ERICA WU, RECEIVES

THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S 2018 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 32nd Calvert Award was presented to Erica Wu, from Holmdel, NJ, a senior at Holmdel High School. She is concerned about the accumulation of non-degradable plastics in our environment and wanted to explore possible ways to deal with this major problem. The fact that the larvae of certain moths and beetles can actually eat and grow on polystyrene inspired her project entitled, “Plastic polymer degradation by waxworms (Galleria mellonella).”  Her project was selected from among 16 insect-related science projects presented at the annual Delaware Valley Science Fairs held April 4 at the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

Four other students received recognition for their insect-related science projects. They included Elizabeth Piatkowski (second place), a 10th grade student from Brick, NJ, who studied the effects of oxalic acid vapors to control mites in bee hives; Andy Hill (third place), a 7th grade student from Schnecksville, PA, who studied the effect of temperature on the growth rate of beetle larvae; Maddox Pace (honorable mention), a 6th grade student from Pedricktown, NJ, who studied which fruit to take on a picnic that wouldn’t attract ants; and Elissa Bulkin (honorable mention), from Holland, PA, who was interested in the use of insects in forensic entomology.

All students were honored at the Calvert Award ceremonies held April 25 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Dr. Jamie Cromartie, president of the American Entomological Society, presented each with certificates of accomplishment and memberships in the Society. Harold White, Chair of the Society’s education committee and lead judge for the Calvert Award, was impressed with the awardees and noted that this year’s group was particularly deserving of recognition. They were knowledgeable, curious, and enthusiastic about their work, all qualities needed in the next generation of scientists.




 Erica Wu with her First Place Project at the Calvert Award Ceremony, April 26, 2017, at the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia.


Andy Hill displays his Calvert Prize second runner-up project .


Maddox Pace displays his Calvert Award Honorable mention project.


Elissa Bulkin displays her Calvert Award Honorable mention project.


Elizabeth Piatkowski, Calvert Award First Runner up, being interviewed by Hal White at the Delaware Valley Science Fairs, 4 April 2018



Andy Hill, Calvert Prize second runner-up,.being interviewed by Hal White at the Delaware Valley Science Fairs, 4 April 2018





Rosemary and Carl Livingston, parents of the first Calvert Award winner in 1987, examining the display of Monach butterflies at the 25 April 2018 AES Meeting.


Display of Monarch Butterflies, relatives, and mimics from the Academy of Natural Science Entomology Collection prepared by Greg Cowper.


Stommy Blauth, Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, speaker at the 25 April 2018 AES Meeting.

Photos by Ashley Kennedy and Hal White


Calvert Award Home Page
Created 2 May 2018, Last up dated 2 May 2018 by Hal White [halwhite at udel.edu]

Copyright 2018, The American Entomological Society