Entomology 2010

PAST Foundation & Ohio State University & Yale University present

Entomology

June 20th thru 26th June 2010 — Overnight camp
Bridge Program: Level II

The Details

Location: Ohio State University, Columbus – Entomology Lab, Columbus OH
Director: Dr. Josh Benoit, Yale Post Doctorate
Contact: fieldschools@pastfoundation.org

The Challenge

Insects have significantly impacted humanity since before the dawn of civilization, particularly agricultural development and public health. Colonies and countries failed due to agricultural pests, empires collapsed as a result of diseases transmitted by insects. Today entire industries are dependent on insects for their products. In the 1950s and 1960s, experts believed pesticide would eliminate insect disease vectors and agricultural pests, but we this approach failed. Bed bugs, African sleeping sickness caused by tsetse flies, and mosquito transmitted malaria persist. Science education and the field of entomology may hold many of our answers, so how can we explore how insects alter human development and progress?”

The Solution

An immersion program, exploring multiple facets of entomology where students perform basic laboratory experiments on insect physiology and design and conduct experiments that will take them into the field to collect specimens at locations throughout Ohio using collecting techniques essential for assessing the ecological quality of aquatic and terrestrial environments as well as the locale’s value in monitoring agricultural pest and insect pests. A fieldtrip to the Cincinnati Zoo, famous for its insect displays, will help place the diversity of insects worldwide. The week will culminate with student presentations that integrate the National Research Council’s four “Big Ideas”; 1) The role of evolution regarding diversity and life; 2) The function of biological systems during growth, reproduction, and when maintaining homeostasis; 3) Information storage, retention, retrieval, and response for biological organisms; and 4) Whole system interaction; from DNA to entire ecosystems, into the teams’ presentation of learning.

The Program

	Topics and Activities	Location
Pre Field Timeline
Spring 2010	Introduction to Entomology	Webinar from Yale University
Spring 2010	History, agriculture and public health	Webinar

	Daily Activities (8:00 – 4:00)	Evening Activities	Location
Sunday 20th June 2010	Arrive at OSU Dorms, 4pm	Orientation	OSU, Columbus
Monday 21st June 2010	Lecture on insects Begin experiments Insectory collecting (campus)	Lecture: Designing experiments	OSU
Tuesday 22nd June 2010	Lecture on agriculture insects Continue experiments Insectory collecting (local park)	Lecture: Insect Physiology	OSU
Wednesday 23rd June 2010	Cincinnati Zoo		OSU
Thursday 24th June	Deep woods collections		OSU MSE
Friday 25th June	Complete experiments Complete Collections	Presentations	OSU
Saturday 26th June	Depart