[Entm-researchstaff] UCR Entomology 111th presentation videos and GROWTH initiative

[Christiane Weirauch]

Dear all,

As we are getting ready to start the academic year 2026-2027, I would like
to thank everyone who made last year a success.

   - The News <https://live-ucr-entomology.pantheonsite.io/department-news>
section
   on our department website shows that our department continues to
make *breakthrough
   discoveries* that protect California’s environment, support agriculture,
   and allow us to mitigate negative effects at the insect-human interface.
   - As evidenced by the immense success of the *Riverside Insect
Fair* (>20,000
   attendees in 2026) communities around us are eager to engage with
   scientists in our department and learn more about insects and their
   importance in every aspect of our lives.
   - The *Entomology Youth Summer Camp at UC Riverside*, led by our
   graduate students, is thriving, and our *undergraduate major and
   combined Bachelors + Masters program are growing *(28 new Entomology
   undergrads will be joining us in Fall 2026, the largest cohort ever!),
   together ensuring that there will be entomologists in the future.
   - And *we celebrated our 111th birthday*, not only looking back over our
   impactful history, but also into a strong future. If you missed the event,
   here are *recordings *of the three public talks
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrR7ENevnSYCGb7G7swQ7hhHdqEYCQr2/view?usp=sharing>that
   were presented on Friday evening
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrR7ENevnSYCGb7G7swQ7hhHdqEYCQr2/view?usp=sharing>
   and the alumni and current department talks
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MLaRDbT_HpM7Zu-gRHEaGhizSs5aQMzL/view?usp=sharing>
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MLaRDbT_HpM7Zu-gRHEaGhizSs5aQMzL/view?usp=sharing>on
   Saturday
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MLaRDbT_HpM7Zu-gRHEaGhizSs5aQMzL/view?usp=sharing>
   .

As many of you are aware, the Department started a new initiative, *GROWTH*,
short for *G*raduate *R*esearch and *O*utreach in *W*orkforce *T*raining
and *H*igher education. This initiative will support *outstanding graduate
students* in their efforts to achieve *excellence in both research and
science communication*. Their public outreach will further produce a
win-win outcome, inspiring younger generations in the surrounding
communities. At the moment, we are aiming for *one quarter of support for
one graduate student*.  Thanks to your generosity at the 111th, *the funds
we raised propelled us nearly halfway to our goal*.

Please consider helping us to launch this initiative by donating to
the Entomology
Fund for Excellence (incl. GROWTH)
<https://entomology.ucr.edu/giving#entomology-fund-for-excellence>, so we
will be able to support a graduate student to conduct research and lead
public outreach during *Spring 2027*.

With warm regards,
Christiane Weirauch

-- 
Christiane Weirauch
Professor & Chair
Department of Entomology
University of California, Riverside
Ph: 951-827-5707 <(951)%20827-5707> (Office)
Email: christiane.weirauch at ucr.edu
https://profiles.ucr.edu/christiane.weirauch  <christiane.weirauch at ucr.edu>
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