Visscher 9727827 Terrestrial ecosystems are dominated by social species. Social cooperation among conspecifics was a major evolutionary innovation that occurred repeatedly in diverse taxa. The study of social insects has provided unparalleled insights concerning both the evolution of sociality and the behavioral mechanisms involved. Similarly the study of social insects has contributed broadly to many fields of scientific inquiry. The most important international organization of social insect scientists is the International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI). This group holds the only international congress devoted to research on social insects every four years. Funds are requested here so that students, postdocs, and early career social insect scientists from the United States can travel to the 13th International Congress of the IUSSI to be held in Adelaide, Australia, from 19 Dec. 1998- 4 Jan. 1999. Typically, IUSSI Congresses attract scientists from over 30 countries and cover a wide range of disciplines including genetics, physiology, behavior, population biology, ecology, evolution, and systematics. Largely due to previous NSF funding, members of the North American Section (NAS/IUSSI) presented 25% or more of the program in the three most recent meetings (Munich, Germany 1986; Bangalore, India 1990; and Paris, France 1994). In turn, American social insect scientists substantially benefited from this involvement. Because this multidisciplinary Congress is the primary international forum for discussion of new information regarding social insects, it is essential that researchers and students from the United Stated attend this meeting. Moreover, this congress will provide North American scientists the opportunity to open new dialogues with overseas colleagues and initiate plans for collaborative research. Funds are requested to insure that American researchers are able to participate in this very significant congress. 1
