The PSA held its 98th Annual Meeting on 20 to 23 July in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hosted by North Carolina State University, the four-day meeting was the setting for several major symposia, the presentation and discussion of hundreds of scientific papers, and the announcement of more than 20 research and industry-related awards. PSA also announced its new slate of officers and directors for the upcoming 12 months.

A total of 776 people attended this year's annual meeting – an increase of almost seven per cent from PSA's 2008 Centennial Meeting in Niagara Falls. Excluding staff members and several students attending only one of the symposia, the attendees hailed from 40 states (including the District of Columbia) and 34 countries, with international participants accounting for 27 per cent of the total.

Attendees had the opportunity to attend five key symposia, select to hear any of 241 oral presentations and view 211 poster exhibitions on basic and applied research on poultry-related topics.

The over-arching theme for the 2009 meeting was 'The University and Industry Connection: Building Bridges for our Future'.

PSA's outgoing president, Dr Mike Lacy, noted: "This year's meeting was a powerful example of the strength and vibrancy of poultry science in the US and Canada. As the theme of the meeting suggested, solving the increasingly complex challenges of the future – in areas as diverse as food safety, the environmental impact of poultry production and animal welfare issues – will require even stronger collaboration between poultry researchers and the poultry industry.

"As PSA's new president, Dr Sally Noll, takes the reins, I have every confidence that PSA's members will, as always, rise to the occasion," added Dr Lacy.

New PSA leadership

The end of the meeting marked the beginning of the tenures of PSA's new leaders:
President: Dr Sally Noll, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota
First Vice President: Dr Michael S. Lilburn, Ohio State University
Second Vice President: Dr Michael Wineland, North Carolina State University
Secretary-Treasurer: Dr R. Michael Hulet, Pennsylvania State University
Past President: Dr Michael P. Lacy, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia
Director: Dr Fred Silversides, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Director: Dr David Caldwell, Texas A&M
Student Representative: Robert C. Van Wyhe (2010), Virginia Tech
Student Representative: Jessica C. Butler (2011), Auburn University

Awards Banquet

This year's awards banquet honoured the following individuals. For additional details, click here. PSA says that information about its graduate student winners is still forthcoming.

Newly elected Fellows of the Poultry Science Association

Being named a Fellow is the highest honour that PSA can bestow. This year's new Fellows of the Poultry Science Association are: Dr John A. Cherry (University of Georgia), Dr Patricia Y. Hester (Purdue University), Dr Susan J. Lamont (Iowa State University), Dr Edwin T. Moran, Jr. (Auburn University) and Dr David A. Roland, Sr. (Auburn University).

Awards and honours

American Egg Board Research Award – Dr Wei Jia (University of Manitoba)
American Feed Industry Association Poultry Nutrition Research Award – Dr Todd J. Applegate (Purdue University)
Embrex Fundamental Science Award – Dr Susan J. Lamont (Iowa State University)
Evonik Degussa Award for Achievement in Poultry Science – Dr Sandra G. Velleman (Ohio State University)
Frank Perdue Live Poultry Food Safety Award – Dr Billy M. Hargis (University of Arkansas)
Hy-Line International Research Award – Dr Alejandro Corzo (Mississippi State University)
Maple Leaf Farms Duck Research Award – Dr Todd J. Applegate (Purdue University)
Merial Distinguished Poultry Industry Award – George B. Watts (President of National Chicken Council)
National Chicken Council Broiler Research Award – Dr R. Jeff Buhr (USDA/ARS)
Novus International Inc. Teaching Award – Dr Adam J. Davis (University of Georgia)
Phibro Extension Award – Dr Patricia A. Curtis (Auburn University)
PSA Early Achievement Award for Extension – Dr Morgan B. Farnell (Texas A&M University)
PSA Early Achievement Award for Industry – Dr Nancy S. Joseph (Stratford Chick Hatchery Ltd)
PSA Early Achievement Award for Research – Dr Joseph P. Garner (Purdue University)
PSA Early Achievement Award for Teaching – Dr Jason T. Lee (Texas A&M University)
Tyson Foods, Inc. Support Personnel Award – Michael J. Ford (University of Kentucky)

Student Research Awards

Alltech Student Research Manuscript Award – Rachel L. Dennis (Purdue University)
Maurice Stein Fellowship Award – Lindsay M. Stevenson (Auburn University)
There were also numerous student winners of Student Research Certificates of Excellence and the Nicholas Student Paper Award for Turkey Research.
For further information, click here.

2010 Annual Meeting

The 2010 PSA Annual Meeting will be held jointly next year with ADSA, AMPA and ASAS in Denver, Colorado, on 11 to 15 July.