Insects, Insights, and Inspiration: Highlights from the Entomology Students' Conclave 2025 (ESC2025) at AAU, Assam
- Indian Entomologist
- Apr 9
- 5 min read
by Amit Umesh Paschapur and Tulasi B
The Entomology Students Conclave-2025, held from 15-17 March, 2025 at Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam, was a landmark event of the Entomological Society of India (ESI) for entomology students across India. The ESC2025 was organized by Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam; Division of Entomology ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and the Entomological Society of India, New Delhi. As a kickstart event to ESC2025, on 14.03.2025 evening an excellent NEH Insect Expo was organized by the Department of Entomology, AAU, in collaboration with ICAR-CICR, Nagpur. The Expo captured the attention and admiration of all the participants, becoming one of the most eye-catching and appreciated events of the conclave.
The ESC2025 was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr. Bidyut Chandra Deka, Honourable Vice Chancellor of AAU; Guest of Honour and Patron ESI, Dr. S.N. Puri; ; Chairman and President ESI Dr. V V Ramamurthy; the Dean of the College of Agriculture, AAU, Dr. Prasanna Kumar Pathak; Dr. Y G Prasad, Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur; Organizing secretaries, Dr. Badal Bhattacharyya, Head, Department of Entomology, AAU; Dr. Sachin S. Suroshe, Project Coordinator of AINP on Honey Bees and Pollinators and Dr. Shashank P.R., Senior Scientist, ICAR-IARI. Dr. Bidyut Chandra Deka, Chief Guest, whose speech set the tone for the event, highlighting the importance of entomology research and student engagement in the field.
After the inaugural session, a series of enriching keynote lectures were delivered by eminent scientists. Dr. Y. G. Prasad, Director, ICAR-CICR, Nagpur shared insights on the integration of pest surveillance systems within IPM frameworks for enhanced pest management in cotton. Dr. K. K. Sharma, Ex-Director, ICAR-NISA addressed secondary agriculture and its role in rural livelihood improvement. Dr. Kamala Jayanthi P.D., National Professor, ICAR discussed the recent advances in chemical ecology and their applications in pest management. Dr. S. N. Sushil, Director, ICAR-NBAIR elaborated on the emerging threat of invasive pests and its strategic management options, while Dr. P. K. Chakravarthy, Ex Member, ASRB highlighted crop grouping for settling the MRL issues. Their talks covered subjects such as chemical ecology, invasive pests and their management, secondary agriculture, and livelihood improvement, offering students new perspectives and valuable insights into the future of entomology.
With a total of 342 participants registering for the ESC2025, the event had a hybrid format, allowing 186 participants to attend in person and 156 to join virtually. The students from 21 states and more than 56 universities and colleges across India participated. Overall, eight themes were covered in the presentations: Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Integrated Pest Management, Biological Control, Insect Toxicology, Insect Physiology, Insect Vectors, and Molecular Advances in Entomology, Host Plant Resistance and Insect Ecology, Climate Change and Insects, Industrial Entomology, Non-Insect Pests of Crops, and Beneficial Insects. Under each theme, students presented oral and poster presentations in physical mode and rapid oral presentations in virtual mode. The Best Oral, Poster and rapid oral virtual presentations were awarded to students who demonstrated the highest merit and innovation in their research. Additionally, the Entomological Society of India (ESI) awarded “ESI-Travel Grant Awards 2025” for 29 students from all over India in competitive mode to encourage participation in physical mode. These awards celebrated the hard work and dedication of students, while also encouraging them to continue pushing the boundaries of entomological research.
As the conclave drew to a close, special thanks were extended to several key figures and teams for their support in organizing the event. The Chief Patron, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR, New Delhi, the Patrons, Dr. Tilak Raj Sharma, Ex-DDG (CS), ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. Devendra Kumar Yadava, DDG (CS), and Dr. Bidyut C. Deka, Vice Chancellor, AAU, Jorhat, along with Co-Patron Dr. Poonam Jasrotia, ADG (PP&B), ICAR, New Delhi, were acknowledged for their continued support. The Organizing Committee, led by Convenors Dr. V. V. Ramamurthy, Dr. Subhash Chander, Dr. Y. G. Prasad, and Dr. S. N. Sushil, and Co-Convenors Dr. M. K. Dhillon and Dr. S. Subramanian, as well as the Organizing Secretaries Dr. Sachin S. Suroshe, Dr. Badal Bhattacharyya, and Dr. Shashank P. R., were also recognized for their valuable contributions. The Local Organizing Committee, including Dr. Sahidur Rahman, Dr. Sudhansu Bhagawati, and Dr. Shimantini Borkataki, and National Co-Organizing Secretaries Dr. Suresh Nebapure and Dr. S. Rajna, were thanked for their dedication in making the conclave a resounding success. A special mention was made of the Student Organizing Secretaries: Ms. K. Sindhura Bhairavi, Ms. Shareen Tikhak, Mr. Rakesh V., Mr. Arpan Bhagat, and Ms. Tulasi, for their vital role in ensuring the smooth coordination of various aspects of the event. Special thanks were also extended to the organizing team of AAU, Jorhat especially the hardworking teachers and enthusiastic students who worked tirelessly under the able guidance of Dr. Badal Bhattacharyya, Head of the Department of Entomology, AAU, Jorhat. Appreciation was also conveyed to the students and faculty of the Division of Entomology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, and the office bearers of the Entomological Society of India for their dedicated involvement.
The organizers gratefully acknowledged the generous financial support provided by the event sponsors, which was instrumental in the successful conduct of the conclave. The sponsors included NABARD, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., Tea Board Assam, Cytiva industries, Central Silk Board, Jaldhara & Co., Monsut Chem Industries, Syngenta India, Sumitomo Chemical India Ltd., Assam Chemical and Instruments Corporation, Varsha Biosciences, UPL Sustainable AgriSolutions, and CK Industries. Their support enabled the creation of an enriching and impactful experience for student participants across India.
The event provided a valuable platform for students to showcase their research and interact with experts, contributing significantly to their academic and professional growth. This conclave not only highlighted the importance of entomology research but also reinforced the need for collaboration between students and experts to foster the growth of scientific knowledge in the field.
About the authors:
Amit Umesh Paschapur, Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012
E-mail: amitp3929@gmail.com
Tulasi B, Ph.D. Scholar, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012
E-mail: tulasib41784@gmail.com
Disclaimer: The contents, style, language, plagiarism, references, mention of any products if any, etc., are the sole responsibility of the author
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