Lepidopterist, Dr. Craig Bateman, and research assistant, Hailey Dansby, of the Florida Museum of Natural History recently spent their day speaking to biology students at Gainesville High School. Teacher, Leigh Larson, participated in a Scientist in Every Florida School workshop for teachers this past summer. While at UF, she spent time in the lepidoptera labs, and decided to share that experience with her class by inviting the scientists to the school.

The students were introduced to biological concepts related to butterflies and moths. At the start of class, students worked in collaborative groups creating butterfly traps to be housed around the school. As an added surprise while placing the traps around the campus, Hailey Dansby was able to share her find with the group: a praying mantis! After setting the traps and returning to the classroom, Bateman and Dansby spoke about their backgrounds and passions for science.

Dr. Bateman was careful to draw on many of the academic vocabulary terms being taught in the current unit of study; by relating those terms to his research. He spoke of the symbiotic relationships observed among the beetle species he studies. He also emphasized to the class the importance of science being a process that includes collaboration and communication, much like what they experienced throughout the course of the day.

Hailey talked to students about her work with Luna moths, a species native to Florida.  She also stressed that students, whether interested in science or not, should recognize that many aspects of science are applicable no matter the field or career path taken.

By the end of the day, Larson’s class received an invite to assist the lab through a community science project.  By participating in this process, students will see the value in collecting data and how it can contribute to the research being done at the University of Florida.