Today’s Women in Entomology Q&A features Jessica Linton, a terrestrial and wetland biologist with Natural Resource Solutions Inc.
Q: What are you studying or working on right now?
JL: I am the founder and coordinator of the Ontario Butterfly Species at Risk Recovery and Implementation Team, so a large proportion of my time right now is focused on developing and implementing recovery activities for butterfly species at risk in Ontario. This includes coordinating things like finding and applying for funding, permitting, working with researchers to develop specific research projects, working with land managers to inform habitat restoration and management, and conducting field work. I am currently coordinating the proposed reintroduction of an endangered butterfly (Mottled Duskywing) to Pinery Provincial Park.
Q: What led you to your specific field of study or work?
JL: Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by butterfly biology and ecology. A job as an interpreter at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory and two undergraduate co-op terms in Costa Rica at a butterfly education centre solidified my career direction for me.
Q: When did you first become interested in science and entomology?
JL: It’s been in my blood for as long as I can remember! I spent a lot of my days as a kid just being outside.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your research or work?
JL: I enjoy the flexibility and diversity that working as a consultant in the private sector affords. I bid on many contracts related to species at risk assessment and recovery planning, and work with academic collaborators on research and monitoring projects.
Q: What are your interests outside of academic life or work?
JL: Butterflies definitely cross over to my personal interests, and I enjoy observing and photographing them in the field. My children and I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, etc.
Q: What are your future plans or goals?
JL: To continue to build a tailor-made career that feeds my interests and keeps me engaged in my work. I would like to make a meaningful impact on butterfly species at risk recovery in Canada.
Q: Do you have any advice for young students that may be interested in science and/or entomology?
JL: If the job doesn’t exist, find a way to make it happen! Never underestimate the power of your enthusiasm for what you’re passionate about, and make an effort to network and build connections!
The Entomological Society of Canada Scholarship Fund
In 1974, the ESC established the Entomological Society of Canada Scholarship Fund as a registered charity. The initial objective was to raise sufficient capital to provide investment income sufficient for an annual post graduate scholarship of $2000 to $3000. By 1985, the fund (now called “The Annual Scholarship Fund”) provided sufficient investment income to cover the cost of two postgraduate scholarships, each of $2000, values that have not changed since. From 1990 onwards, research travel grants and postgraduate scholarships, normally totalling $8000 annually, have been paid from the Annual Scholarship Fund.
Since 1991, five additional award funds have been established (Kevan, Borden, Biological Survey, Dosdall and Danks Scholarship Funds). These all are financially healthy with the scholarships being entirely covered by investment income. So healthy are the Kevan, Biological Survey and Danks funds, that there have been recent increases in the value of scholarships awarded from them. Sadly, investment income from the Annual Scholarship Fund is not sufficient to cover the cost of postgraduate and research travel scholarships withdrawn from it, and the deficit is covered by donation and silent auction income that is therefore not available to increase capital. Consequently, it has not been possible for the values of scholarships from this, the ESC’s original scholarship fund, to keep pace with inflation. The only remedy is a major increase in donations directed to the Annual Scholarship Fund. Donations to all ESC Scholarship Funds are welcome but the Annual Scholarship Fund is in greatest need.
To read more about the ESC Scholarship funds, see pp. 199–200 of the December 2018 ESC Bulletin, downloadable from http://esc-sec.ca/publications/bulletin/. To donate to any of the Scholarship Funds, go to https://members.esc-sec.ca/donations/ . Those who now have automatically-renewing membership should note that, unlike former times, options for donations do not pop-up during membership renewal. In-kind donations in the form of capital property can be accepted, as can bequests. All donations are tax-deductible.
Call for nominations: Societal Director (Second Vice-President), Director at Large
The Society will hold an online ballot to select candidates for a Societal Director and Director at Large. The selected candidates will then be presented as a slate for formal election by members at the Annual Meeting in Fredericton in August. Nominations for these positions must be signed by three active members of the Society and be received by the Secretary of the Entomological Society of Canada, Neil Holliday, by 28 February 2019 (see inside back cover for contact details).
Call for nominations: Societal Director (Second Vice-President), Director at Large
The Society will hold an online ballot to select candidates for a Societal Director and Director at Large. The selected candidates will then be presented as a slate for formal election by members at the Annual Meeting in Fredericton in August. Nominations for these positions must be signed by three active members of the Society and be received by the Secretary of the Entomological Society of Canada, Neil Holliday, by 28 February 2019 (see inside back cover for contact details).
