A personal encounter with insects

My first conscious encounter with insects happened in 1995 when I was six years old, at my Grandmother’s village house in Turkey. Surrounded by agricultural fields and orchards, our garden was full of insect life. With almost no light or noise pollution, insects frequently visited my playground and piqued my interest in biology.

Fast forward to today, and the world has changed drastically. Reports clearly indicate how climate change, human activity, and pesticide use are threatening insect biodiversity. Protecting insects starts with education – especially at a young age. Teaching children not to fear insects and helping them understand their vital roles in the environment (beyond just pollination) are crucial steps in fostering environmental awareness for the future. Now is the time to sound the alarm and draw attention to the importance of our six-legged friends.

My journey in science communication and my deepening interest in entomology led me to an unexpected role at ETH Zurich: coordinating the Insects360 project.

What is Insects360?

Insects360 is a collaborative initiative involving the Biocommunication Group, the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, and the SimplyScience Foundation. Originally designed by Dr. Melissa Whitaker and funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the project includes a website available in both English and German. It aims to raise awareness of the significant impact insects have on human societies and the environment, from agriculture and disease transmission to culture.

Thanks to our incredible collaborators, we have published six topics so far, each featuring engaging articles and interviews. We also offer educational content for Swiss schools – carefully crafted by Dr. Alexandra Rosakis from SimplyScience Foundation. Additionally, Christian Felsner has created stunning 3D models using photogrammetry to generate precise three-dimensional reconstructions of insects from our treasured collection. Led by Prof. Dr. Consuelo de Moraes and Prof. Dr. Mark Mescher, the project is set for completion by April 2025. As its coordinator, I’m excited to share some of its highlights with you.

Competitions: Engaging the public

Insects surround us, yet we often overlook them – unless there’s a special reason to pay attention. That’s exactly what we’re offering through two exciting insect-themed competitions hosted on our website!

The first competition is open to all ages. We invite you to become keen observers and capture photos of insects with your smartphone. The winning entry will be selected by renowned insect photographer Thorben Danke, and the prize is a stunning book by Armin Coray, the Swiss illustrator celebrated for his detailed black-and-white insect drawings.

The second competition is for kids and teens, with two categories: fantasy insects and realistic insects. Drawing requires careful observation, helping young participants appreciate every detail of their subjects. Through this competition, we hope to inspire the next generation to notice, appreciate, and ultimately protect insects.

The submission deadline for both competitions is 31 March 2025.

3D models

In this project, we create high-quality 3D insect models from the Entomological Collection of ETH Zurich, accessible on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Our platform allows you to zoom in, rotate 360 degrees, and observe hidden details.

We have published 25 insect models on our website, including a particularly remarkable specimen: Anopheles stephensi, a genetically modified mosquito incapable of carrying malaria. Developed at the University of California, Irvine, in 2009, this mosquito was engineered to block the malaria parasite and was later released into the wild as part of an effort to control disease transmission. This individual, captured from nature, shows signs of damage—it is missing three legs and an antenna. The transgenic mosquito strategy involves introducing a genetic trait that prevents malaria transmission, with the goal of spreading it through natural mating. The specimen belongs to the Musée d’histoire Post-Naturelle, and its 3D model was created by Christian Felsner.

Educational materials for schools

Designed specifically for Swiss schools by Dr. Alexandra Rosakis, our German-language teaching materials provide an engaging introduction to the world of insects. They cover insect anatomy, explain what sets insects apart from other arthropods, and explore the fascinating process of metamorphosis. Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, these resources offer valuable tools to help children learn about and appreciate insects.

Inspired by Insects

Insects have long shaped human culture, art, and innovation, influencing everything from mythology to cutting-edge technology. Their forms and intriguing behaviors have inspired artists, appearing in paintings, sculptures, photographs and textiles as symbols of transformation and mystery.

