Dr. Juan Andrés Bisset, one of Cuba’s leading entomologists, will be a featured speaker at the 2016 International Congress of Entomology (ICE 2016) in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Bisset, head of the Vector Control Department at the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine and an advisor to the Cuban Public Health Ministry, will deliver an invitational lecture called “Aedes aegypti Management Strategies for Dengue Control in Cuba” at a special symposium.
Dr. Juan Andrés Bisset
“When I received my first passport as a Brazilian citizen, it was stamped ‘not valid’ for Cuba,” said Dr. Walter Leal, one of the Co-Chairs of ICE 2016. “That sparked a curiosity about that country. After I become an entomologist and a U.S. citizen, my curiosity shifted toward entomology in Cuba. Fast forward to today: The International Congress of Entomology could not justify its theme, ‘Entomology without Borders,’ if we did not have at least one delegate from Cuba. We are absolutely delighted to host Dr. Juan Bisset, who will tell us how they control Aedes aegypti and mitigate transmission of dengue. We welcome Dr. Bisset, his knowledge, and input.”
ICE 2016 Co-Chair Alvin Simmons added that “We are dedicated to providing a premier Congress experience for 7,000-8,000 international attendees. This includes fostering an environment of scientific breadth and all-inclusiveness, so it is quite fitting for participation from Cuba to be a part of this historical event.”
Dr. Bisset has been involved in multiple issues related to the control of vector-borne diseases, including those transmitted by the mosquitoes Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles albimanus, and Aedes aegypti. His main research, which has been published in 106 scientific papers, focuses on ecology, dynamic population of insects, insecticide resistance, and resistance mechanisms. He has participated in more than 45 technical activities as an adviser on malaria and dengue vector control in Latin American countries since 1990, and he has given numerous lectures and presentations in Cuba and other countries. In addition, he has received 18 international and national awards for his work.
The International Congress of Entomology is held once every four years in different countries around the world. ICE 2016 will be held September 25-30, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. This Congress, which will be held simultaneously with the annual meetings of the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, and other organizations, promises to be the largest gathering of insect scientists in history.
Each Congress provides a forum for scientists, researchers, academia, technicians, government, and industry representatives to discuss the latest research and innovations in the many diverse fields of entomology, to share expertise in their specific fields of interest, and to present their research and products. The week-long meetings allow participants to meet others from around the world with similar focus areas and to form important networks to collaborate and share knowledge, with an overarching goal of supporting and protecting the world’s population through better science.
For more information about the 2016 International Congress of Entomology, please visit http://ice2016orlando.org.