Outreach

Teaching Resources

Insects in the classroom webinar
Published 17 November 2020 on Science Learning Hub
Check out this recording of a webinar presented by Dr Chrissie Painting and myself about how teachers can use insect-related resources and activities to support learning inside the classroom and outside. We give a brief introduction to the insect world, talk about why it’s important to learn about insects, and we provide some examples of how insects are a good fit for certain parts of the New Zealand school curriculum.

Buzz in the Garden Activities
Published 21 October 2020 on Science Learning Hub
A set of three simple activities where children use observational data to ask and answer questions about insects. These resources were created in partnership with Morgane Merien, Leilani Walker, and Chrissie Painting as part of the Curious Minds ‘Buzz in the Garden’ project:

Pollinator counts: students directly observe pollinators on flowering plants and record their observational data on an activity sheet.
Pitfall traps: students place pitfall traps in various locations around the school, check the traps daily and record their observations.
Pan traps: students monitor flying insects by using yellow and black containers and record their observational data on an activity sheet.

Taxonomy — the science of species discovery
Published 8 October 2019 on Science Learning Hub
Taxonomy is the scientific discipline dedicated to describing, classifying, and interpreting biodiversity. In this article, I explain what it is, how it works, and why it is so important for the economy, for the other sciences, and for understanding our place in the world.

Parasitoid wasp life cycle
Published 24 May 2019 on Science Learning Hub
An overview of how native New Zealand wasps reproduce by laying their eggs on or inside a host.

Insect antennae
Published 27 April 2019 on Science Learning Hub
An introduction to how insects use their antennae to gather sensory information including smell, touch, temperature, and wind movement. Includes the basic anatomy of antennae, and how scientists might study insect smell in order to lure pests away from crops.

Community Outreach

SouthSci ‘Buzz in the Garden‘ | 2019
I was part of a team of four biologists working with South Auckland libraries and schools to look at how community gardens can increase insect biodiversity in our communities, and how these gardens can be used to teach children about insects.

MOTAT STEM Fair | 7 April, 2019
“It’s a bugs lab” stall (live insects, entomology equipment, etc)

Liggins Institute ‘Meet-a-scientist’ Programme
03/08/2016: Auckland Girls Grammar

Wikipedia pages I’ve created:

Teaching

BIOSCI 320: Pure & Applied Entomology
Teaching Assistant – First semester, 2019
Field trip – Pirongia Forest Park (March 15-17, 2019)
BIOSCI 104: NZ Ecology & Conservation
Field trip – Intertidal ecology, Devonport (March 3-4, 2018)
BIOSCI 207: Animal Form & Function
Field trip – Behavioural ecology, Muriwai gannet colony (October 13, 2018)