Their remarkable adaptations have also fueled technological advancements, with scientists studying their wings for improved flight mechanics, their sensory organs to develop biosensors, and their natural materials for sustainable design. Architects have drawn lessons from termite mounds to create energy-efficient buildings, while engineers mimic cockroaches to build drones. Even in fashion and jewelry, insect motifs celebrate their mesmerizing beauty and complex patterns. In this chapter, we interview with both scientists and artists to learn how they got inspired by insects!

A flair for insects

One of our project’s topics explores careers related to insects. Some professionals squeeze into narrow cave crevices to study underground beetles, others use their entomological expertise to assist in crime scene investigations, and some work in insect collections, preserving and studying these fascinating animals. This section of Insects360 highlights career opportunities available to those with a passion for entomology.

A global network for science communication

The Insects360 project has connected entomologists, molecular biologists and even artists worldwide, with our website being accessed from over 80 countries. This global engagement represents the power of science communication in building strong networks. With Insects360, we hope to form new collaborations, educate people, raise awareness about insect conservation, and inspire young minds to consider careers in entomology.

By learning to appreciate insects, we take the first step toward protecting them – and in doing so, we safeguard the delicate balance of our ecosystems.

Science is not just about producing data in a white lab coat, it is also presenting your findings in a clear way to different audiences. Therefore, good communication skills are the Swiss army knife of a scientist. On the contrary, we don’t get these skills as a present on our 18^th birthday from our parents, instead, it is something to learn by trial and error. My intention is to share my journey and highlight the pros&cons of being a science communicator in academia through my eyes. 

I wanted to get out of the rabbit hole!

Doing a PhD in a certain topic requires you to be on top of the literature, knowing details by heart and recognizing important names in your field. Although these are all necessary to become an expert in a particular field, after some period of time, isolation kicks off. At least this happened to me during my PhD. Delving deeper into single neurons of fruit flies, I have started forgetting the fundamental topics in biology, I felt distant from nature and I found myself reading “my comfort-zone” literature only. Luckily, I had a new passion while going through these emotions, and that was photography!

As a biologist, I was always into insects, therefore I started learning macrophotography to turn invisible to visible. After a thousand reckless clicks, I finally made some progress and felt confident sharing my photos with a bigger audience on Instagram. I got almost zero interaction until I wrote a scientific caption to one of my photos. This caption was found entertaining by most of my friends and they encouraged me to step into my science communication (scicomm) journey without any knowledge or intention. From that day on, I have been creating scientific content on Instagram and TikTok and this has become the most rewarding experience of my academic life. Everyone should have their own way, mine is throwing an unusual photo to the audience and triggering their curiosity with a hook sentence. Throughout this article, you will see random photos I took throughout my journey. I am curious to see if you will understand what they are at the first sight.

What’s so cool about communicating science?

Freedom! I loved the way that I write, like talking to a friend but still being scientifically accurate! In academia, scientific writing class is taught where one learns how to write like a robot, without emotions, and jokes. You have to shrink a whole paragraph into a sentence and create a text that only a handful of experts can comprehend easily. Well, I am scientist enough to know the necessity of this for publishing and acknowledge this modern torture. However, you are free to be yourself, share your thoughts and ideas, be funny, sometimes silly, basically be yourself when you do scicomm on social media!

It is not a competition.

Although there are scicomm competitions that one can enrol, doing it on social media is not about being better than anyone! The important thing is being authentic and telling a story your own unique way, instead of copying what others are doing. There are hundreds ways to communicate your science. Pick yours! Once you find your own style, then there is nothing to worry about. Just keep providing your offerings to Instagram Angels for a good karmic algorithm and let time to do its magic. Social media will connect you with the right people sooner than you imagine.

It will bring you new opportunities

At the beginning of my journey in science communication, I had no idea of how vital our role would become. It wasn’t until the advent of COVID-19 that the world truly recognized our significance. During the pandemic, a surge of scientists felt the urge to communicate science accurately and combat the spread of fake news. It wasn’t just students; even seasoned professors delved into the world of social media. They created new accounts, crafted informative infographics, conducted live sessions. Instagram transformed into an educational platform, and science communicators began to receive well-deserved recognition.

