Hands on Workshop: The ENHG insect collection comes to Abu Dhabi with Dr Brigitte Howarth

VENUE: Salon 1 - 3, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.  Salon 1 is most easily accessed from the ballroom entrance.

TIME: This drop-in / drop-out interactive workshop with run from 6pm – 9pm.

TITLE: The ENHG insect collection comes to Abu Dhabi with Dr Brigitte Howarth

SUMMARY: More than 2,000 arthropod species have been found in the UAE since 2008, and approximately 380 of them are new to science. Ever since the origins of the ENHG over 35 years ago, the group has understood the importance of collecting arthropod specimens and record data as they realized little was known about the organisms found in the UAE. The collection serves as a reference source, as well as a data source. Individuals such as founder Bish Brown were careful in recording detail, learning curation of insects, and hence have left a legacy of several hundreds of specimens with important biological data. Many others, including ENHG members, have since added to this collection.

Seeing the collection up close, one begins to understand the importance of preserving it. Rows of butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, bees, flies, and many other specimens fill the boxes. Some of them may initially look the same, but most have differences which are not always visible to the naked eye.

At this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to see the collection and appreciate the incredible diversity of arthropods we have in the UAE; most of the collection is comprised of insects. We plan to curate some insects recently collected from Saadiyat Island and move some of the older specimens into new entomological cabinets; this requires a steady hand, though the task in itself doesn’t require skills, just patience!

Please ensure:

- You don't wear long sleeves that may drag over pinned specimens

- Tie back long hair

- Do not wear dangling jewellery

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:  Dr Brigitte Howarth is an experienced ecologist, with a BSc in applied ecology (University of East London, 1992), and a Ph.D in ecological and behavioural entomology (University of Central Lancashire, 1998). She has a thorough knowledge of the UAE and Oman’s ecology, fauna and flora, with over 10 years’ experience in this region. She is a recognised expert in the local (UAE) insect fauna, including the Oman border region, specialising in the flies (Diptera), but is also skilled in identifying other insect orders. She has helped in the identification of medically important ticks from offshore oil platforms in the UAE. As well as serving as Chair of the Department of Natural Science and Public Health, she currently lectures in ecology at Zayed University, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and is involved with the Emirates Natural History Group, Al Ain, where she has served in many different capacities (curator and custodian of the entomological collection, chair, vice chair, speaker coordinator, recording officer, outreach coordinator).