Southern Cross University bug expert Professor Nigel Andrew has been recognised by the Australian Entomological Society for his contributions to insect science.

Professor Andrew was awarded the 2024 Ian Mackerras Medal during the Australian Entomological Society conference in Hobart where he delivered a keynote address.

The Ian Mackerras Medal is the Society’s biennial award for excellence in entomology at mid-career for an AES member who has demonstrated excellence in entomology over many years.

The award is named in honour of Dr Ian Mackerras, the Society’s first President and an entomologist who embodied the excellence in entomological pursuits that the award recognises.

“Receiving the 2024 Mackerras Medal is a very humbling experience for me,” said Professor Andrew.

“So many of my entomological mentors have been awarded this prestigious award. It's fantastic to be part of an amazing community.”

In his keynote address, ‘Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire: Understanding Insect Individual, Population, and Assemblage Responses to Extreme Events’, Professor Andrew primarily focussed on ants and dung beetles in both native and managed environments. He identified key drivers that may influence climate change research, and different ways to go about modelling future projections of climate change on insects.

Professor Andrew became the University’s first Professor of Entomology when he arrived at the Northern Rivers campus two years ago. He was appointed the Chair of Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

“While other universities are losing entomological expertise, the expansion of Entomology at Southern Cross is exciting for the future of the discipline, given our links across northern NSW and southern Queensland,” said Professor Andrew.

Professor Andrew, who has a particular interest in dung beetles, has made inroads into key industry and social issues related to entomology:

• Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta): Professor Andrew provided expert opinion at the national Inquiry into Red Imported Fire Ants in Australia in March 2024 and is a sought-after expert for journalists about fire ant incursions.
• Macadamia pests and IPM (integrated pest management): Working with local macadamia farmers in northern NSW and Queensland’s Wide Bay-Burnett region, Professor Andrew’s research group is assessing IPM in macadamia orchards.
• Pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei): Professor Andrew has collaborated with NSW Local Land Services to investigate the recent incursion of mealybugs into northern NSW.
• Dung beetles on farms and in native forests: Professor Andrew continues his long-term research on dung beetles and works with both farmers and local conservation agencies on the impact of habitat change and extreme weather exposure on dung beetle physiology and community structure.

Professor Andrew is a member of the ARC (Australian Research Council) College of Experts, the Editor-in-Chief of the Austral Ecology journal, and Vice-President of the Entomological Society of NSW.

He is also an active member of the Australian Fulbright Alumni Association (he was a 2020 Fulbright Senior Scholar) and is the Association’s Mentorship Program Manager.