Meeting 1188 Minutes

Minutes from the 1188th Meeting of the Cambridge Entomological Club

President Zhengyang Wang called the 1188th meeting of the Cambridge Entomological Club to order at 7:33 pm on Tuesday, April 10th 2018 in MCZ 101.
Approx. 50 members and guests were in attendance.

Old business:
Scott Smyers announced outings to Wachusett Mtn. May 19 a Bioblitz at Wachusett July 21, and Hogback Mtn. VT on August 4.
Jonathan Rees announced that Hindawi, publisher of “Psyche”, the Ent Club journal, is looking for submissions and will waive fees for Ent Club members
Shayla reminds members to pay their dues
Rosemary Mosco announced publication of her book, Birding is my Favorite Video Game

New business:

Yang announced the slate of officers for 2018-2019 as follows:
President – Avalon Owens
Vice President – Tianzhu Xiong
Secretary – Andrea Golden
Treasurer – Shayla Salzman
At Large – Scott Smyers, Jay Shetterly, Edward Pleckavitch

Dr. Ian Dadour of Boston Medical School at Boston University presented a talk entitled “Forensic Entomology: A maggot in the justice system!”

Professor Dadour introduced Forensic Entomology with an overview of FE texts and a description of “Smart Insects”, an app that he helped develop for use by investigators. Much of his work has been done in Australia with additional sites in MI and TX. He stressed the importance of understanding local conditions and relevant entomological players, and detailed some of the research he and his students have conducted, much of which stems from either criminal or civil cases. FE can answer many questions about the timing and circumstances of death; whether guns or drug use were involved, weather, and initial location of the body, whether buried, left in the open, in cars or a trash bin. Use of FE varies by state. Massachusetts does not currently employ FE.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm for discussion and refreshments.

Respectfully submitted, Andrea Golden, CEC Secretary