2:35 a.m.
Dear Resource Data In the Tropics E-list:
Below is IUFRO Spotlight #89. Other Spotlights can be found at:
http://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
Regards,
Sheila Ward
Coordinator, IUFRO WP 4.02.01
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: IUFRO Headquarters <office(a)iufro.org>
Date: Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 10:23 PM
Subject: IUFRO Spotlight #89 - What's the buzz? Studying insects on 'the
web'
To: Dear IUFRO Officeholder <mahoganyforthefuture(a)gmail.com>
[image: IUFRO Spotlight]
IUFRO Spotlight #89 - What's the buzz? Studying insects on 'the web'
*IUFRO Spotlight* is an initiative of the International Union of Forest
Research Organizations. Its aim is to introduce, in a timely fashion,
significant findings in forest research from IUFRO officeholders and member
organizations to a worldwide network of decision makers, policy makers and
researchers.
IUFRO will encapsulate, and distribute in plain language, brief, topical
and policy-relevant highlights of those findings, along with information on
where/how to access the full documents. The *IUFRO Spotlight* findings will
be distributed in a periodic series of emails as well as blog postings.
What's the buzz? Studying insects on 'the web'
PDF for download
<https://www.iufro.org/fileadmin/material/publications/spotlights/spotlight89-webinar-insects.pdf>
[image: Photo showing Release-recapture experiment with Hylurgus
ligniperda. Photo by Nicolas Meurisse.]
Release-recapture experiment with Hylurgus ligniperda. Photo by Nicolas
Meurisse.
A series of webinars, originally seen as a temporary response to some of
the travel constraints imposed by the COVID pandemic, will most likely
continue after post-COVID equilibrium is restored.
"In light of the current pandemic, many scientific meetings were cancelled
– including the many meetings that IUFRO Working Parties (WPs) and other
units host each year," said Dr. Jeremy Allison of the Canadian Forest
Service and coordinator of IUFRO's WP 7.03.16 that deals with *Behavioral
and Chemical Ecology of Forest Insects*.
The webinars, intended to assist forest researchers in staying involved and
current in their areas of interest, were initiated by IUFRO, with support
from the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the
University of Pretoria and the Canadian Forest Service (CFS).
Dr. Allison is quick to acknowledge the contributions of his colleagues to
the success of the webinars – deputy coordinators Sigrid Netherer and
Andrés González Ritzel from his WP; coordinator and deputy coordinators
Juan Corley, Jess Hartshorn and Dimitrios Avtzis from WP 7.03.05 (*Ecology
and management of bark and wood boring insects*); and senior PhD students
Josephine Queffelec and Quentin Guignard from FABI.
"They were instrumental in making this happen and for the success we've
achieved," he said.
"One of the most significant benefits of these virtual meetings is our
engagement with our science and our colleagues. They provide a platform for
these research communities to engage and network while, in this specific
case, promoting the importance of the behavior and chemical ecology of
forest insects and ensuring IUFRO member activities in these areas would
continue during a time where global travel was not possible," Dr. Allison
said.
"Chemical ecology is not an autonomous discipline but rather a way of
viewing the world through a chemical lens," he said. "And behavioral
ecology examines the ecological factors that drive behavioral adaptations.
As a result, the subject matter of our Working Party (WP) – 'Behavioral and
chemical ecology of forest insects' – is very broad."
[image: Photo showing Coloured panel traps for woodboring beetles. Photo by
Giacomo Cavaletto.]
Coloured panel traps for woodboring beetles. Photo by Giacomo Cavaletto.
Participants and attendees interacted either "live" or through recordings
of the events posted to a YouTube channel created for this IUFRO Working
Party.
"While we originally saw the webinars as a response to the pandemic, we
quickly realized that, although a digital divide currently exists, virtual
tools like webinars have immense potential to mitigate some of the
variation in access to networks and information," said Dr. Allison.
The webinars have a global reach. Participants typically are from
government research institutions and academia. Attendance has been as high
as 230 and includes participants and attendees from countries in North and
South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
There are still challenges to be overcome, he notes, before virtual tools
become a commonplace solution for everyone.
"Virtual platforms like Zoom have immense potential to facilitate the
development of networks and the sharing of information. But internet access
is required, and it's been estimated that only about 55% of households
globally have an internet connection. So, connectivity is an issue," he
said.
"Time zones are also a challenge. Although the webinar presentations were
pre-recorded, presenters and delegates attend live to interact with content
and each other. Regardless of what time is selected, it will favor
participation from parts of the world and restrict it in others.
"You also need a platform. The webinar series would not have been possible
without the support of the FABI and CFS.
"We don't advocate for virtual tools/meetings as a replacement for
in-person meetings and training but do view them as a complementary tool.
There is no doubt they are here to stay," Dr. Allison added.
Speaking of the webinar series, he said: "We think the series has been
successful. Almost all the researchers we contacted were happy to
contribute to the webinars.
"And, as of June 1 we've had more than 3,000 views on our YouTube channel;
the discussion periods following the presentations have been well-attended
and usually went to the end of the allocated time period; the feedback from
participants has been very positive and several members of these scientific
communities have contacted us to express interest in presenting at the
webinars.
"Virtual tools are currently more useful for maintaining and building on
existing networks. However, as these tools improve, we are convinced that
their utility for these and other currently underdeveloped functions will
increase," he added.
*IUFRO Working Party 7.03.16 - Behavioral and Chemical Ecology of Forest
Insects*
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-7/70000/70300/70316/
*IUFRO Working Party* 7.03.05 *Ecology and Management of Bark and Wood
Boring Insects*
https://www.iufro.org/science/divisions/division-7/70000/70300/70305/
*Webinar home page:*
https://www.fabinet.up.ac.za/index.php/event/IUFRO_WP_7.03.16
*The YouTube presentations can be found at:*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE1bhBiFrYSbUSh09LipkZw
*________________________________*
The findings reported in *IUFRO Spotlight* are submitted by IUFRO
officeholders and member organizations. IUFRO is pleased to highlight and
circulate these findings to a broad audience but, in doing so, acts only as
a conduit. The quality and accuracy of the reports are the responsibility
of the member organization and the authors.
Suggestions for reports and findings that could be promoted through *IUFRO
Spotlight* are encouraged. To be considered, reports should be fresh, have
policy implications and be applicable to more than one country. If you
would like to have a publication highlighted by Spotlight, contact: Gerda
Wolfrum, wolfrum(at)iufro.org <wolfrum(a)iufro.org>.
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is the
only worldwide organization devoted to forest research and related
sciences. Its members are research institutions, universities, and
individual scientists as well as decision-making authorities and other
stakeholders with a focus on forests and trees.
Visit: https://www.iufro.org/
*________________________________*
*IUFRO Spotlight #89, published in June 2021*
*by IUFRO Headquarters, Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria. Available for
download at: **https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/
<https://www.iufro.org/media/iufro-spotlights/>*
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