Applications are now being accepted from for the William L. and Ruth D. Nutting Research Grant to support a project on basic termite biology conducted by a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. For consideration, project proposals must be submitted no later than March 16, 2012. Additional details can be found here.
A second Call for Papers has now been issued for the American Bee Research Conference to be held in Maryland from February 7-8, 2012. Presentation titles must be submitted no later than December 23, 2011 and abstracts are due January 31, 2012. Additional details can be found here.
This year Sandra Rehan of Brock University in Ontario, Canada was selected as the recipient of the 2011 Eickwort Student Award in recognition of her exceptional research and scholarly activity on the social evolution in the ceratinine bees. More information can be found here.
Following this year’s elections, there have been changes to the executive committee for the North American Section. For 2012, our officers will consist of Theresa Pitts-Singer(president), Colin Brent (president-elect) and Jay Evans (secretary/treasurer). Our thanks go to our outgoing president, Terry McGlynn, for his dedicated service.
Sean O’Donnell, newly moved to Drexel University, will be leading a 14 day OTS course on social insects in Cost Rica. Although the course doesn’t start until March of 2012, the registration deadline is this October. For more information, please see the attached flyer.
The winner of the 2011 William L. and Ruth D. Nutting Research Grant for termite research is Timothy K. O’Connor. Tim received a $2500 grant to support his proposed research project on the relationship between aggression, relatedness and the formation of supercolonies in the neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger. More information can be found here.