Kristie Reddick, right, and Jessica Honaker working on a video shoot in the field.
Department Unveils New 'Bug Bytes' Podcast
December 22, 2009
Have you ever wondered what’s new in the insect world around us? Just what are those six-legged wonders up to anyway? In their quest to answer these and other “very cool” entomological matters, the folks at Solpugid Productions and the Department of Entomology have teamed up to unveil the Bug Bytes podcast series.
Each podcast covers a broad range of topics, from research to popular culture and natural history to human interaction.
The first podcast talks about how a Polish filmmaker's fascination with insects had turned into making stop motion films using insects, which inspired such filmmakers as Tim Burton and Henry Selick.
Former Student Kristie Reddick, who also works with Solpugid Productions, said the podcasts are fun, educational and entertaining for all audiences.
"If you're looking to learn about cool things going on in Entomology, Texas A&M is the place to be," Reddick said. "It is meant for a general audience and we want to inspire people to learn about insects and the people who work with them."
Solpugid Productions is run by Jessica Honaker and Kristie Reddick, both former students of this department. It is an educational company that specializes in promoting the sciences by developing media and curriculum. Both women have Master's Degrees in Entomology from Texas A&M University. In Spring 2010, they are travelling to Guatemala with the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and they are currently partnering with the Bryan Public Library on "The 15 Project", a program they developed to teach college bound students study and presentation skills while fostering a lifelong love of learning.
The podcasts are now available through iTunes and through the Department's website at http://insects.tamu.edu/podcast/ . New stories will be added every two weeks, so either subscribe to the podcasts or visit the website often. Solpugid Productions is also on the Web at http://solpugidproductions.com