Dear Fellow Entomologists,
As President of the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you to the 66th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Branch. The 2018 meeting will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the historic Hotel Albuquerque in the Old Town district. Old Town district is one of the oldest communities in the southwestern US and features museums, restaurants, and bars. The cultural experiences range from Native American art and Pueblo-Spanish architecture to New Mexico's Natural History Museum and American International Rattlesnake Museum. It is also a great location since it is our 66th meeting and our meeting is being held at a mainstay for the Historic Route 66.
This year's meeting will still highlight our field to the K-12 community of Albuqueque by hosting the annual Insect Expo at our meeting location. This event allows our members to share the science of entomology to young minds that still have a genuine eagerness to learn about "bugs." We will also have a new symposium this year that will solely be organized by student members and this symposium will be recognized as a Southwestern Branch President's Symposium. In addition to this and other symposia sessions, the meeting offers student competitions in posters and 10-minute talks.
So please mark your calendars for March 25-29, 2018, Albuqueque, New Mexico for the 66th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Branch!
Best Wishes,
Justin Talley, Ph.D.
Southwestern Branch President