Who’s the Pest?
Who’s The Pest radio series was was based on a concept and original research by Bridget Zaidee Nicholls and part of a month long series of the same name at The Wellcome Collection. Radio 4 got the insect buzz with a three part series in which entomologist Erica McAlister took a look at, among other things, the use of insects’ incredible sense of smell to detect explosives and diseases. The series bears the same name as the Pestival event series – Who’s the Pest? – and features many of the collaborators involved. All three episodes are available online.
It’s our world, but not as we know it.
“They make up a mighty 80% of the species on earth, and at any time there are ten quintillion of them living. Entomologist Erica McAlister is known as Fly Girl to her friends. As Curator of Flies at the Natural History Museum, she knows what remarkable, strange, and diverse animals insects are. But for most of us, insects are pests – something we swot, or repel, or catch in a jar and hastily eject from the house. In this three part series, Erica will take listeners on an adventure in insect- world. It’s our world, but not as we know it. The insect world is populated by beings with superpowers – an amazing sense of smell, lightning reflexes, the ability to fly at dizzying speed or walk on the ceiling. And these superpowers have
implications for us humans – in medicine, defence, food, art and architecture. They can help us to live more healthily, more safely, more sustainably.” BBC Radio 4
Episode 1:
SUPER POWERS
In Episode One, Erica investigates insects’ superpowers.
Series Consultant: Bridget Zaidee Nicholls
Episode 2:
EAT
In Episode Two, Erica asks whether we should be eating more insects.
Series Consultant: Bridget Zaidee Nicholls
Episode 3:
INSECT TECHNOLOGY
In Episode Three, Erica explores how insect technology can solve human design problems.
Series Consultant: Bridget Zaidee Nicholls
