Tuesday 17 October 2006

Junior scientists

This is great. A CSIRO entomologist got together with a bunch of school students (7 –13 year olds) to describe a new species of gall-forming wasp. The children used a scanning electron microscope and digital imaging systems—and ended up naming the new species Tanaostigmodes shrek.

I'd like to read more scientific papers with an acknowledgment section like this:

We would like to thank several people who helped us with this project. Everyone at CSIRO Entomology was very nice to us … Finally, our parents were all very supportive of this project, and drove us around so that we could do it.



Read more
Hardwick, S., Harper, M., Houghton, G., La Salle, A., La Salle. S, Mullaney, M. & La Salle, J. (2005). The description of a new species of gall-inducing wasp: a learning activity for primary school students. Australian Journal of Entomology 44: 409 –414.