Bug Talk

In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Jen Roedel and Karma Thomas about the Bee Urban Growers (BUG) Project, a North Central Region SARE-funded initiative focused on supporting pollinators and small-scale urban farmers. The project centers on cucurbit crops like squash and pumpkins, which rely heavily on pollinators, and works to improve habitat and pollination services in urban agricultural systems....

In this episode, we spoke to Dr. Zsofia Szendrei, a professor of entomology at Michigan State University, and the original host of Bug Talk! Her research and extension program focuses on the ecology and management of arthropod pests in vegetable production, with the goal of helping farmers grow healthier crops with fewer pesticides. She works closely with growers across the state of Michigan to de...

In this episode, Alyssa, a MSU sophomore, chatted with Dr. Andrea Glassmire, an Assistant Professor of Chemical Ecology at Michigan State University. Andrea’s work spans a broad variety of topics, including community ecology, plant chemistry, experimental design, and statistics. Her research aims to better understand insect pest management and biological invasions by exploring how plant trait dive...

In this episode, we chatted with Dr. Eric Benbow, a professor of aquatic and decomposition ecology at Michigan State University. His work highlights the broad applications of entomology, with a primary focus on how insects and microbes interact with each other across a variety of settings. More specifically in the ways diseases spread, decomposition, and even the ways that insects can be used as f...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM MARCH 30, 2021] This week we talked with Dr. Marianna Karageorgi. Marianna is a postdoc at Stanford University and studies insect adaptation to host plant toxins. We discussed her path into the fascinating world of insect behavior, differences between the US and European academic systems, and what scientific research has in common with dancing the tango! Stay connected with MSU Ent...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM MAY 3, 2021] his week Ariana, Jen, Natalie and Zsofia chatted with Jenna Walters about the Entomology Research and Outreach Fellowship (EROF). We discussed how Jenna was inspired by Insects for Inclusion to start a program similar here at MSU! We also discussed EROF’s experiences with starting the program, looking for funding, recruiting and interviewing potential candidates, and f...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM JULY 8, 2021] this week Zsofia chatted with Henry Mochida, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Communications Manager at Michigan State University. Henry works to strategically elevate MSU’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, practices, and programming with staff in University Communications and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. We talked about his cu...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM OCT. 11, 2021] This week Jen and Zsofia talked to Dr. Julio Bernal, professor of entomology at Texas A&M. Julio told us about his background in agriculture and how he became interested in entomology! We also discussed his graduate and postdoc experiences. Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and Bluesky .

[RE-UPLOAD FROM MARCH 1, 2022] In this episode, Zsofia has a conversation with Megan Fritz, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland. Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and Bluesky .

[RE-UPLOAD FROM OCT. 2, 2020] This week cohost Natalie talked with Taylor Hori, an MSU entomology undergraduate! Taylor came back to school for a second degree, and her and Natalie discuss the pros and cons of being an older returning student. They also talk about how she went from English to an entomology major. Taylor also discusses what it’s like to moving from the west coast to the Midwest! St...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM OCT. 9, 2020] this week Zsofia chatted with Tatiana Cornelissen, a Brazilian scientist working on insect-plant interactions. Tati recently gave a department seminar over zoom about her research. They discussed her life growing up in Brazil, how she developed a passion for science, her graduate studies, and how she perceives the current status of science in Brazil. She also gave poi...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM NOV. 3, 2020] This week Ariana and Zsofia talked with Dr. Ivette Perfecto, James E. Crowfoot Collegiate Professor of Environmental Justice at the University of Michigan. They discussed Ivette’s undergrad in Puerto Rico and her graduates studies at U of M. She shared with us how she became a professor and how her collaboration with her husband evolved. They also discussed Ivette’s c...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM NOV. 5, 2020] This week Kayleigh and Zsofia talked with Emily Proctor from MSU extension. They discussed her role in connecting MSU with MI Indigenous People, her life growing up and her perception of the MSU Land Acknowledgement. They also went over how you should recruit indigenous students! Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and Bluesky .

