Back to NewsBroodPU Emerges May 27 - New People's University Series: Bugs & People
Posted 05/20/21
What do cicadas and people have in common? Both are re-emerging and re-uniting this summer.
Inspired by the return of Brood X or the Great Eastern Brood of periodical cicadas, the People's University at the Ohio County Public Library will offer an 8-class summer series on entomology (insect biology) called "PU Livestream: Bugs & People." The series will feature some of the best entomologists and experts from all over North America to teach attendees about the six major insect orders, as well as the history of human and insect interaction, a subject known as cultural entomology.
Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions still affecting in-person library gatherings, the series will remain an online livestream, which facilitates the nationwide, prestigious faculty.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about insects while becoming eligible to win various insect-related prizes through interaction with the instructors. Watch our trailer for more details! "It's like Sheldon Cooper's Fun with Flags, only with bugs—and less production value." —Cicada Enthusiast Magazine
People's University Livestream Bugs and People - May 27-July 15, 2021 - Thursdays at 6:30 pm
View the full schedule of classes and faculty below.
Week 1 - May 27, 2021:
CLASS 1: Brood X — Cicada-Mania, Part 1
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CLASS 1 — May 27 at 6:30 pm:
Brood X — Cicada-Mania, Part 1
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: An introduction to insects in general and where cicadas fit in the Class Insecta aspects of insect biology, using cicadas, a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera (true bugs), as the example. This will set the stage as an introduction for our series.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Dr. Gene Kritsky is dean of Behavioral and Natural Sciences and a biology professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH. He received his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois. Editor of American Entomologist, he has authored or edited 10 books and over 250 papers on subjects as diverse as entomology, Egyptology, dinosaur biology, and insect mythology. He is the author of The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt, and The Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition, 2021.
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Week 2 - June 3, 2021:
CLASS 2: Brood X — Cicada-Mania, Part 2
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CLASS 2 — June 3 at 6:30 pm:
Brood X — Cicada-Mania, Part 2
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: This class will focus exclusively on the 17-year, periodical cicadas known as Brood X or the Great Eastern Brood, order Hemiptera (true bugs), and their unique life cycle and history. Brood X is due to return this summer and a small colony exists in Wheeling.
— View full class details
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Instructor Bio: Dr. Gene Kritsky is dean of Behavioral and Natural Sciences and a biology professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH. He received his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois. Editor of American Entomologist, he has authored or edited 10 books and over 250 papers on subjects as diverse as entomology, Egyptology, dinosaur biology, and insect mythology. He is the author of The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt, and The Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition, 2021.
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Week 3 - June 10, 2021:
CLASS 3: A First Look at Insect Evolution and Orthoptera Identification
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CLASS 3 — June 10 at 6:30 pm:
A First Look at Insect Evolution and Orthoptera Identification
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: An exploration of the evolution of insects, from their origins with crabs and brine shrimp, to giant insects during the Carboniferous, to modern insects and their relatives. We will take a quick tour of arthropods, including spiders, mites, millipedes, and the "basal" insect orders like mayflies and dragonflies. We will then pause at grasshoppers and katydids to discuss locust plagues, plant mimicry, and the predators that hunt using cricket chirps. Finally, we will learn some local species of Orthoptera from OH, PA, and WV.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Dr. Elizabeth Rowen earned her PhD in Entomology at Penn State, where she studied the effects of soil management techniques on herbivores and their predators. She is now a Service Assistant Professor at WVU in the Division of Plant and Soil Science, where she works with the Insect Zoo, teaches entomology, and researches the connections between insects, plants, and soil.
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Week 4 - June 17, 2021:
CLASS 4: An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
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CLASS 4 — June 17 at 6:30 pm:
An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: This engaging and colorful overview of beetles, one of the largest and most diverse group of animals on earth, will cover their distinctive physical features, biology, and natural history, then explore beetles in light of their coevolution with plants and other organisms, as well as the complex history of beetle and human interactions. All too often dismissed as pests, beetles are essential for the proper functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, have long influenced popular culture, and provide countless scientific insights and technological inspirations.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Dr. Art Evans earned his PhD in entomology at University of Pretoria, South Africa. He’s an adjunct professor at Randolph-Macon College, University of Richmond, and Virginia Commonwealth University where he teaches Entomology and Insect & Humans. He is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian and the Virginia Natural History Museum. Dr. Evans has published 40 scientific papers on scarab beetles, as well as over 100 articles and books on insects and spiders, including An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles. His next book, Field Guide to Beetles of Western North America, will be published this August.
