Loving lectures . . .

Brains are incredible things. The human brain maintains a fast growth rate in children, in fact it continues to develop into old age, but a majority of its real growth is done by our early twenties. Childhood is our most exciting stage of development. We learn about and see things for the very first time. I am passionate that an important part of parenting is to help your children learn and support their education. If your child expresses an interest in a subject, try to do what you can to support them and discover it together - remember we adults are still learning too. It's not about hard work, it's about having fun, together. Do not be afraid to attend lectures with your child even if you have never been to one yourself. There are many lecture programmes going on. Most museums run them, for example, the Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives have a Winter Lecture Programme, http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery and although some do charge, a great deal are free perhaps with a donation. Look for the subjects that interest your child, let them choose which ones they would like to go to. Take into account how long they are expected to sit and listen. You know your child best. Google the speaker on the Internet and discuss the subject before you go. If they need help to understand anything you can whisper in their ear to help them. Encourage them to ask a question of their own thought at the end of the lecture in question time, it shows they have been listening. NEVER PUSH YOUR CHILD INTO ASKING A QUESTION. Remember it can be extremely daunting and they need confidence built, not destroyed. Ask a question on their behalf if they prefer that. Perhaps even wait until afterwards, and let them ask the speaker on a one to one basis, when most people have gone. Always thank your speaker and if it was a particularly good lecture, then tell them - they will be grateful of that feedback. With children, I always look for a speaker who will use film and photographs to illustrate their talk. Be prepared to take money with you. Many speakers will be selling their latest book afterwards (optional), and if you buy one, your child will probably want theirs signed. Most books retail at around £25. A good speaker will be passionate about their chosen subject and will want to encourage your child's interest. Do not be afraid, they are normally very approachable if your child would like further information. Children are inspired by other people. Use the opportunity of lectures to inspire your child and learn with them. Great stuff!!




Doug Alan. Marine biologist, diver, author, photographer and the worlds most respected and well known wildlife cameraman specialising in mountains, oceans and polar regions. He thoroughly inspired this child at one of his lectures hosted by the Friends of the Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives.

Bugs in Bronze.

The brilliant thing about what I do is that I actually do not know what is going to crop up next! I was recently contacted by the renown sculptor Belinda Sillars www.belindasillars.com who asked if I could help her with a stag beetle commission. She explained that although she was a wildlife and equestrian sculptor, she had never 'done' an invertebrate. She needed to work from a real specimen, and preferably a dead one, to get it just right.The first problem was that, quite rightly, the British stag beetle (one of the largest insects in the UK), is protected as it is an endangered species. This means amongst other things, that it is illegal to take them from the wild. The second problem was that the stag beetles I have already in my pinned collections, are not British and do therefore, vary in many ways. Luckily I know someone who does legally have British stage beetles - the Hope Entomology Collection which is being preserved and studied at the Oxford University Natural History Museum. I then was able to spend a really fascinating afternoon watching Belinda twist a copper wire 'skeleton' into shape before adding a special wax and sculpturing the body. It was incredible to see her get the exact proportions and also to answer her questions. Why was it so hairy? Why did it have the horns? Can it fly and what does it sound like? How does it stand and hold itself? Why do we pin them with their tongues out? Why are they now endangered? All great observational questions and really fantastic to have an adult so interested. She left happily clutching her model ready to cast into a bronze and I was pleased that we had another bug convert! http://www.ptes.org/?page=192

Can you guess what it is yet . . . ?!

Dead as a Dodo.

Things do have a habit of becoming extinct, just think about the Dinosaurs and all the prehistoric life that went with them including many plants. Extinction is caused by one or many factors such as climate, disease, changes in sea level and of course asteroids. The sad fact is though that now we humans are fast tracking species extinction on a massive scale. By destroying habitats, pollution, over harvesting, global warming and illegal trafficking of species for profit. You can not just recreate a species from DNA and reintroduce it. Science is not able to do that yet and by the time it does, chances are that it will not have enough habitat left to live in. Wildlife parks are brilliant but animals very often need to travel vast distances to migrate or to simply keep their gene pool diverse. These parks are always running a war against poachers and the rarer the creature the higher the price on its head. A high price means people are willing to take bigger risks. Schools now cover rare species in their curriculum and my own son has been telling me all about the White Rhino he is studying in primary school. But let's go smaller and look pass the large mammals, endearing Pandas and fantastic Mountain Gorillas, lets look at the tiny invertebrates. At present one fifth of the world's invertebrates are at risk. That might not sound much until you realize that invertebrates make up around 80% of all animal life. They are the foundation of ecosystems all over the world. For us they recycle waste, pollinate, purify water and keep soils productive. We should do well to remember that.

