The University of Kentucky Technical Directors' Retreat: Aligning academic priorities with stakeholder needs

A primary responsibility of those working in academic urban entomology positions is to address the needs of the professional pest management industry. Despite this responsibility, needs assessments involving direct engagement with those working in pest management are limited. This lack of engagement leads to a unidirectional stream of communication, where academic research is provided to the pest management industry, but those working in academia don’t have an easy pathway to question if the work they are doing aligns with the needs of the pest management industry. To address this issue, we developed the University of Kentucky Technical Directors’ Retreat. During this meeting (now in its fourth year), we bring together individuals working in technical roles from pest management and chemical manufacturing companies from across the country to discuss the needs of the pest management industry. This allows companies to share insights into areas they need assistance in, while also learning from one another through group discussions. Further, this meeting exposes students and trainees to the pest management industry, ensuring they are well-versed in both academic and professional pest management topics. While pest management and academia may have drifted apart in some areas, this meeting represents a deliberate effort to prioritize stakeholder needs, ensuring our work aligns with the needs of the industry we serve.