Clarke Central High School Entomology students stand with science department teacher Robert Pulliam in front of the Georgia Museum of Natural History on April 16. Pulliam, who teaches the Entomology (study of insects) course at CCHS, planned the 2025 Entomology trip to various locations across the University of Georgia campus. “A lot of the time, you can find organizations or individuals in the area that are willing to do things (with bugs). Really any chance I meet somebody that has some sort of background or affiliation with insects, it’s, ‘How can I get them involved?’” Pulliam said. Photo courtesy of Robert Pulliam
CCHS Entomology students will go on a field trip to the UGA campus hosted by the UGA Department of Entomology on Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Clarke Central High School Entomology students will have the opportunity to attend a field trip hosted by the University of Georgia Department of Entomology on Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where they will interact with various bug exhibits and collections across UGA’s campus.
The trip is a collaboration between CCHS science department teacher Robert Pulliam and Dr. Kelly Carruthers, Academic Professional Associate for Entomology at UGA, to encourage students to learn about insects.
“(We’ll) start off at the Entomology Department and see (the UGA Insect Zoo). We’ll visit the Burke Lab, which studies parasitoid wasps. Dr. (Joseph) McHugh, who teaches taxonomy at UGA, will talk to us a little bit and then take us to the (Georgia Museum of Natural History,)” Pulliam said. “We’ll check that out and see their behind-the-scenes insect collection, as well. Then, we’ll hop on a bus and go over to the (UGA Black Fly Lab), which is the only black fly lab in the world.”
A map shows the different locations Clarke Central High School Entomology students will travel to for the CCHS Entomology field trip on Oct. 30. CCHS science department teacher Robert Pulliam, who teaches Entomology, has been able to plan different excursions for his students because of the connections UGA and the Athens area offers. “Whether it’s visiting (the University of Georgia) Entomology Department, which we’re extremely fortunate to have just down the road, or having guest speakers come in, it’s (planned through) people I meet in Athens,” Pulliam said. Map by Lydia Rowell
Within CCHS, Pulliam coordinated the activity alongside CCHS science department Instructional Coach Dr. Julie Memler, whose role includes organizing field trips and other hands-on activities tailored to classes in the science department.
“To me, science should be students doing things. Even when I was teaching, I would look at a lesson and say, “This isn’t something (my students) will enjoy doing,” and so I try (to) modernize it, or kind of fit (current) culture,” Memler said. “I think that’s important. If you want the kids to buy in and enjoy (learning), then you should make it relevant.”
“Having more of the immersive, hands-on experiences for students who think insects are the epitome of all that’s bad and evil (will) hopefully (get them to) see the other side.”
— Robert Pulliam,
CCHS science department teacher
The field trip is one example of Memler and the science department’s efforts to engage students in those hands-on learning activities and garner more interest in the unique science courses CCHS has to offer, such as Entomology, Zoology, Human Anatomy and Epidemiology.
“I think (Entomology) is really cool, because regardless of if you like bugs or don’t like bugs and insects, you’re familiar with them. Hopefully, that drives a desire to know more about them,” Pulliam said. “Having more of the immersive, hands-on experiences for students who think insects are the epitome of all that’s bad and evil (will) hopefully (get them to) see the other side.”
