May Berenbaum, chair of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will discuss the evolutionary relationship between plants and insects during a Voices of Discovery lecture titled “Phytochemicals: Plant Sex, Human Drugs, and Insect Rock and Roll” at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 1 in McCrary Theatre, located in the Center for the Arts on campus.
Berenbaum is internationally known for her work in the field of plant-insect interactions. Her research is focused on the way organisms such as plants and insects influence the evolution of the other. Plants have developed sophisticated defense mechanisms against an onslaught of insect predators, while some insects select specific plants upon which to feed. A classic case is that of the Monarch butterfly and milkweed plants. While many insects avoid the toxic defense chemicals found in milkweeds, the Monarch butterfly feeds exclusively on these plants, having evolved methods to detoxify the poisons.
Berenbaum has received the George Mercer Award and the Founder’s Award from the Entomological Society of America in recognition of her contributions to the field. She has written several books, including “Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs,” and served as co-author of “Ninety-Nine Gnats, Nits and Nibblers.” She is the organizer of the popular “Insect Fear Film Festival,” an annual event at the University of Illinois.
A faculty member at the University of Illinois since 1980, Berenbaum earned a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University.
Berenbaum’s presentation is part of the Voices of Discovery science speaker series, sponsored by Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. The series invites noted scholars in science and mathematics to Elon to share their knowledge and experience with students.
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