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Our web of life

26 August 2009

Boy looking at test-tube

Is there really an insect living in there?
Image by University of Bristol

It was interesting how the public jumped at the chance to get involved in the experiment and the giant Jenga set was a great way of illustrating the web of life.

Dr Michael Pocock
Talking about the web of life and alien insects isn’t something that you would expect to do during a normal Saturday shopping trip. But this is exactly what was lying in wait for shoppers one weekend in March 2009, when a team of University biologists invited passers-by to take part in a citizen science experiment, right in the heart of Bristol’s prestigious new shopping centre, Cabot Circus.

Armed with fliers and test-tubes containing alien insect-infected leaves, Drs Michael Pocock and Darren Evans and colleagues from the University’s School of Biological Sciences, challenged locals to get involved in a real science experiment. The public’s mission was to check the leaf in their test-tube each day and record the insect that emerged — either a tiny moth caterpillar not from the UK or a parasitic wasp — on a special website. If the wasp emerged, then natural pest control had occurred.

Tumbling Jenga towerMichael and Darren also used a giant Jenga set to demonstrate the interconnection of the world in which we live, showing how the removal of one species (or brick) could jeopardise the entire system. The game attracted shoppers, particularly those with young children, to their exhibit.

“It was interesting how the public jumped at the chance to get involved in the experiment and the giant Jenga set was a great way of illustrating the web of life,” said Michael. “What’s more, seeing the fallen Jenga bricks scattered over the ground made people realise that nature is more fragile than they might have thought, and the kids loved the excitement of the wobbly tower!”  Darren added, “We managed to get across the idea that we need to look after all of nature, not just birds and butterflies, in a fun yet powerful way.”

Please contact The Public Engagement Officer for further information.

Further information:

Dr Michael Pocock and Dr Darren Evans can be contacted by email at: michael.pocock@bristol.ac.uk and darren.evans@bristol.ac.uk.

This exhibit was carried out as part of National Science and Engineering Week, and was supported by the Centre for Public Engagement. During the two days in the shopping centre, the team distributed over 1000 test-tubes to members of the public. The results showed that very few alien moths made it out of the leaves alive and that about one-third of leaves contained a natural pest controller that had zapped the alien. Natural pest control at its finest!

Funded by RCUK.

National Science and Engineering Week
Research results website