The Dirt on Bugs, by Dr. Will Kuhn
The Carriage House at Knoxville Botanical Gardens, 2649 Boyds Bridge Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37914 Map
Live Stream Available
Public Welcome Family-Friendly Limited Access Recording Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Light Refreshments will be provided to those attending in person! This event will be in-person AND simulcast live via Zoom. Register below for the Zoom link information and for driving directions.
They creep, they crawl, and their lives are surrounded by mystery and lore... No, this isn’t the tagline for the next scary movie! Insects and other invertebrates are the unsung heroes that sustain life as we know it.
Join entomologist Will Kuhn for this fun and fascinating event, where you’ll uncover the vital roles of native bugs and learn about the challenges posed by invasive species. You’ll also have the chance to examine real bug specimens up close—sure to spark your curiosity and appreciation for the tiny creatures that make our world thrive!
About Dr. Will Kuhn:
Dr. Will Kuhn is an entomologist living in Knoxville. He serves as the Director of Science and Research at Discover Life in America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aiming to discover and understand every species living in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to educate the public about the importance of biodiversity in our lives.
Although native to the coastal plains of East Texas, Will has lived near the Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern US for more than 15 years, earning his master’s in entomology at Virginia Tech and his PhD in evolutionary biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He's become obsessed with cataloging and identifying insects, plants, and other life that inhabit his small Knoxville neighborhood and has documented nearly 1,500 species there using the iNaturalist community science app. Around 2019, he began establishing native plants in his yard and has been delighted to see how much this relatively simple effort has enhanced his local biodiversity and enriched his own life.