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Michelle Miller, graduate student in immunology, shares her knowledge of entomology at the Orthopteroid table during BugFest. The display included cockroaches, stick insects and grasshoppers. "The praying manids were a definite favorite,' Miller said. Miller has volunteered at BugFest for the past five years. Photo by Natalie Claunch
Bug scientists from N.C. State went to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences this Saturday to teach the public about insects.
Groups set up displays and demonstrations for visitors at the 14th annual BugFest.
Hannah Burrack, an assistant professor in entomology, said it is a way to educate the public.
“It’s a great outreach tool,” Burrack said. “We think about insects every day because it’s our job. Most people only think of bugs in a negative way, and this is a way to show them beneficial bugs.”
Lena Guisewite, a graduate student in entomology, said it is a way to share their interest with others.
“It’s great, so many people in one spot to celebrate arthropod diversity, especially with the general public involved,” Guisewite said.
According to Jim Hunt, a visiting professor of biology and entomology, BugFest is mostly a family event.
“We get a lot of young children, moms, dads, and everyone learns something,” Hunt said. “This is mostly a family affair, but you see a few curious [college students].”
Many students and professors said they were delighted to see children learning about bugs. Heather Lessig, research technician in the biology department, said she likes to see their enthusiasm.
“I like seeing all the kids around. Working in a university, you don’t see many kids around. It’s great to see them getting excited about sciencey things,” Lessig said. “We want to get them excited about butterflies and bugs in general.”
According to Guisewite, whose group was running a live insect display, children learn from their parents’ reactions as well as learning from the people at the booth.
“[We are] showing kids the insects aren’t scary and gross. But, a lot of times, the kids mimic the parents’ reaction,” Guisewite said.
Andi Hawksley, a freshman in chemical engineering, was showing caterpillars to visitors. Hawksley said visitors’ reactions to the caterpillar crawling on her hand were unexpected and fun to see.
“[Occasionally] when a parent and a child walk up, the parent pushes their child forward as a shield from the caterpillar,” Hawksley said.
“It’s all volunteer. I also like to listen to the little kids be freaked out by the bugs. I like the enthusiasm,” Mary Beth Conrad, a freshman in mechanical engineering, said.
Students from Entomology 203, an Introduction to the Honey Bee and Beekeeping, were telling visitors about bees. Riley Huston, a senior in graphic design, said the chance to receive extra credit for ENT 203 motivated him to come to BugFest, but it was a worthwhile experience.
“[I came] initially for extra credit, but it has helped us see what people don’t know about bees,” Huston said.
Margaux Novak, a senior in English, is also a student in ENT 203. She said they helped many people at BugFest.
“We are answering a lot of questions,” Novak said. “There was this one little kid who asked so many intelligent questions, it was great to see.”