The remains of mummified Dodos being preserved for science and to remind us that extinction is happening on a large scale in our lifetimes. Now caused by the impact of our species, not an asteroid.

Christmas crackers . . .

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 2012 has been yet another busy year with so many really fantastic school visits, brilliant media bookings and the chance to meet lots of great people. It has been fun to introduce so many people to the science of Entomology and to encourage loads of kids to see the world they live in from a different perspective. Enjoy your Christmas break and do not forget to get out there into the countryside to walk off the excess and marvel at natures raw beauty.

Science behind the scenes. . .

Recently I took a group of bug crazy children behind the scenes at the Oxford University Natural History Museum www.oum.ox.ac.uk/ to see for themselves the active entomological research going on behind the museums hidden doors. I do not want the children, who are mustard keen at the moment, to grow up thinking entomologists hide away in old dusty rooms smelling of moth balls!! This was a trip designed to make them understand what an entomologist does in the museum when they are not traveling to the far reaches of our planet in search of new species and discoveries. They met Darren Mann, the man who brings 'seriously cool' into entomology and who is also Assistant Curator and Collections Manager of the Hope Entomological Collections. He has had the honor of having many beetles named after him and is devoted to studying the scarab family. It was the most fantastic experience for the children! They learnt what happens to specimens after they are collected. How they are stored, maintained, identified, studied and labelled. They saw some of Charles Darwin's specimens and Dr. David Livingstone's famous tsetse fly as well as the awe inspiring site of the myriad of invertebrates from all over the world. They learnt how species identification can be time consuming work and how up to date technology is used. They even got the chance to help practically with some of the museums live invertebrate exhibits. The science of entomology became very alive for these children and each one went home inspired and enthused - mission accomplished, fabulous!

Drawers of full of surprises!

Using microscopy equipment.

Helping with an exhibit and choosing a treasure to take home as an memento of a very special day.

Make the most of Museums!

Museums have always held a fascination for this family and top of our list are Natural History Museums. So much to see, read, experience and learn. Museums are what you make them. Do not just sit there with a coffee and let your children wander around, experience each exhibit with them. Learn together! The collections you see are often unique and hold so much wonder. Encourage your children to stop and stare - if they can, to touch and feel. We learn through our senses the best. Do not forget to look at the buildings themselves. Natural history museums are often housed inside stunning buildings with a heady mix of ornate architecture and detailed decorations. Two of the many great museums to visit are the London Natural History Museum www.nhm.ac.uk/ and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History www.oum.ox.ac.uk/ . The OUMNH houses the Hope Entomological Collection and is an active invertebrate research centre. There is an extremely good permanent exhibit devoted to entomology as well as living displays and the opportunity to handle real live invertebrates. Have a superb family day out - go and immerse yourselves in a really awesome learning zone! Entrance is free but save a penny for a dinosaur cookie in the cafe overlooking the T-Rex exhibit. Hurry though, the OUMNH will be closed during 2013 for extensive roof repairs. When it reopens in 2014 it will be as fantastic as the day it hosted Charles Darwin's Great Debate in 1860!

Hands on sessions are always popular- a gorgeous Flat-rock Scorpion.

    Oxford University Natural History Museum.

Perfect Pinning. . .

Entomologists pin invertebrates to keep a record of the species they find and to enable other people to have a reference for study as pinned insects keep for a very long time indeed - Charles Darwin's pinned insects are still as good as new! Entomologists do not pin every insect they find, but a cross section of species they find on a single field trip. There are strict guide lines dictating the correct humane methods of killing invertebrates www.royensoc.co.uk/InvLink/Index.html They are instantly gassed in special 'killing jars' and mounted on boards only after the appropriate time. They must be laid out in such a way that the most entomological knowledge can be gained from them. The teaching of pinning methods is taken very seriously as live creatures are initially involved. When Bug Club children are taken on field trips they are expected to set traps, pin, identify, label their specimens and make notes on the habitat accordingly. It is very important that a child does not disrespect their duty to the humane killing of invertebrates for pinning and always approach this subject with true respect and concentration. When a habitats invertebrate life is examined, it is very similar to taking a 'blood sample' to assess the health of that environment. It is the small life that indicate any changes in the environment first as they are the greatest effected and otherwise unnoticed. They make up the important foundations of an entire ecosystem and must be studied to monitor our planets overall health as well as individual habitats.

True concentration is needed to prepare a specimen.

A carefully mounted dragonfly with its wings laid out under paper. When it is set the paper and extra pins will be removed.

Max Barclay (Curator and collections manager of Coleoptera and Hemiptera at the London Natural History Museum), teaches future young entomologists how to pin correctly.