Rebecca
Smyth
2001- 2002 CEIRP
Fellow
Research
Interest: Insect-Plant Interaction
Department:
Entomology
I
am an entomologist studying insect-plant interactions and
behavioral ecology in order to address theoretical questions
as well as agricultural pest problems. Previously at Cornell,
I studied oviposition preference for a cabbage pest moth
found in Southeast Asia. And more recently I investigated
individual and population behavior of striped cucumber beetles
in relation to host plant chemistry. I have also been a teaching
assistant for a variety of courses including: insect ecology,
ecological genetics, evolution, and spider biology.
With
this background I have imagined contributing some fun exercises
to classrooms. Insects can be used to demonstrate feeding
and egg-laying preferences, pathogen defense, parasitism,
biological control, physiology, pheromones, systematics,
principles of genetics, basics of natural selection, and
more. It's useful that many insects have short life cycles!
Whether
or not students continue in science these studies could help
them understand everyday problems such as those related to
epidemiology, or resistance to pesticides or antibiotics.
I am looking forward to working with these or any other topics
with collaborating classes and I hope that I can give as
much as I'm sure I will learn from both teachers and students
there.
