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 Dr. Robert Wick went to Bangladesh on a Fulbright Scholar Award in 2006. He returned in 2008 for the opening of Bangladesh's 1st Plant Disease Clinic, and again in 2009 to conduct a Clinic Workshop. Follow his teaching and life experiences in the words and beautiful pictures of his Online Journal.
 Dr. Prasanta Bhowmik also taught classes in Bangladesh on a Fulbright Scholar Award in 2007. He invited all of us to join him via his Online Journal.
- Congratulations to PSIS Graduate Students Jason Lanier and Lindsey Hoffmann for winning turfgrass presentation awards at the 2009 ASA-CSSA-SSA International Meetings held in Pittsburg, PA. Read all about it by clicking HERE.
November, 2009
- Dr. Lynn Adler was invited to give one of two keynote presentations at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Association for Pollination Ecologists (SCAPE). The SCAPE 2009 symposium was held October 23rd-25th at the Archipelago Research Institute of the University of Turku in Finland. Dr. Adler's keynote presentation, "Sex and Food: The Role of Flowers for Pollinators and Herbivores" focused on how plants attract animals that will benefit them, and, at the same time, deter ones that could harm them. Click HERE to learn more.
October, 2009
- An article co-authored by Dr. Craig Hollingsworth, PSIS Adjunct Assistant Professor, has won an Editor's Choice Award from the Entomological Society of America. “Biochemical and Molecular Analysis of Deltamethrin Resistance in the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)” was published November 2008 in the Journal of Medical Entomology. Read about this award and the research that earned it by clicking HERE.
October, 2009
- Biocontrol research by PSIS Postdoc David Masuel and PSIS Professor Joseph Elkinton aimed at
stemming an invasion of hemlock woolly adelgids
is featured online at UMass "In the Loop" and in an article in the October 23, 2009 "Daily Hampshire Gazette".
October, 2009
- Senior Amy Koenig, who is double majoring in PSIS and Environmental Science, has put her UMass lessons to good use as a fall semester intern in Bangladesh. Her UMass coursework, along with her summer job at the UMass Research Farm in S. Deerfield, MA with Dr. Frank Mangan, taught her a lot about sustainable agricultural research methods. Read about Amy and her internship in Bangladesh by clicking HERE.
October, 2009
- Dr. Baoshan Xing was presented a 2009 Excellence in Review Award by the Environmental Science & Technology Division of the American Chemical Society Publications . This award recognizes the significant contributions to the journal made by outstanding reviewers.
October, 2009
- An international research team led by evolutionary geneticist Dr. Stephen M. Rich has discovered that the parasite which causes the deadliest form of malaria jumped from wild chimpanzees to humans via bites by mosquitoes in equatorial Africa perhaps as recently as 10,000 years ago. The study is featured in the August 3rd Early Edition of the Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences. Read all about this important finding HERE.
August, 2009
- A research paper couthored by Dr. Baoshan Xing was the 2nd place winner in the 6th Excellent Academic Paper Awards of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) for 2008. "Extraction and Characterization of Humic Acids and Humin Fractions From a Black Soil in China" by Baoshan Xing, Ju-Dong Liu, Xiao-Bing Liu, and Xiao-Zeng Han was originally published in the international journal Pedosphere (Pedosphere 15: 1-8, 2005).
July, 2009
- The 1st annual Shutter-Bug Insect Photo Contest sponsored by PSIS's Fernald Club was a great success. Find out who the winners were by clicking HERE.
June, 2009
- Dr. Benjamin Normark was featured on the WFCR Radio (88.5FM) program "Field Notes" on June 22, 2009 to talk about the fascinating lives of spittlebugs (also known as froghoppers).
Field Notes' host Laurie Sanders
interviewed Dr. Malcolm Burrows of Cambridge Univ, UK, who talked about
jumping, and Dr. Normark, who talked about spittlebug diet and "spittle" production. The broadcast can be heard by clicking HERE.
June, 2009
- Dr. Frank Mangan was interviewed by
Tina Antolini of the WFCR Radio (88.5FM) program "Focus Western New England" in a broadcast that aired June 18, 2009. Dr. Mangan spoke about cultivating ethnic vegetables like the Brazilian Taioba in Western Massachusetts. Dr. Mangan and his associates encourage local commercial farmers to establish the new crops, and help them to find the ethnic consumer markets that are seeking the produce in large numbers. To listen to the interview, click HERE. For more information about Dr. Mangan's UMass Extension Ethnic Crop Program, click HERE.
June, 2009
- PSIS Postdoctoral Associate Dr. David Mausel spoke with Laurie Sanders of the WFCR Radio (88.5FM) program "Field Notes" about
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, a non-native insect that has been devastating U.S. Hemlock trees. Dr. Mausel, from Dr. Roy Van Driesche's UMass research group, has introduced a predator beetle for biocontrol of the Adelgid. The interview aired Monday June 15, 2009 and can be heard by clicking HERE.
June, 2009
- Dr. William Manning presented a paper at the "2nd International Conference on Landscape and Urban Horticulture" held in Bologna, Italy on June 9-13, 2009.
The paper, "Assessment of Uptake of Nitrogen Dioxide by Tree Leaves in Springfield, MA, USA" was coauthored by PSIS graduate student T. B. Harris. Dr. Manning also chaired a session of contributed papers at the conference.
June, 2009
- Dr. Baoshan Xing was Co-Director of the "International Conference on the Environmental Implications and Applications of Nanotechnology" held from June 9-11, 2009 at UMass Amherst.
