Our In Class With…. series involves celebrated STEM personalities answering students’ questions. Offering students of all ages a unique opportunity to hear from inspirational speakers as they share their STEM journeys and achievements.
Up Next: Entomologist, food scientist and entrepreneur, Skye Blackburn-Lang aka Edible Bug Woman is taking on questions from school students around Australia in 2023’s first In Class With… event.
Skye’s episode will be available soon.
Skye Blackburn-Lang always wanted to be an entomologist…
As a child, Skye was fascinated with all living creatures, especially the spiders, butterflies, and other insects in the bushland she grew up nearby. Her unusual childhood pets included ‘Fluffy’ the tarantula and ‘Woodstock’ a giant burrowing roach that blows kisses. By the age of four, Skye knew she wanted to be an entomologist.
Following her passion, Skye studied bug science (entomology) as well as food science at university (something which at the time, seemed like a strange mix of professions). However, by combining the two, along with her entrepreneurial talent and dedication to sustainable food production, she designed a range of edible insect products that are safe to eat and taste great!
Skye’s company Circle Harvest was Australia’s first farmer of insect proteins and is a world leader in Edible Insect farming techniques. As Australia’s largest and most advanced insect protein farm, they have even developed robotics and artificial intelligence to streamline their insect farming processes.
Skye, and her trailblazing team, teach people that insects are an eco-friendly and delicious, alternative protein. Skye feels that by educating people about the way that edible insects can be farmed, she can help reduce some of the misconceptions about eating bugs.
Most of all, Skye loves inspiring the next generation to follow their passion to achieve their career dreams, like she has.
“You don’t just have to eat bugs if you are stuck in the bush and have nothing else to eat. When prepared properly, and you get over the initial YUCK factor, bugs are very tasty and are also good for you (and the environment).“
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Years: R-12
Topics:
Biological Sciences
Careers in STEM
STEM in Action
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