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Week 5 - June 24, 2021:
CLASS 5: Pollinators and Stingers — The Hymenoptera Order
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CLASS 5 — June 24 at 6:30 pm:
Pollinators and Stingers — The Hymenoptera Order
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: With more than 150,000 species of sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants, Hymenoptera is one of the largest and most interesting orders of insects. This class will examine the vital contributions of threatened species like the honeybee to human survival, as well as some of the dangers presented by other species within Hymenoptera.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Dr. W. Franklin Evans is the new president of West Liberty University. He earned his B.S. in Entomology/Biology and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Supervision from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He has published many articles in academic journals and delivered numerous presentations on the subjects of executive leadership; Black leadership; and education. He is excited about returning to his entomological roots to instruct this class.
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Week 6 - July 1, 2021:
CLASS 6: Diptera: Flies, Midges, and Mosquitoes — Contributions & Dangers
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CLASS 6 — July 1 at 6:30 pm:
Diptera: Flies, Midges, and Mosquitoes — Contributions & Dangers
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: Insects influence our lives in innumerable positive ways, such as pollination, decomposition of organic matter, and food chain links for other animals. Insects can also be dangerous and even deadly to humans. This has been brought to the forefront with the spread of the Zika and West Nile viruses by mosquitoes. Dr. Michael Strand will talk about the diverse and fascinating biology of insects in the order Diptera, which are commonly referred to as flies. While some flies like mosquitoes can adversely affect humans, many others are beneficial to our planet.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Michael R. Strand, PhD., is H.M. Pulliam Chair, Department of Entomology, at the University of Georgia, where he has been a professor since 2001. Prior to moving to Georgia he was a Professor of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 14 years. Dr. Strand's research laboratory features a team of researchers with various backgrounds who investigate many areas under the broad umbrella of Insect Physiology. Results of the team's findings are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and shared via presentations at scientific meetings and seminars around the world.
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Week 7 - July 8, 2021:
CLASS 7: Butterflies and Moths: Metamorphosis, Migrations, and Monitorings
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CLASS 7 — July 8 at 6:30 pm:
Butterflies and Moths: Metamorphosis, Migrations, and Monitorings
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: Lepidopterans, moths and butterflies, are some of the best-loved and most charismatic insects on the planet. Butterflies capture the imagination of people from all over the world, which makes them excellent candidates for engaging citizen scientists and casual observers. This talk will provide a basic overview of butterflies and moths, will touch on the epic monarch migration, and will provide information on ways anyone can get involved in current butterfly science.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Kathryn Hokamp, former Lepidopterist at Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado, Entomologist at Houston Museum of Natural Science, and coordinator of the Texas Butterfly Monitoring Network, specializes in the husbandry of Lepidoptera, a major insect order that includes about 180,000 species of butterflies and moths. Kathryn is a 2016 graduate of Rice University with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She is interested in citizen science as a research tool, particularly with regard to butterflies, moths, and other insects.
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Week 8 - July 15, 2021:
CLASS 8: A History of Bugs & People: — Cultural Entomology
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CLASS 8 — July 15 at 6:30 pm:
A History of Bugs & People: — Cultural Entomology
Watch live on YouTube or Facebook
Abstract: Eric R. Eaton, lead author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, will examine how we create insect pests, for example by introducing them from overseas, labeling them as such when they really are not pests, and how our scale of agriculture drives pest abundance. Insects are also human food, inspire art and literature, inspire inventions, and produce chemicals important to medicine, etc. Insects are vital to our human survival, much like the living seas, and other aspects of the ecosystem.
— View full class details
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 Instructor Bio: Eric R. Eaton is lead author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America; and author of Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect. He has written articles about insects for several magazines. Mr. Eaton studied entomology at Oregon State University, and has worked as a professional entomologist at the University of Massachusetts and Cincinnati Zoo, as well as on private contract for the Smithsonian and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. As "Bug Eric," he has built a loyal following on social media and as a blogger and is a leading figure in popular entomology.
