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WSU's Zack Brings Buzz To The Classroom

"Brown crickets and ground beef in a skillet, add onion. Place ground beef and onion in a large pot. Add remaining ingredients. Cook for several hours adding water as needed."

"Chili con Crickets" is the first entree on Richard Zack's Annual Bug Fest menu. A part of Zack's class at Washington State University (WSU) called Entomology 101, Insects and People, the event is just one of many aspects his students enjoy during the semester.

It's not only the students that are buzzing about the course. Zack is the 2004 recipient of the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award, presented during WSU's "Celebrating Excellence: An Evening Honoring Our Faculty and Staff" banquet last year. The award is given to one faculty member at WSU each year who demonstrates significant and meritorious achievement in teaching.

Some people may wonder why there is so much interest in this entomology class. Because of the excitement Zack adds to the subject, students enjoy the topic more than they would imagine. They learn and share stories about their experiences with insects. "Most of the students do really well in the class from the standpoint that they enjoy it, so they like to learn the material," says Zack.

Over the last few years, Zack made considerable changes to the course curriculum. Instead of having a midterm and a final, for example, there are weekly quizzes, which keep students up to date on the material and attending class. Zack also changed the course textbook after having past students review it.

In addition to the new textbook, Zack provides a list of about 15 books from which the students choose one to write a report about. While the books are all related to entomology, they cover topics like forensic entomology, gardening, and the natural history of different insects.

Non-science majors at WSU are required to take science classes, including a biological science class, such as entomology. In 1997, the class had 23 students. Since then, class enrollment has grown until 2003 when the limit of 175 students was put in place.

Each semester, Zack has special events, one of which is a bug fest where students, and their brave friends, come to learn why people eat insects and to test their own palates on chili, tacos, breads, and cookies with insect ingredients. The event is also open to the public. The 2004 bug fest attracted over 400 people. Zack says most people are intrigued enough to sample some of the entrees on their own and others are challenged by their friends to try a savory dish.

The students also visit the M.T. James Entomological Collection, which Zack curates. It is the largest insect museum in Washington with over 1.5 million insects on display from all over the world. The collection attracts some 12,000 to 15,000 visitors each year, including K-12 schoolteachers and their students. Visitors learn about medical entomology and insect diseases, attend interpretive sessions, and watch slide shows.

Zack has authored or co-authored more than 45 scientific papers about applied projects and biological diversity. In addition to receiving the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award, Zack won the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching from the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America in 2001 and 2003; the R. M. Wade Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching from the WSU College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences in 2001; and the Teaching Award of Merit from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture in 2001.

Tami Kays is a graduate student in technical communication at the University of Washington.

Top: Richard Zack sorting insects at the M. T. James Entomological Collection. Photo: WSU Photo Services


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