Women in Entomology
Jessica Linton
Today’s Women in Entomology Q&A features Jessica Linton, a terrestrial and wetland biologist with Natural Resource Solutions Inc.
JL: I am the founder and coordinator of the Ontario Butterfly Species at Risk Recovery and Implementation Team, so a large proportion of my time right now is focused on developing and implementing recovery activities for butterfly species at risk in Ontario. This includes coordinating things like finding and applying for funding, permitting, working with researchers to develop specific research projects, working with land managers to inform habitat restoration and management, and conducting field work. I am currently coordinating the proposed reintroduction of an endangered butterfly (Mottled Duskywing) to Pinery Provincial Park.
Q: What led you to your specific field of study or work?
JL: Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by butterfly biology and ecology. A job as an interpreter at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory and two undergraduate co-op terms in Costa Rica at a butterfly education centre solidified my career direction for me.
Q: When did you first become interested in science and entomology?
JL: It’s been in my blood for as long as I can remember! I spent a lot of my days as a kid just being outside.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your research or work?
JL: I enjoy the flexibility and diversity that working as a consultant in the private sector affords. I bid on many contracts related to species at risk assessment and recovery planning, and work with academic collaborators on research and monitoring projects.
JL: Butterflies definitely cross over to my personal interests, and I enjoy observing and photographing them in the field. My children and I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, etc.
Q: What are your future plans or goals?
JL: To continue to build a tailor-made career that feeds my interests and keeps me engaged in my work. I would like to make a meaningful impact on butterfly species at risk recovery in Canada.
Q: Do you have any advice for young students that may be interested in science and/or entomology?
JL: If the job doesn’t exist, find a way to make it happen! Never underestimate the power of your enthusiasm for what you’re passionate about, and make an effort to network and build connections!
Jessica Linton
The ESA-ESC-ESBC JAM is around the corner
By Staffan Lindgren
Many of us remember our first interaction with the Entomological Society of America (ESA) when we co-hosted a JAM in Montreal. Canadians were generally upset that the meeting was controlled completely by the ESA. Because of this, many ESC members have been skeptical of the upcoming meeting, thinking that it may be a repeat of that experience.
I have been one of a number of ESC and ESBC members who have participated in the organization of this meeting. I am writing this short blog because I want to assure you that the ESA staff has gone out of their way to be inclusive with both ESC and ESBC. They acknowledged from the start the mistakes that were made in 2000, and they have lived up to their promise of better relations this time. We have met on-site in person twice (June 2017 and June 2018) and this year we have had monthly conference calls to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. ESA staff has obviously handled the administrative duties given their experience and resources, but they have been extremely receptive to our suggestions and requests, and I cannot speak highly enough of all of them. Rosina Romano, Becky Anthony and others have been amazing to work with (I think they are miracle workers), and we can look forward to a great meeting where all three societies will be equal parties.
In these times of political uncertainty and what seems like daily tragedies throughout the world, it is re-assuring to know that our profession of entomology serves as a shining example of how well we can get along when we treat each other with respect and in a spirit of cooperation.
I look forward to seeing you in Vancouver.
Vancouver Convention Centre. Image: https://www.vancouverconventioncentre.com/facility
Call for Symposia – 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES Joint Annual Meeting
The 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES JAM is now accepting symposium proposals! Proposals are due on February 15, 2018. See http://csee-esc2019.ca/call-for-symposia-en.html for further information.
Call for Symposia – 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES Joint Annual Meeting
The 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES JAM is now accepting symposium proposals! Proposals are due on February 15, 2018. See http://csee-esc2019.ca/call-for-symposia-en.html for further information.
Call for Symposia – 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES Joint Annual Meeting
The 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES JAM is now accepting symposium proposals! Proposals are due on February 15, 2018. See http://csee-esc2019.ca/call-for-symposia-en.html for further information.
Call for Symposia – 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES JAM
The 2019 CSEE-ESC-AES JAM is now accepting symposium proposals! Proposals are due on February 15, 2018. See http://csee-esc2019.ca/call-for-symposia-en.html for further information.
Thank you to our sponsors of the 2018 JAM