chair of the IOBC Commission on Biological Control and Access and Benefit-Sharing.
Previous Winners
1963 A.W.A. Brown
1964 R. Glen
1965 M.L. Prebble
1966 C.W. Farstad
1967 B.N. Smallman
1968 W.G. Wellington
1969 K.E.F. Watt
1970 C.S. Holling
1971 J.G. Rempel
1972 R.W. Salt
1973 B. Hocking
1974 P.S. Corbet
1975 G.G.E. Scudder
1976 B.P. Beirne
1977 J.A. Downes
1978 R.W. Stark
1979 G.P. Holland
1980 G.E. Ball
1982 E.G. Munroe
1983 F.L. McEwen
1984 K.G. Davey
1985 R.N. Sinha
1986 E.J. Leroux
1987 J.N. McNeil
1988 J.H. Borden
1989 M. Mackauer
1990 S. Tobe
1991 R.G.H. Downer
1992 G.B. Wiggins
1993 No Award
1994 T. Royama
1995 R.A. Brust
1996 J. Kukalova-Peck
1997 P. Harris
1998 D.M. Rosenberg
1999 L. Masner
2001 J. R. Spence
2002 R.J. Lamb
2003 H. Danks
2004 J. Myers
2005 P. Kevan
2006 R. Ring
2007 C. Gillott
2008 B. Roitberg
2009 N. Holliday
2010 C. Vincent (pdf)
2011 M. Isman
2012 F.A.H. Sperling
2013 S.A. Marshall
2014 David R. Gillespie
2015 Jon Sweeney
2016 Guy Boivin
2017 Gerhard Gries
2018 Jacques Brodeur
Rules
The Entomological Society of Canada Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Canadian entomology (referred to hereafter as the Gold Medal) shall be awarded annually by the Society, save when the Achievement Awards Committee or the Governing Board deem that no awards should be made.
The recipients shall be judged to have made an outstanding contribution to entomology in Canada on the basis, not only of demonstrated competence, but also of one or more of the following criteria:
- Superior research accomplishment, either as a single contribution or as a series of associated endeavours, which may be in either entomology per se or a related field in which the results obtained are of great consequence for entomology in Canada;
- Meritorious contribution to entomological scholarship or literature, whether or not this be based upon the recipient’s own original research, and whether or not it be based upon predominantly Canadian material, providing that the contribution be identifiably Canadian in origin;
- Dedicated and fruitful service in the field of entomological education in Canada;
- Unusually valuable practical application of scientific or technological expertise to the credit of entomology in Canada;
- Special contributions in the fields of advisory, extension, industrial, or public relations work in or to the credit of entomology in Canada.
- Administrative activities leading to the achievements of others or to general advances in the science or prestige of entomology in Canada;
- Long and meritorious service to the Society, or to an Affiliate.
No more than one Gold Medal shall be awarded each year, but, where circumstances warrant, more than one individual may be cited in connection with a single Award.
Recipients of the Awards need not be members of the Society, nor need they be domiciled in Canada, providing that their contribution be judged to have, or to have had, major impact on entomology in Canada.
The Award may be made on more than one occasion to the same individual or group of individuals, but only for distinctly different contributions to entomology in Canada.
This post is also available in: Français
© Copyright – Entomological Society of Canada