EMCA’s Past President Francis Schaffner awarded with the John N. Belkin Memorial Award for meritorious contributions to the field of mosquito systematics and biology.

EMCA’s Past President Francis Schaffner was invited to the 91st Annual meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), held in Puerto Rico from 3 to 7 March 2025, for his outstanding contribution in the field of mosquito systematics and biology.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Schaffner talked about his experience in international collaboration in the field of mosquito identification and monitoring. Referring to a research mission he conducted 10 years after the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina he stated: “Our politicians, our presidents…they can start a war. It’s more difficult to stop it,…but building the peace, that’s something different. And I strongly believe that our international collaboration is part of building peace”.

From left to right: Dr. Rui-De Xue, Dr. Francis Schaffner, Dr. Larry Hribar, Dr. Isik Unlu