Scientist Saturday - Pyroentomology

Saturday, July 21, 2018

10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Discover current research and meet real scientists at Scientist Saturdays. See hands-on demonstrations of scientists’ exciting research and ask all the questions you want.

The program welcomes guests of all ages to interact with the scientists, who are happy to converse with you about their current research.

Meet entomology graduate student Stephen Mason and co-ops Cameron Chung, Madeline Sabo and Marina Jackson. Mason and his students study pyroentomology, or how insects respond to fires. Insects are the most biodiverse organism in the world, and humans could not survive without them, making them an ideal group to study after a fire.

With human-caused climate change and rising global temperatures, fires are becoming more frequent and intense. Learn about the different perspectives on forest fires. Are they good, bad or both? Find out what insects have told us after a fire has occurred in the nearby New Jersey Pine Barrens and what this means for fires occurring worldwide.

This program is part of Dino-mite Summer at the Academy!