Community engagement is integral to our science. We frequently enjoy sharing our passion for entomology, botany, microbiology, pollination ecology, and natural history with the public.
We recognize that community engagement can be achieved via multiple means, such as via science art, classroom activities, outreach events, and public talks. We are eager to add and support new science communication techniques, activities, and venues.
Outreach at Missouri State University
2021 Entomology outreach at Ozark Middle School (2x)
Co-led by lab members Maggie Mayberry, Faith Dall, & Kate Trebing: 6th-8th grade students in two 80 minute entomology activities. 16 attendees.
2021 Beekeepers Association of the Ozarks
Gave bee and buzz pollination talk (with lab member Maggie Mayberry) to ~30 beekeepers.
2020 Springfield Conservation Nature Center
Gave two plant-pollinator-microbe talks (with lab member Parker Campbell) to 26 Nature Center volunteers.
2020 Entomology outreach at Ozark Middle School
Co-led (with lab member Maggie Mayberry) 6th-8th grade students in two 60 minute entomology activities. ~40 attendees.
2020 PBS and KQEDscience Deep Look
Panelist (1 of 3) and interview with Josh Cassidy and livestream; xx livestream attendees.
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWjPcd2WHM
2020 Discovery Center Springfield, Springfield, MO.
Led 3rd-8th grade students in two 30 minute pollination activities; 21 students.
2020 Missouri State University Bee-Keeping Club, Springfield, MO.
Bee sociobiology and health talk. ~10 attendees.
2020 Nature Conservancy Western Ozark Water Coordinator, Sierra Club. Church of Unity, Springfield, MO.
Panelist (1 of 6) giving expertise on pollination ecology. ~100 attendees.
Outreach at the University of Pittsburgh
2019 BioBlitz at the Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, PA.
Pollinator-microbe-interactions booth. Coordinator and volunteer. ~400 BioBlitz attendees; ~100 to our booth.
2018 Market Science at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, Pittsburgh, PA.
“Spooktacular Arthropods: Exo-skeleton Extravaganza”. Coordinator and volunteer. ~90 attendees.
2017, 2018 Biannual Carnegie Science Center SciTech Days Festival – Pollinator Booth, Pittsburgh, PA.
Coordinator and volunteer, 4x. ~200 attendees/event.
2018 Yough Intermediate/Middle School 12th Annual Science Fair – Pollinator Booth, PA
Coordinator and volunteer. ~75 attendees.
2017 Market Science at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, Pittsburgh, PA.
“Pollinators and Polli-nation”. Coordinator and volunteer. ~100 attendees.
2017 Bee Thinking Happ-bee Hour, Portland, OR.
“Getting buzzed: bee-havior and floral rewards”. Invited public talk. 26 attendees.
2017 Avonworth Community Park, PA.
Introducing the public to local pollinators and plant ecology. Coordinator and volunteer. ~25 attendees.
Outreach at the University of Arizona
2016 Arnold Arboretum Tree Mob – Pollinators Present, Harvard University.
Tour at the Leventritt Garden and concurrent discussion of local pollinators. Co-presenter. ~15 attendees.
2016 Rincon Heights Community Garden Outreach, Tucson
2016 Contributed to an exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – “After Dark” event
2016 Presentation to the Tohono Chul Park docents, Tucson, AZ.
“Rewarding bee-havior”. Invited public talk. ~30 attendees.
2015-2016 Pollinator Booth, annual Tucson Hebrew Academy STEM Festival
Coordinator and volunteer, 2x. ~500 attendees/event.
2015 Contributed to an exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California – Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact
The exhibit features videos and audio of our work on buzz pollination (NSF-funded).
2012-2016 Brain Works tent, annual Tucson Festival of Books
Introducing neuroscience to the public. Volunteer. ~1500 attendees/event.
2011-2016 Pollinator Paradise; annual Arizona Insect Festival
Coordinator and volunteer, 5x. ~7000/event total attendees.
2014 Arachnophobia booth, Flandrau Science Center’s Spooktacular Science
Coordinator and volunteer. ~50 attendees.
2013 Insect Discovery Graduate Associate & Insect Fair Organizing Committee Member
Spoke in 50 Tucson classrooms, 1200+ students, k-8th grade. Contributed to 4 ‘science nights’ at Tucson schools to educate the public about entomology – each received several hundred visitors. Part of the organizing committee for the Insect Fair. Chaired an Insect Fair presentation room.
2012 Brain Zoo, Senita Valley Elementary School
Introducing neuroscience to the public. Volunteer.
Outreach at Cornell University
2007-2010 Insectapalooza, Cornell University
Annual showcase of entomology. 3000/event total attendees.
2010 Naturalist Outreach Speakers Bureau, Cornell University
Hands-on presentations on plant-insect interactions to elementary and middle school students. Spoke in 10 classrooms, to ~200 students.
Photo copyright to Dan Papaj
RUSSELL LAB - MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY 