Tom Saunders

Get Involved with Science Learning Hub

Tom — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 23:38:54 +0000

Today I’m posting a piece I wrote for the latest NZ Entomological Society Newsletter on my collaboration with Science Learning Hub. The Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao makes quality science more accessible for teachers, students, and the wider community. It hosts teaching and learning resources on hundreds of different subjects ranging from marine...

Updates: Conference, podcast, illustrations

Tom — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 01:59:28 +0000

Even though its the middle of winter I’m still flat out with my PhD project – mainly because nothing is working so I’m scrabbling for any kind of progress I can muster! Here are some recent updates. I spoke to James O’Hanlon on the In Situ Science podcast, episode here. We had a chat about...

My PhD project in a nut shell

Tom — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:12:39 +0000

I started my PhD in October 2017 at the University of Auckland. My supervisor is Associate Professor Greg Holwell. Greg is interested in evolution—particularly sexual selection—and uses arthropods to work on some of the biggest questions in this area. My co-supervisor is Dr Gonzalo Avila, leader of the biocontrol team at Plant & Food...

Why aren’t taxpayers given access to the research they fund?

Tom — Sun, 26 May 2019 23:33:49 +0000

New Zealand taxpayers should have access to the research they fund. Around half of university and Crown Research Institute funding comes from the government. Most research in New Zealand benefits from public money in some way. This is a good thing. The private sector lacks an incentive to fund research which will broadly benefit society....

My first teaching resource & recent media

Tom — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:22:34 +0000

I’m very excited to share my first teaching resource: An article on insect antennae hosted by the Science Learning Hub. I’ve added the link to a new Outreach page on my site. I’m planning to write more articles for the Science Learning Hub focusing on insect biology, and in particular, New Zealand’s native wasps! Curious...

Dissecting the Insect Apocalypse

Tom — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 05:36:04 +0000

Update: This post is published on SciBlogs.co.nz here. Studies on insect declines published over the last few years have thrown up some scary headlines. “The insect apocalypse is here” proclaims the New York Times, warning the pace of insect declines could spell catastrophe within decades. It’s a grim picture, but how accurate is it? In...

What is taxonomy and why should we be concerned about its decline?

Tom — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:22:16 +0000

Update: A condensed version of this post is published on Newsroom.co.nz here. We may be alone. Our planet could be the only place in the universe where, over billions of years, matter became aware of itself. Despite the dazzling variety of life on Earth, all living things are united by the genetic material inside our...

Guide to Getting the Most out of Zotero

Tom — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 00:11:10 +0000

A good reference manager will save you countless hours of tedium and frustration. Students, researchers, and volunteers who work with references should all be using one. Zotero is my preferred option, because it is free, open source, actively developed, and solves many of the problems I’ve encountered during my work. In this guide I outline...

Spread the knowledge with Wikipedia

Tom — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:10:49 +0000

Got a minute (and an internet connection)? Want to double the readership of your science? Then contribute to the largest encyclopedia ever published: Wikipedia! Last week I was at the New Zealand Ecological Society annual conference, this time held in Wellington at Victoria University. It was my first NZES conference and it certainly won’t...

How to separate BMSB from NZ stink bugs

Tom — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 20:32:15 +0000

Brown marmorated stink bug is a serious horticultural pest native to East Asia. It damages crops, infests ornamental plants, and seeks out shelter over the winter causing massive problems for homes and businesses. Fortunately we don’t have it in New Zealand yet, but in order to keep it out we need to know what it...