Fall Meeting: What About the Insects?

Join us for our virtual Fall Meeting where we'll dive into the fascinating world of insects and their importance in our ecosystem!

Butterfly, ladybug, firefly, caterpillar, luna moth, bumble bee-- all insects! (Spotted lanternfly-- also an insect.)

Insects play a crucial role in our world. Yet, their numbers are declining at a steady and alarming rate. Most insects are extremely beneficial to our local ecosystems. Our birds, plants, flowers, trees, and vegetables could not survive without them! However, there are some insects--displaced from their original habitat-- that pose challenges to our local environment.

During our event, Dr. Linda Fink will discuss the beauty and importance of insects, and will examine the effects of invasive organisms on our native insects. She will also talk about the effects of invasive insects on our forests.

This will be an interactive presentation, where the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions throughout the webinar. You can submit your questions beforehand (during registration) for Dr. Fink, or ask them live. There will be a quick update on PRISM activities at the beginning of the meeting.

Blue Ridge PRISM's Fall Meeting is a free, online event. Those who register will receive a copy of the recording.

We hope you can join us!

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Linda Fink is a field biologist with expertise in ecology, entomology, conservation, and animal behavior. Recently retired, she was the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Ecology at Sweet Briar College. Professor Fink has a B.A. from Amherst College, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in zoology from the University of Florida. In collaboration with her late husband, monarch butterfly expert Lincoln Brower, she published research on the ecology, physiology and conservation of monarch butterflies. She has received research funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Enthusiastic about engaging people of all ages with the natural world, Dr. Fink was deeply honored to have been awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the student government of Sweet Briar College. In 2017, the Virginia Museum of Natural History awarded her the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science Education.

Host or Publisher Blue Ridge PRISM (Virginia)