Gwen Pearson

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Adjunct Faculty
Department of Entomology

Degrees:
Ph.D. – Entomology, Minor in Horticulture, North Carolina State University (1992)
M.S. – Entomology, North Carolina State University, (1988)
B.S. – Zoology, Ohio State University (1984)

Bio

Dr. Gwen Pearson is an award-winning science communicator. Her freelance science writing career includes bylines in WIRED, Washington Post, Science, and other news outlets. She's the founder of the Insect Festival Working Group, project manager for the Lesson Hive and a former MSU Kellogg Biological Station Assistant Director. She served for many years on the Governing Board of the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS).

Concentrations

Outreach
K-12 Education
Science Communication

Awards/Accolades

2021 Multidisciplinary Outreach Team, Purdue Cooperative Extension Specialists Association Award
2019 PK-12 Excellence Award for Staff, Purdue University College of Agriculture
2016 Medal of Honor, Entomological Foundation, Entomological Society of America, for outstanding contributions to Entomological Outreach

Outreach

Insect Festival Working Group: Founded by Gwen Pearson, the Insect Festival Working Group supports insect festivals and related outreach efforts around the world. The group defines an insect festival as a recurring public event that celebrates insects and other arthropods while engaging non-specialists through fun, welcoming and science-based experiences.

Lesson Hive: The Lesson Hive is a reviewed library of insect and arthropod teaching resources designed to help educators find high-quality, accurate lesson plans. Resources are organized by NGSS standards, K-12 grade levels and other criteria, making it easier to identify materials that fit specific learning goals. By bringing reviewed content together in one place, the Lesson Hive saves educators time and supports engaging insect science education in the classroom.