Thinking about biological collections lately I'm reminded of the time that somehow at age 4, I got a personal tour of the @UCBerkeley entomology collection (Essig?) from a kind scientist (anybody know who?!). Asked my parents how on earth THAT happened, and it turns out...🤯
When I was 4, I wrote a letter to the Entomology department at UCB. "My name is Rebecca and I have a bug collection. I read about yours and it is bigger than mine is. Can I see it? Also, I have a question. Do walking sticks have knees? Sincerely, Rebecca" 🤣
I have no memory of doing this, but a professor wrote back! Not only did he take the time to reply, he invited me to come to UCB & see "a really big bug collection". Following a lot of begging, my mom made time to drive to Berkeley, despite mild alarm at this whole situation. 👀
Apparently I told her that we'd exchanged letters so he didn't count as a stranger and therefore it was safe. And we went, and I had the greatest day of my young life. I remember snippets. Him laughing because I lost my mind at the foot-long walking sticks. 🪳
Him asking me what bug I wanted to meet alive, and being delighted when I said Luna moth, because (this was a secret) moths are better than butterflies. 🦋
He let me hold a live scorpion. As my mom tells it, he commented that they made good pets until she shot him an absolute death glare over my head, at which point he clarified "but only in museums and zoos". I also met a tarantula, a hissing cockroach, and live walking sticks.🦂
He explained how "knees" work in insects, then said he had to go, to teach his class on bugs. And I demanded to know where you could take an ENTIRE CLASS about bugs. He explained what college was. I asked if anybody was allowed to go, and he said yes. 🤯
Apparently, I promptly declared that I would go to college, and get a PhD, so I could work somewhere like that. He shook my hand and told me it was a pleasure to meet another biologist. 🥺
I have no idea who this amazing person was. But on days like today when I'm working on outreach that brings animals into classrooms, now with a doctorate in biology, I wish I could tell him thank you. Collections, when shared, are warehouses of wonder. ❤️
And somewhere in a drawer at UC Berkeley there's a foot-long walking stick partially responsible for my college education. 🤷♀️ If anybody knows who this amazing tour guide may have been, let me know! Otherwise, do outreach and answer the weird questions!
