August, ’20] 
GIBSON: PROFESSIONAL ENTOMOLOGY 
355 
PROFESSIONAL ENTOMOLOGY: THE CALL AND THE 
ANSWER 
By Edmund H. Gibson, Consulting Entomologist, Washington, D. C. 
It is always fitting that at the outset or beginning of any new 
endeavor or activity a definition or explanation be made of the new 
undertaking, especially in its relation to the old and established. 
Therefore, permit me to refer to professional entomology as the study 
and application of economic entomology for the means of a livelihood, 
in which one’s services are sold in competition and in which one 
capitalizes his knowledge and places his attainments and abilities on a 
business basis. 
Young men and women are attracted to science, in its various 
branches, by fascination, curiosity, the love of study, and desire to 
add to the world’s knowledge. Remuneration for one’s work has been 
secondary. Possibly, rightly so. But does the lawyer’s desire for 
worldly gain and the doctor’s fee detract in any way from their practice 
and professional or scientific ability? Rather is the money return a 
beneficial factor for furthering of study and bettering the professional 
man’s ability to do increased good to his fellow men. If this is so, then 
those who in the future think more of financial gain than their com¬ 
rades do must not have the criticism thrown against them that they 
are selling or prostituting science. 
The writer can see no reason why entomology cannot or should 
not be put upon as dignified a business basis as law, medicine or 
engineering. There was a call for men able to state and argue facts; 
the lawyer was the result. There was the need for men skilled in 
treating and curing the sick; the doctor was the result. There was 
wanted those who could plan and supervise construction of all kinds; 
the engineer was the result. In the main, those who entered these 
and various other professions did so because of the need or call assuring 
at least fair returns for time spent in study and preparation, and 
unusual opportunities for financial gain, in return for ability and 
attainments. The call in other professions has been made and 
answered. Is there a call for professional entomology and is it being 
heard at the present time? 
There was recently formed in one of our large western cities a farm¬ 
ing corporation, with large financial backing. This company owns 
and operates extensive farm lands in the South. They grow and 
market immense crops of various kinds. Naturally, there are losses due 
to insect injury. Who is their consulting entomologist? They 
have none. Why? There was none. Why have they not called in 
the state entomologists, university professor, or the laboratory assist- 
