CHRISRTINA KELLY RECEIVES

THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S 27^th CALVERT AWARD

In 1987, the American Entomological Society initiated the Calvert Award to be presented to a young person who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in insect-related study.  The Award is named in honor of Dr. Philip P. Calvert who joined the Society as a teenager, later became its president, and was a member for 74 years.  As Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and an Associate of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Dr. Calvert played an important role in stimulating an interest in insects among young people.

This year, the 27th  Calvert Award was presented to Christina Kelly, from Springfield, Pennsylvania, an eleventh grade student at Springfield High School. Her project was entitled, “The effects of various homicide scenarios on the entomological activity on human remains.” Christina has done science projects on different aspects of forensics for several years. Her project this year address posed the question of whether growth of carrion-feeding insects depends on the method of disposal of a surrogate food source. It was selected from among 15 insect-related science projects presented at the annual Delaware Valley Science Fairs held April 3 at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

Three other students received recognition for their insect-related science projects. Prize winners included Monica Ting, (second place), an eleventh grade student from Holmdel, NJ, who studied, “Understanding the surface nanostructure of Morpho and Pieris butterfly wings.” She was interested in whether an understanding of how microscopic physical structures that create iridescent wing colors could be mimicked in food such as chocolate. Kerri Diamond (third place), a ninth grade student from Souderton, Pennsylvania, received recognition for her project on, “The virtual swarm: Which insect’s food-finding method is most effective.” Her project involved generating computer programs that modeled the behavior of foraging insects. Kerri also received the overall top prize for ninth grade projects at the Delaware Science Fairs. Regina Reynolds of Wilmington, DE, received honorable mention for her project, The foraging behavior of the honey bee.” She studied the whether honey bees recognize certain shapes as cues for returning to food sources.  

All students were honored at the Calvert Award ceremonies held April 24 in the library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Dr. Jamie Cromartie, president of the American Entomological Society presented the students with checks, certificates of accomplishment, and memberships in the American Entomological Society.