2019−2020 President: Dr. Masaya Matsumura
- 2005−2018 Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, NARO
- 2018−2020 NARO Headquarters, Strategic Planning Headquarters
- 2020− Central Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO
Research fields: Forecasting and management of rice pests and migrant pests, ecology of pests
Awards: 2011 Award of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology
Activities in JSAEZ: 2013−2016 Governing board member, 2017−2018 Vice-president
https://researchmap.jp/mmasa/It is my great honor to be elected as president and chairman of board of directors of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology (JSAEZ) for 2019-2020. I look forward to working with other board members and society delegates in the successful management and development of this organization.
JSAEZ was founded in 1957. In April 2017, it was changed from a voluntary association to a general incorporated association; as such, it is now managed according to the "Act on general incorporated associations and general incorporated foundations". Two years following its incorporation, all JSAEZ board members were changed in March 2019, and the legal formalities were finished according to the articles of incorporation and rules of the society. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen the foundations of JSAEZ and develop its reputation as a general incorporated association.
In 2019-2020, the most important event for JSAEZ will be our offer to host the 27th International Congress of Entomology (ICE) in 2024. The ICE2024 host country will be discussed and decided during ICE2020, which will be held in Helsinki in July 2021. To prepare a successful ICE2024 invitation, the Union of Japanese Societies for Insect Sciences established a dedicated committee. Two JSAEZ board members have joined this committee and have already begun to contribute to the invitation process. The JSAEZ board will further cooperate to strengthen the case for hosting ICE2024.
If our invitation to host ICE2024 in Japan should be accepted, we encourage the participation of JSAEZ members in submitting oral or poster presentations. In 2016, JSAEZ created a special session for oral presentations in English during the annual JSAEZ conference, as an opportunity for society members to improve their skill in English-language scientific communication. Excellent presentations are awarded the English Presentation Award. We plan to establish the English Presentation Award as regular, formal activities at future JSAEZ meetings like the Poster Presentation Award. Detailed rules for this award will be published in the near future.
Publication of journals is one of the important activities to JSAEZ. JSAEZ publishes two journals, the English-language Applied Entomology and Zoology (AEZ), and the Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology (JJAEZ). The efforts of successive chief editors and editorial board members have raised the impact factor of AEZ to above 1.000; however, it has remained constant in recent years. We will undertake various measures to improve the content quality, impact factor, and reputation of AEZ. JJAEZ will continue to publish special issues on noteworthy applied research.
During the 10th Conference of the Parties on Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10), which was held in 2010, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was adopted. The enactment of the ABS necessitated the establishment of agreements between Japan and various countries of origin on the regulation of animal, plant, or microbial genetic resources prior to their introduction into Japan. Many scientists have expressed concern about ambiguities within these formal ABS agreements due to regulatory differences between countries. JSAEZ has held seminars by ABS specialists for several years; these discussions will continue to be an important activity for the society in the future.
JSAEZ has hosted themed seminars for members of local agricultural experiment stations, offices for plant protection, and extension services to stimulate their interest in the activities of our society. We will continue to enhance these activities for local members. In addition, two younger members have joined the governing board as secretaries to develop new opportunities for younger members to be involved in JSAEZ activities.
Together, these activities will strengthen and invigorate JSAEZ, making it more attractive to new and continuing members. We greatly appreciate the support and cooperation of all JSAEZ members in these efforts.
(Present affiliation: Central Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO)