Head of School honoured by Entomological Society of America
Head of the School of BioSciences, Professor Margaret (Margie) Mayfield, has been recognised as a 2025 Fellow of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), joining just eight other entomologists, and the only international recipient.
Election as an ESA Fellow recognises outstanding contributions to entomology through research, teaching, extension, administration, military service, or public engagement and science policy.
Professor Margie Mayfield
An internationally recognised plant and insect community ecologist, Professor Mayfield investigates how environmental change – from climate change and invasive species to agricultural intensification and restoration – affects the diversity and function of ecosystems. Her research spans landscapes from Costa Rican rainforests to Western Australia’s wildflower communities and Tasmania’s Eucalyptus forests.
Professor Mayfield has made significant contributions to understanding how plant-pollinator interactions, functional traits and species relationships shape biodiversity and ecosystem health, and has developed new tools for studying changes in community diversity. A dedicated mentor, she has trained more than 70 early career ecologists, many now working in conservation, biosecurity, consulting and education across Australia and internationally.
Professor Mayfield said it was an honour to be recognised by international peers.
“Insects play a vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy, yet they’re under increasing pressure from environmental change,” Professor Mayfield said.
“This recognition highlights the importance of understanding plant-insect interactions and how they shape biodiversity.”
The ESA, founded in 1889, is the largest organisation in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and related disciplines, with nearly 7,000 members worldwide.
The 2025 Fellows will be formally recognised at Entomology 2025, the Society’s annual meeting, in Portland, Oregon this November.