Outreach

Insects are a wonderful opportunity to teach all ages about insects, and specifically how insects are used in forensic applications. We have actively participated in many K-12 educational events and community outreach functions. In the past, we have presented to the:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Youth Forensic Science Program at Michigan State University (K-12 event).
American Fifth Distillery’s Orations and Libations public seminar series in Lansing, MI.
Michigan State University Science Festival (K-12 event).
Cranbrook Institute of Science – CIS After Dark in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Department of Entomology’s Bug House Holiday Open House at Michigan State University (K-12 event)
Michigan State University Middle School Girls’ Math and Science Day (K-12 event)

These are excellent opportunities for many to get up close with insects and better understand they are not 'icky'!

If you are interested in having us participate in your group activities, please feel free to contact me.

Outreach: Courses

Media Interviews & News Releases

June 2019: Phone interview for MIT’s Undark Magazine with Rene Ebersole.
October 2018 (released): Phone interview for National Geographic with Carrie Arnold – “Beetle juice turns corpses into cozy nurseries—here's how” (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/10/news-burying-beetle-nursery-bacteria-fungus-decomposition/)
August 2018 (released): Phone interview for The New York Times with Steph Yin – “Hundreds of Reindeer Died by Lightning. Their Carcasses Became a Laboratory” (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/science/reindeer-carcasses-lightning.html)
April 2018 (released): Interview for Michigan Radio’s Stateside with Cynthia Canty– “What can microbiomes tell us about death? New MSU study explores the life of a corpse.” (http://michiganradio.org/post/what-can-microbiomes-tell-us-about-death-new-msu-study-explores-life-corpse)
April 2018 (released): Interview for Michigan State University Today news release – “Bugs, Microbes and death can inform the living” (https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2018/bugs-microbes-and-death-can-inform-the-living/)
March 2018 (released): National live interview for Public Radio’s Science Friday with Ira Flatow – “After You Die, Your ‘Necrobiome’ Lives On” (www.sciencefriday.com/segments/your-necrobiome-lives-on-after-you-die/)
Jan 2018 (released): Phone interview for PNAS Front Matter with Dr. Carolyn Beans – “Can microbes keep time for forensic investigators?” (www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718156114)
May 2016: Phone interview for BioTechniques (www.biotechniques.com/news/Microbes-in-Decomposing-Corpses/biotechniques-364430.html - .Vzs896ugTB9)
January 2016 (released): Interview for The New York Times Magazine – “The Living Dead” (nyti.ms/1ndQNEG)
February 2015: Phone interview for the New Scientists
January 2015 (released): Phone interview for the News from Science Magazine (AAAS) – “Carnivorous Duo Feed on Human Remains” (news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2015/01/crickets-and-pillbugs-feed-human-remains) DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa6368
December 2014 (released): Interview for the Lansing State Journal – “MSU Bug House offers creepy crawly fun over the holidays” (www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/12/27/msu-bug-house-offers-creepy-crawly-fun-holidays/20950729/)
November 2013 (released): Phone interview for Science News – “Getting to know the real living dead” (www.sciencenews.org/blog/gory-details/getting-know-real-living-dead)