Graduate Research Fellow University of Florida Gainesville, Florida
Through museum exhibits, zoo habitats, and documentary films, ants bring everyday people into the undergrowth to encounter a world that feels just as familiar as it does alien. While ants tend to get a bad reputation as pernicious urban pests and destructive invasive species, they can be surprisingly useful on display. Exhibits and films can spark curiosity by focusing attention on ant-inspired technology and the critical roles ants play in urban and natural ecosystems. But for the many people unable to experience these place-based or pay-per-view resources, the bustling insect societies beneath their feet remain inaccessible. This represents an opportunity for science communicators to leverage the natural charisma of ants to engage the public.
Using lessons learned from the most ambitious projects of the past, we can create small-scale insect displays for experiential learning within schools, use at outreach events, and installation in museums and zoos. In this presentation, I share methods for creating accessible ant habitats for outreach and exhibition, as well as aspirations for the future of public insect displays.