[Entm-beu] UCR Entomology 111th and next steps

[Christiane Weirauch]

Dear all,

Thanks for celebrating 111 years of UCR Entomology with us a few weeks ago.
Based on conversations with alumni, students, friends, emeriti, and
faculty, I believe that we all appreciated the opportunity to connect or
re-connect and learn about the history as well as current research
and trajectory of the department. I had high expectations for our
celebrations, but the event itself exceeded them. Attached are the
departmental past and present group photos from Friday evening in the
University Theater (thank you, Angel Escobar, for the wonderful shots).
Angel also photographed many aspects of the Friday and Saturday events and
we are here
<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BKberOyXFouacZiUlHbqNFui0VoLzo9Q?usp=drive_link>sharing
his photos.

I would also like to thank those of you who have donated to various funds
in our department during or after the celebrations including those who
gifted items for the Silent Auction.

   - Entomology Fund for Excellence *aka GROWTH initiative* - $6090
   - Entomological Museum and Insect Collection - $1030
   - Harry H. Shorey Endowed Scholarship Fund - $5000
   - Urban Entomology Endowed Presidential Chair - $5000

THANK YOU!

Finally, we are excited to highlight a new initiative the department
has launched: GROWTH
<https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/80887/donations/new?amt=200.00> —
Graduate Research and Outreach in Workforce Training and Higher Education.

This new program is designed to invest in the next generation of entomology
leaders by *supporting graduate students who are advancing groundbreaking
research while also engaging directly with schools, families, and
communities *through science communication and public outreach. As
community interest in programs like the Riverside Insect Fair continues to
grow, so does the demand for meaningful engagement with our scientists and
students. *Yet today, the department must turn away many requests for K–12
visits and outreach opportunities due to limited resources.*

The GROWTH fund will help bridge that gap by empowering graduate students *to
dedicate time toward both their research and public engagement
efforts*—expanding
science literacy, inspiring future scientists, and strengthening the
connection between the university and the communities we serve. Our goal is
to raise support for one quarter of Graduate Student Research support for
the academic year 2026-2027. As you can see from the numbers above, we are
only about $10,000 shy of this goal!

Best wishes, and it was a pleasure and privilege to host the celebrations
here at UCR, Christiane Weirauch


[image: 111th.v1.jpg]

 111th.v2.jpg
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X9ANionSBk6R7-cdwSyD-Nz_uj-npPGH/view?usp=drive_web>
-- 
Christiane Weirauch
Professor & Chair
Department of Entomology
University of California, Riverside
Ph: 951-827-5707 (Office)
Email: christiane.weirauch at ucr.edu
https://profiles.ucr.edu/christiane.weirauch  <christiane.weirauch at ucr.edu>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.ucr.edu/pipermail/entm-beu/attachments/20260617/dc78060d/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 111th.v1.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 14131069 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.ucr.edu/pipermail/entm-beu/attachments/20260617/dc78060d/attachment-0001.jpg>