[RE-UPLOAD FROM NOV. 6, 2020] Hey y’all, Bug Talk podcast is back!! EPISODE 40 IS LIVE! 🤩 this week Zsofia talked with Jessica Ware and Megan Wilson, members of the EntoPOC team @entomologists_of_color  on Instagram. They discussed how Jessica and Megan paired 40 students with mentors for the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America and how #entopoc provides support for the bes...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM DEC. 2, 2020] this week Zsofia talked with Dr. Kelsey Graham. She was a postdoc in the Isaacs Lab until December 2020. She is now a research scientist at the USDA-ARS Bee Lab in Utah. They discussed job searching while in lockdown, her new responsibilities and expectations for the future!  Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and Bluesky .

[RE-UPLOAD FROM MARCH 15, 2021] this week Andrea and Kayleigh talked with Kevin Steffey and Zsofia. They discussed Kevin and Zsofia’s roles as co-editors in chief of American Entomologist. They also talked about how they got involved in science communication, the importance of storytelling in scientific writing and making research accessible to broad audiences, especially to those who are not scie...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM SEPT. 25, 2020] this week Zsofia chats with Willye Bryan about her career in entomology and her involvement in editing “Memoirs of Black Entomologists: Reflections on childhood, University and career experiences”, a book published by the Entomological Society of America in 2015 (its available free of charge!) Willye also talks about her activism in the 1960s to integrate classrooms...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM OCT. 2, 2020] this week Jen, Kayleigh and Zsofia talked with Dr. Jessica Kansman who got her B.S. in Entomology from MSU. She then went to the University of Missouri to complete her Ph. D. She is currently working as a postdoc in Dr. Sara Hermann’s lab at Penn State! They discussed her time at MSU, her research over the years and her passion for outreach (her outreach Instagram is...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM AUG. 26, 2020] This week Ariana and Jen talked with graduate students Jessica Maccarro and Magda Argueta-Guzman from UC Riverside! They discussed their research, how the awesome idea for Insects for Inclusion started, which is a platform they use to sell insect art and all the proceeds go to a fund supporting paid research opportunities for undergraduates in underrepresented commun...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM AUG. 26, 2020] This week, Zsofia and Kayleigh chatted with Dr. John Clark, the recipient of this years MSU Entomology Alumnus Award. John is a professor and environmental toxicologist at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. They discussed how he got into entomology, his experiences as a graduate student, mentorship, transitioning to a faculty position straight out of a PhD,...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM SEPT. 15, 2020] This week cohosts Andrea and Zsofia talked with MSU entomology undergraduate Michael Kalwajtys. They discussed how he discovered entomology, how school is going, online classes, and how he spent his time during quarantine. Mike is an avid Star Wars fan and they talked about the possibility of meeting aliens! Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM AUG. 14, 2020] this week Zsofia interviewed Joy Landis, they discussed how Joy got into communication, her interests in design, photography and her relationship to digital and social media platforms. They also talked about her family, things she missed out on during quarantine and favorite foods and coffee/tea! Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram a...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM JULY 6, 2020] This week, cohost Zsofia interviewed Dr. Marianna Szucs, assistant professor in entomology at MSU. They chatted about Marianna’s path from geology to entomology, why she chose evolutionary biology as her research theme and what life is like as a foreigner. They also discussed some of her hobbies! Stay connected with MSU Entomology on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram an...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM JULY 15, 2020] This week, Andrea, Kayleigh and Zsofia talked with Drs. Felicia Wu and David Hennessy from the Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. They discussed their recent USDA grant investigating the relationship between the prevalence of aflatoxin and Bt corn. They also chatted about transgenic crops more generally, the...

[RE-UPLOAD FROM JULY 15, 2020] This week, Ariana and Zsofia talked to Dr. Marisol Quintanilla, nematologist in MSU entomology. Marisol told us about her journey getting a M.S. and Ph. D in nematology in Dr. George Bird’s lab, and her life as an entomologist in Guam. We also discussed her three kids and husband and how she manages a work/home/life balance!  Stay connected with MSU Entomology on Lin...