2026-02-24
- CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Counting the marginal dorsal hairs on blacklegged tick larvae would probably be a tedious affair for most people. But it is a normal day for me in the Medical Entomology Laboratory of the Illinois Natural History Survey.I need a stereomicroscope to see the hairs, which vary in...
2026-02-17 - Press ReleaseDate: Feb 11, 2025Contact: Joseph Spina or Ember Clodfelterjmspina2@illinois.edu or enc3@illinois.eduWebsite: https://publish.illinois.edu/uiuc-egsa/ifff/Facebook: Insect Fear Film FestivalThe 43rd Annual Insect Fear Film...
2026-01-20 - After nearly 15 years of dedicated leadership, Gene Robinson has stepped down as IGB Director to assume the role of Executive Director and CEO of the Discovery Partners Institute. Lisa Ainsworth, Charles Adlai Ewing Chair of Crop Physiology in the Department of Crop Sciences and the Department of Plant Biology, has agreed to serve as interim director of the IGB for the coming year.A long-time...
2026-01-07 - CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A collaboration between Princeton University engineers and entomologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign began with the researchers chasing grasshoppers in a hot parking lot. Their eventual focus on the hindwings of one species of grasshopper, Schistocerca americana, the American grasshopper, is inspiring a new approach to untethered gliding flight. ...
2025-10-16 - At the intersection of science, storytelling, and creativity lies the Multi-Planar Dragon Expo—an innovative outreach event that uses the magic of fandoms and fantasy to make real-world science engaging and accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a scientist, a fantasy fan, or simply curious about the biology behind dragons, this event promises something for all ages.Hosted by the...
2025-09-26 - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today held a roundtable discussion at the University of Illinois with scientists, administrators, and beekeepers regarding their bee genomics research—which is sequencing the genomes of more than 4,000 domestic bee species. Over the last five years, Durbin has secured nearly $8 million in USDA...
2025-08-29 - Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bello, a doctoral student in entomology, has been recognized for her groundbreaking work in visualizing insect nanostructures. Bello was the winner of the 2025 Beckman Institute Research Image Contest, showcasing her exceptional talent...
2025-08-22 - A recent study published in Plant and Soil explores how tomato plants utilize both aboveground and belowground defense strategies when exposed to simultaneous environmental stressors. The research, titled "Interactions between soil source, flooding, and herbivory shape tomato plant volatile emissions and rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities," was conducted by Assistant...
2025-08-04 - The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has honored Dr. Andrew Suarez, acting head and professor in the Department of Entomology, by naming him a 2025 Fellow of the Society.Being named an ESA Fellow is a recognition of an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the science and profession of entomology—whether through research, teaching, extension, leadership, public policy, or...
2025-06-18 - CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Individuals and teams from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who have made a visible impact on society were recently recognized with the 2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement. Faculty, staff members, students and community members...-
2025-06-18 - The School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is proud to announce that Dr. Andrew Suarez, Acting Head and Professor of Entomology, has been named the 2025 recipient of the...
2025-06-17 - On June 15, 2025, SIB’s own Assistant Professor of Entomology and African-American Studies, Dr. Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, authored a heartfelt opinion piece for NPR’s Goats & Soda, published on Father’s Day. Drawing on personal experience, she reflects on her Kenyan father’s decision to educate his four daughters—despite social...
2025-06-07 - A podcast created by two SIB alumni has been spotlighted in a recent YouTube video by science communicator Angela Collier, titled “The Best Science Podcast Isn’t What You Think.”From the 9:10 to 9:53 mark of the video, Collier praises This Podcast Will Kill You, hosted by Dr. Erin Welsh and Dr. Erin Allmann Updyke, calling it a fantastic science podcast for its engaging approach...
2025-05-14 - CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presents the Campus Awards for Excellence in Faculty Leadership each year to distinguished faculty who enrich the intellectual vitality of campus and the broader community.The awards were...
2025-04-10 - The Beckman Institute recognized two community members during its annual April celebration of Arnold Beckman’s birth.Microscopist and Outreach Specialist T Josek won the Staff Spirit and Dedication Award; Professor...