Experience Entomology: A Complete Metamorphosis. An experiential, hands-on course focused on field observations, natural history collections, and cutting-edge approaches to study and protect insects

TitleExperience Entomology: A Complete Metamorphosis. An experiential, hands-on course focused on field observations, natural history collections, and cutting-edge approaches to study and protect insects
Faculty/College/UnitLand & Food Systems
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2026
Project Summary

The Experience Entomology project will enrich, expand, and embolden the next generation of insect-curious UBC students to understand entomology as a classic yet cutting-edge field of science. This project takes the current “Intro to Entomology” curriculum through a complete metamorphosis, emerging as a dynamic, energized course that will awaken students to the beauty of the natural world of insects, and provide training in the discipline and care required for specimen-based science. We will develop a new curriculum grounded in classic naturalist training through on-the ground observations, outdoor field surveys, and museum-based collections, while also providing project opportunities with community-based partners doing biodiversity surveys. We expand current training to introduce students to cutting edge methods of insect classification to characterize insect biodiversity, including using crowdsourced online collections, computer vision, DNA barcoding and more.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2026/2027
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorJuli Carrillo
Year 1: Funded Amount29,080
Year 1: Team Members

Juli Carrillo, Associate Professor, Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Karen Needham, Lecturer, Faculty of Science / Curator, Spencer Entomological Collection, Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Matthew Tsuruda, PhD Candidate, Plant-Insect Ecology and Evolution Lab (PIEE Lab), Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Carly McGregor, Lab Manager, PIEE Lab, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Paul Fisher, MSc Student, PIEE Lab, Faculty of Land and Food Systems / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Hannah Anderson, PhD Student, PIEE Lab, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Eva Burghardt, MSc Student, PIEE Labb / Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada