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.