Insect Week (formerly National Insect Week) is an initiative originating in the UK. Usually held during the last week of June, the aim is to engage the general public with the importance of insects and entomology. The week is organised by Luke Tilley at the Royal Entomological Society, as well as Insect Festival, and is supported by a large number of partner organisations[1] concerned with insect science, natural history and conservation. The week consists of hundreds of events and activities across UK, allowing the public to discover insects and meet the entomologists that study them. The popular Insect Week Photography Competition is launched during the week and attracts entries from large numbers of amateur photographers.[2] As well as promoting the importance of insect science to the wider public, Insect Week particularly aims to encourage young people into entomology.[3]
Past Insect Week campaigns have been endorsed by the Prince of Wales, Prof David Bellamy OBE, Chris Packham, Kate Humble and Mike Dilger, in 2014 the week was launched by Jonathan Ross.[4] In 2022 to mark the start of the week, Writers Rebel's Paint the Land team produced a short film 'Almost Invisible Angels' based on Jay Griffiths’s dreamtime, narrated by Sir Mark Rylance.[5]
The next Insect Week will be 24 to 30 June 2024.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Our Partners | Insect Week". www.insectweek.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Photography | Insect Week". www.insectweek.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Insect Week website
- ^ "Jonathan Ross launches National Insect Week at the Museum". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- ^ "Almost Invisible Angels". painttheland.org. Writers Rebel. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Insect Week 2024". Royal Entomological Society. Royal Entomological Society. Retrieved 27 June 2023.