Graduate Education in Entomology: Preparing for Science and Employment

Abstract

The north central branch Standing Committee for Student Affairs represents a collective voice for students of the branch to convey comments and concerns to ESA officials. In addition, the committee has historically organized a symposium for student members at the annual branch meetings. For the 1987 meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, the discussion involved the process of graduate education and training in preparation for limited employment opportunities. The format of the symposium included comments from Richard Sauer of the University of Minnesota, regarding the necessary acquisition of knowledge, skills, and activities that academic institutions are likely to expect, if not require. To complement this, Randall Higgins of Kansas State University discussed several strategies that graduate faculty should pursue to develop the talents of their graduate students, with the final goal being a well-rounded scientist and project leader. J. Barry Regan of Dow Chemical U.S.A. entered the discussion from an industrial perspective and presented a characterization of the training and experience that would qualify entomology graduates for employment in the private sector.