Researchers and practitioners from around the world met to address the impacts of manufactured nanoparticles on the environment and to present new applications for using nanotechnology for remediation, pollution control and prevention, and sustainability. For more information about the conference, and to see abstracts of materials presented, please go to the conference website.
June, 2009
- Dr. Lynn Adler was interviewed by Laurie Sanders of WFCR's program "Field Notes." Dr. Adler discussed the challenges that plants face in terms of only being attractive to animals that benefit them, like pollinators, and not to those that could harm them. The interview aired Monday May 18, 2009 on WFCR Radio (88.5FM) and can be heard by clicking HERE .
May, 2009
- Dr. William Manning was invited to present the keynote opening paper at the International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Ecological Remediation in Industrial Regions held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai China on April 24-26, 2009.
April, 2009
- PSIS welcomed to Fernald Hall the great-great-granddaughter of Dr. Charles Henry Fernald, the Entomologist for whom the building was named. Nancy Elisabeth Fernald, a local artist from Hadley MA, was invited for a visit to the 100 year old building where both her great-grandfather Henry and her great-great-grandfather Charles taught classes and did research in the field of Entomology.
April, 2009
- Congratulations to Wei Jiang, a Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences Graduate Student of Dr. Baoshan Xing, for winning first place for her student poster presentation at the "Water Dependencies in New England" 6th Annual Conference.
April, 2009
- Undergraduate Honor Student Ashley Bono conducts research on the deer tick bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. Her honors project is guided by Dr. Stephen Rich, PSIS Department Head.
April, 2009
- Size matters...particle size that is. Dr. Baoshan Xing's research on the environmental effects of nanoparticles is again featured on Nanowerk.com. Nanoparticles of various substances were found to be more toxic to bacteria than their larger particle size versions.
April, 2009
- Dr. Baoshan Xing gives an invited presentation at the “Assessment of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials Symposium" at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.
March, 2009
- Nanowerk.com spotlights Dr. Baoshan Xing's research on the uptake and effects of metal oxide nanoparticles on tiny, but very ecologically important, soil nematodes. Can nanoparticles absorbed by nematodes be subsequently passed up the food chain? Dr. Robert Wick is a collaborator on these studies.
January, 2009
- Three PSIS personnel awarded 2008 NRE Outstanding Achievement Awards
November, 2008
- Dr. Prasanta Bhowmik had a major role in organizing and running the 5th World Congress on Allelopathy held on September 21-25, 2008 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
September, 2008
- PSIS welcomes new Department Head, Dr. Daniel Fairbanks.
September, 2008
- Dr. Baoshan Xing's research on the root uptake and phytotoxicity of zinc oxide (ZnO) is highlighted in Nanowerk.com. ZnO nanoparticles are widely used in personal care products and paints. Dr. Xing's research examines a potential environmental impact of ZnO.
July, 2008
- Dr. William Manning was invited to share his expertise on plants and air pollution as a guest lecturer at the University of Naples in Italy.
July, 2008
- Dr. Baoshan Xing's nanoparticle research is highlighted in Nanowerk.com. The inovative research couples an olive oil manfacturing waste product with nanoparticles of aluminum oxide. The resulting unique complex can efficiently absorb one of the most hazardous biproducts of carbon fuel combustion, phenanthrene.
June, 2008
- The late Dr. Thomas Henry Boyle III recieved a posthumous Patent Recognition Award from UMass Amherst for two of his Cactaceae plants.
May, 2008
- Dr. Om Parkash's research on plants that resist uptake of arsenic could help ease the global rice shortage. Listen to a podcast interview with Dr. Parkash.
May, 2008
- Dr. John Gerber is one of four faculty members selected for a 2008 Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest honor for excellence in the classroom at UMass Amherst.
April, 2008
- Dr. John Gerber receives a $500 Community Service Learning Course Assistant Award to support his course PLSOILIN 285: Sustainable Living.
April, 2008
- Dr. Baoshan Xing organizes symposium at The American Chemical Society's 2008 Annual Meeting.
April, 2008
- Dr. Lynn Adler is among of a team of three researchers awarded a 3-year, $450,000 NSF grant to study the effects of suburbanization on plant evolution.
April, 2008
- Former UMass Amherst Entomology Graduate Student named State Minister for Agriculture in Rwanda, Africa.
March, 2008
- Dr. John Burand to receive $150,000, 3-year USDA grant for research aimed at improving bee health in the Northeast.
March, 2008
- UMass Amherst Turf Club Students participate in two National Turf Bowl Competitions.
January, 2008
- Dr. William Manning gave the opening invited plenary lecture at an environmental forum in Xiaman, China.
November, 2007
- Dr. Stephen Rich receives funding to track growing populations of ticks that carry Lyme Disease bacteria.
July, 2007
- Three PSIS Faculty share $481,500 in Massachusetts Agricultural Innovation Grants.
May, 2007
- Dr. Baoshan Xing's research paper, "Phytotoxicity of nanoparticles: Inhibition of seed germination and root growth," is featured online this month at Nanowerk.com. This paper is currently in press, and will be in print soon in the journal Environmental Pollution (Elsevier Ltd).
March, 2007
- Dr. Baoshan Xing's research on fullerene and carbon nanotubes is highlighted this month on Nanowerk.com
December, 2006
- Dr. Frank Mangan's Work Brings New Ethnic Crops to Massachusetts. Dr. Mangan is helping local farmers to grow specialized crops and market them to emerging immigrant communities.
November, 2006
- Dr. Lynn Adler's research on "Toxic Nectar" is featured in a Science News Online article; Vol. 169, No. 19.
May 13, 2006
- Dr. Prasanta Bhowmik awarded Fulbright to Bangladesh
April, 2006
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