Professor Masato Ono, Ph.D.
Chair of 27th International Congress of Entomology
(President of Local Organizing Committee)
President of Union of Japanese Societies for Insect Sciences
Chair of Subcommittee of Applied Entomology, Science Council of Japan
President of the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology & Zoology

Graduate School of Agriculture/ College of Agriculture,
Director of Research Institute
Tamagawa University, Tokyo

Welcome Greeting from Chair

I am pleased to welcome you to the 27th International Congress of Entomology (ICE2024 Kyoto) to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from August 25 to 30, 2024. The Local organizing Committee (LOC) is in the Union of the Japanese Societies for Insect Sciences (UJSIS) which consists of 16 insect science-related academic societies and one association. Thirteen years have passed since the UJSIS was established at its inaugural meeting held in the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) on July 24, 2010. The UJSIS Statutes state that its purpose is, “to promote research and education in insect science and related disciplines, and to contribute to the development and social diffusion of this field in Japan”.

Since prehistoric times, both rare and familiar species of insects have been closely associated with many aspects of human life, including infectious diseases, food resources, agricultural production, environmental conservation, education, culture, and biomimetics. During recent debate on global issues, such as climate change and population growth, insect scientists from various fields have been expected to collaborate in addressing these issues using ‘hands-on’ approaches. While both deep individual specialization and interdisciplinary collaboration are required, it is also essential to strengthen systems for confronting the urgent issues we face from the standpoint of ‘consilience’ in insect science.

Rapid globalization has facilitated various forms of international cooperation, but has contributed to the spread of a new coronavirus and resulting pandemic that has brought globalization into decline. Despite this, our role of providing an invaluable forum for international academic exchange between member societies is being fulfilled through the 27th ICE. The ICE2024 Kyoto Congress will be held at the Kyoto International Conference Centre and the organizing committee is now fully engaged under the theme ‘New Discoveries through Consilience’. The 16th Congress in Kyoto in 1980 was the first to be held in Asia, so the congress returns to Japan after 44 years. Although the COVID pandemic is still unpredictable, let’s be prepared and hope it can be overcome soon.

We also hope that many researchers and people accompanying them from abroad will visit Kyoto and enjoy experiencing some of Japan’s culture, traditions, and natural environment. The LOC will make every effort in cooperation with the SCJ and other relevant organizations to ensure that ICE2024 Kyoto enhances the international presence of Entomology and provides a forum for meaningful academic international exchange. I especially hope that many young researchers will accept the challenge of presenting at ICE2024 Kyoto and seize the opportunity to decrease distance between themselves and the surrounding world. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to attend the 16th ICE in the summer of my second year of university (1980) at the suggestion of my supervisor at the time. Many eminent foreign researchers, some of them no longer with us, spoke kindly with me. I remember feeling as if I was enveloped in a fresh breeze that I had never been exposed to before. I think it is important that an in-person international congress should include not only ‘material rewards’ for members but also invisible ‘affective rewards’ that will increase our engagement and the attractiveness of belonging on a journey together within the fantastic world of insect.

We decided the main theme of this congress to be “New discovery through consilience”. We hope the congress will serve as a springboard, significantly contributing to the remarkable and world-wide advancement of our research fields. You can participate in active discussions and innovative lectures by distinguished researchers and scientists. In addition to the academic program, we are waiting to welcome everyone and planning various social events.

This congress promises to become a valuable opportunity for you to encounter history and up-to-date knowledge. Kyoto was the capital city of Japan for over 1000 years until the Japanese Emperor moved to Tokyo in 1868. Often referred to as “Japan’s heartland”, Kyoto has 17 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites and over 2,000 temples and shrines. Yet, Kyoto is not simply protecting its long established traditions and culture but rather building upon the rich traditions of predecessors as a foundation for open domestic and international exchange. You can sense Japan’s ‘origin’ and ‘future’ while considering past and expected scientific directions within our fields.

We are honored to be able to host this important International Congress in Kyoto, one of the world’s finest meeting places. Late August is a little hot, but it may be the best season to see insects. We are excited to welcome you from many parts of the world to transcendent Kyoto.

Sincerely,