Ana Maria Velez, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln presents RNA interference (RNAi) - gene-silencing mechanism conserved across eukaryotic organisms. RNAi has been widely used as a research tool to study gene function. Over the past decade, RNAi has been investigated for agricultural applications, including managing plant insect pests. During this presentation, Velez will provide an overview of the current state of using RNAi for insect pest management.