Friends of IPM Awards
The mission of the Southern IPM Center is to champion the development and adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), the science of managing pests while protecting people, the environment and economy. Each Regional Center engages broadly with stakeholders to identify and address regional pest priorities in agriculture, communities and natural areas.
Since 2003, the Southern IPM Center (SIPMC) has worked with USDA, Land Grant universities, Extension, and many other partners in promoting and facilitating the development and implementation of IPM in many settings across the region.
Many of these partners have contributed to the region’s well-being for years or even decades.
Hall of Fame
The Southern IPM Hall of Fame award recognizes individuals who have contributed to any important aspect of Southern IPM over many years with documented history of career achievements in IPM.
Along with authorship of educational materials, research papers, manuals, books, and presentations of IPM material, Hall of Fame award candidates have greatly impacted IPM in the Southern region over the lifetime of their career.
Scott Stewart, The University of Tennessee
Written by Kayla Watson
Dr. Scott Stewart is a Professor of Entomology at the University of Tennessee. He is located at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson where he recently took over the role of Center Director. He grew up in Iowa, received his MS and PhD degrees and Texas A&M University and Auburn University, respectively. After working for Mississippi State University, he joined the faculty at UT in 2002. Stewart has spent his entire career as an applied entomologist working with pest management in cotton, corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat.
Stewart has also devoted efforts to better understanding the effects of agriculture on pollinators. The goal of his programs is to develop and deliver science-based pest management recommendations to decision makers, and the online resources he’s developed are considered among the best in the country. Scott has participated and has held service and leadership positions in many regional and national IPM organizations and scientific societies, including the ESA. He attributes a lot of his success to working collaboratively with students and his fellow scientists in the Southeast.
Stewart has had a prolific career promoting IPM practices in cotton, peanut, and other major field crops; a productive publication history; over 600 Extension presentations; and has made a lasting impact by providing mentorship and training to many graduate students.