For the Love of Bugs: Where have all the insects gone?
April 2nd, 2019 | 6:00 – 8:30 PM | CIC Venture Cafe – Kendall Square
Insects. They are all around us, in our homes, on our skin, in our soil, and buzzing around our ears. They fly, they dance, they sing, they swim, they pollinate. Some are huge and some are too tiny to see with the naked eye. Some we love for their beauty, others for their important ecological function, and others simply annoy us. Regardless, their survival is directly linked to ours (and ours to theirs!) and, unfortunately, many are in steep decline.
The evidence is mounting: the west-coast population of monarch butterflies has fallen by 90% over the last 20 years; the rusty-patched bumblebee, which was once found in 28 states, has declined by 87% in the same amount of time; and flying insects in German nature reserves have decreased by 75% in 27 years. We haven’t even identified all the insects on the planet, let alone their ecological function, yet many are dying with unknown consequences. And yet, you will hear anecdotes of booming insect populations or insects spreading well beyond their historical range, impacting the crops we eat and the forests we rely on.
So, what’s going on, why does it matter, and what can we do about it? Join us at BASG’s April 2nd event to find out with featured speakers.
Our Speakers
Nick Dorian, Tufts University
Nick Dorian is a second-year PhD student at Tufts University in Medford, MA. He studies native cellophane bees and the impact of landscape change on their populations. Nick’s passion for science communication and outreach leads him to share what he knows about insects and native plant gardening to anyone willing to listen. When he’s not in the field chasing bees, Nick photographs birds, tends to his many gardens, and tries to bake the perfect sourdough bread.
Richard Robinson, Northeast Organic Farming Association
Richard Robinson is a member of the Board of Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts chapter. With his wife, he runs Hopestill Farm in Sherborn, a certified organic farm where they have been growing organic vegetables, small fruits, and cut-your-own Christmas trees for over 40 years. He is also a science writer, specializing in neuroscience and biomedicine.
Dr. Mario Motta, American Medical Association
Dr. Mario Motta is well known as a doctor and an astronomer. He is a Cardiologist practicing in Salem Massachusetts, and has been in various roles in the Massachusetts Medical Society and the American Medical Association, including authoring the AMA policy on outdoor lighting while on the council of science. He was elected to be a trustee of the AMA this past year. In 2013, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid in his honor. Dr. Motta will share insights on our night sky and what light is the best for bugs.
See you there!
~Carol, Tilly, Holly, Eric and Amy
BASG 