Now, let me share a story about the remarkable scicommers I encountered during this period. Many of them evolved into stars. Some launched their businesses, while others became familiar faces on children’s TV programs. They found themselves invited to prestigious TV shows and sought after by major pharmaceutical companies, museums, and TV channels for documentary projects. In short, it was now possible to proudly declare oneself a science communicator and make a living from it.

As for my journey, Instagram paved the way for me to find the laboratory where I currently conduct my post-doctoral research. I started imparting my knowledge through various meetings and courses on science communication. I eventually become a project manager for a scicomm project generously funded by SNSF. Additionally, I began writing for a prominent Turkish national newspaper, allowing me to communicate science in my native language. I have no doubt that these experiences will lead to even greater achievements in the future!

Learning by teaching

In my earlier years, I was a dedicated student and discovered the profound impact of learning through teaching at a young age. Ever since, I help my friends to get ready for exams and some of the subjects I taught remained in my long-term memory. Engaging in science communication entails diving into a multitude of references, crafting a compelling narrative, and delivering your message in a various formats. No matter the platform, there is always a tremendous effort behind the scenes. It may seem like a significant workload (and indeed, it is), but it happens to be one of the most effective learning strategies I’ve ever encountered. So, as you educate others, you end up delving deeper into the subject yourself. It’s truly a win-win situation.

Make friends without borders

It’s truly fascinating how simple it is to connect with like-minded individuals on social media. Over time, these connections evolve into friendships, support groups form, and new collaborations flourish. That’s one of the most wonderful aspects of social media—you nurture relationships that extend into the real world. Occasionally, you might encounter fellow science communicators at the university, during conferences, or while traveling, leading to fruitful collaborations (I’ve experienced this many times!).

Of course there are some downsides of being active on social media. Let’s talk about the dark sides!

It will take your time

Time is a significant constraint. The continuous cycle of experiments, lab meetings, poster presentations, and conference talks can make academia incredibly demanding. This is why many scientists view science communication as a time and energy drain. They prefer to channel their efforts into their research projects, aiming to generate the maximum amount of data within their limited time. I hold deep respect for everyone’s perspective, and it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone is inclined towards science communication; it may not be suitable for everyone.

Be careful – It can get toxic

When it comes to social media, things can escalate quickly. Depending on the subject, you can attract individuals with varying opinions like a powerful magnet, and you might become entangled in endless discussions. You may encounter anti-vaxxers, creationists, animal rights activists, devoted followers of specific religions or ideologies. While it’s possible to block individuals to sidestep these disputes, my recommendation is to maintain a friendly tone, striving to be inclusive rather than confrontational.

Don’t let it ruin your performance and experiments

Sharing a scientist’s daily life can be captivating for the public, and many scientists often offer glimpses into their daily routines, allowing people to feel like they’re part of their journey. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, it’s important to remember that laboratory work demands a high degree of seriousness and the establishment of certain boundaries. For instance, when working with hazardous chemicals, delicate glassware, and expensive equipment, a scientist should maintain absolute focus. Keeping a mobile phone nearby to create content can be highly disruptive, potentially leading to accidents. My recommendation is to keep your phone away during experiments and only share the most basic aspects of your lab life. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that social media can be quite addictive. If you find yourself caught in this web, I suggest setting time limits for yourself.

Social media is not so easy to handle

Not knowing the rules of the platform is akin to driving a car without a license. It can suck up your energy and time quickly. Also, you don’t want to boost your imposter syndrome by adding another disappointment. So, I recommend you to try a few platforms simultaneously and see which one you can build a network.

Which platform to pick?

Are you a twitter bird (or should I say X-men?) or a sciencefluencer on IG? What about Linkedin with your professional headshot? Maybe you like to be in front of a camera and tell what you know to the public on Youtube? There is no wrong or right platform, but audience changes completely.  

The first thing they teach in every scicomm lecture is: “Know your audience”. I don’t recall how many times I heard this, but this is still a GOLDEN advice. So I suggest you do your research in advance before jumping into this journey!