Like other featured speakers at the flagship event in Washington, D.C., RU-Newark's Jessica Ware, above, an entomologist and evolutionary biologist, was allotted two minutes with the microphone. Professor Ware used it to talk about how entomology is a vital science because it promotes biodiversity; ensures crop protection and food safety; and works to mitigate vectors of insect-borne diseases. She also spoke about the need for increased funding to promote understanding of evolution and to preserve and expand natural history collections.