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See full Instructor Bios and Class Abstracts, visit: www.facebook.com/peoplesuniversityOCPL. Click on “Events.”
WIN PRIZES JUST BY TUNING IN OR SHARING A PHOTO!
As part of our People's U Livestream: Bugs & People summer series, the Library has commissioned Wheeling artist Bob Villamagna—the WV Tinman—to make a work of art based on the re-emergence of the Brood X or Great Eastern Brood of periodical cicadas, which are starting to re-emerge this summer. Villamagna, name the 2016 West Virginia Artist of the Year, is a popular mixed-media artist who uses repurposed lithographed metals, found objects, and vintage photographs to create colorful and whimsical pieces. People's University viewers and supporters will have the chance to be entered into a drawing to win Bob's artwork or other prizes, such as #BroodPU tee shirts, tote bags, or coffee mugs, gift certificates to local restaurants, or insect-related books.
THREE WAYS TO WIN:
Cicada Yourself For the Villamagna Artwork and Other Prizes
In light of the long quarantine from which we are just starting to emerge thanks to vaccines, we thought the periodical cicadas' epic journey made a nice metaphor for what we humans are all experiencing. The time has come to emerge from your home, find your wings, and fly! Starting now and running through and including July 15, anyone can come to the library, find the giant 8-foot cicada wings, take a photo or ask library staff to take one in front of the wings, post it with the hashtag "BroodPU," or tag the Ohio County Public Library, OR, email the photo directly to the library for posting, and be entered into our drawing to win the Bob V. artwork and other prizes.
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Bug Your Pug or Gnat Your Cat!
You can become eligible to win #BroodPU tee shirts, tote bags, or coffee mugs, gift certificates to local restaurants, or insect-related books -- plus pet treats! -- by dressing your pet like an insect, taking a photo, posting it, and tagging the Ohio County Public Library, OR, emailing the photo directly to the library for posting. Library staff will choose their favorites and contact the winners to send out the prizes!
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Tune in to our Live Broadcasts
Ask a topic-relevant question to one of our presenters during one of our live broadcast to be entered into a drawing for BROODPU merch. Win a t-shirt, canvas book bag, coffee mug, cicada pin, and more!
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- People's University Online-
Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on YouTube Live and Facebook Live
Subscribe to the People's University Youtube channel or like us on the People's University Facebook page or to receive notifications of our upcoming People's U broadcasts. Watch broadcasts anytime after their recording date on the People's U: Bugs and People page. To receive emails about our upcoming programs, visit our News page, click the "Subscribe" button to sign-up for our news blasts or download our free OCPL Connect app from your smartphone's app store.
 
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Also, make sure to check back in the weeks to come for information on a field trip to be scheduled the week after our last class.
Library staff member Nayt Knapp, a praying mantis breeder, will lead us on a field trip where we can use our newfound knowledge to identify local insects.
WHAT IS PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY?
In 1951, the Ohio County Public Library's head librarian, Virginia Ebeling, referenced British historian Thomas Carlyle, who said, “the public library is a People’s University,” when she initiated a new adult education program with that name. Miss Ebeling charged the Library with the responsibility of reaching “as many people in the community as possible.” In keeping with that tradition of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library revived the series in 2010.
The People’s University is a free program for adults who wish to continue their education in the liberal arts. It features courses—taught by experts in each subject—that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, philosophy, and science. Patrons may attend as many classes as they wish. There are no tests of other requirements and all programs are free and open to the public. For more information about PU Livestream, Bugs & People, EMAIL US, visit ohiocountylibrary.org or call the library at 304-232-0244.
Like Life-Long Learning?
Don't miss Lunch With Books, our weekly daytime program for adults!
"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to your computer — and hopefully soon back in the Library Auditorium), feed your brain!
Lunch With Books Livestreams starts at noon on Facebook and YouTube.
Subscribe to the Lunch With Books Youtube channel or like us on the Lunch With Books Facebook page or to receive notifications of our upcoming LWB broadcasts. Watch past Lunch With Books Livestream broadcasts on the LWB Livestream page.
— View our calendar of events to see all the upcoming programs at the Library.
