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Fishing in the Entomological StreamA book by Purdue entomology students

Department of Entomology
By Thelma Heidel and Jody Green
January 23, 2008

Contributing illustrators include Thelma Heidel, Diana Castillo, Jody Green, and Janice van Zee.  The book editors include Jody Green, Thelma Heidel, and Professor Larry Murdock.

Entomology professor Dr. Larry Murdock always emphasizes in his classes that being a good scientist consists of more than just the ability to conduct good research.  In particular, he emphasizes the importance of writing well.  In the spring of 2007, he offered a new class to graduate and undergraduate entomology students called “Fishing in the Entomological Stream,” a class he created to teach young entomologists some of the additional skills he believes are necessary to be a good scientist.    

One of the class projects involved each student writing a personal anecdote regarding an entomological experience.  Throughout the semester, each story was edited and revised by every other student in the class.  These 14 stories were later compiled, and the entire collection evolved into a published book entitled, Fishing in the Entomological Stream, a 124-page hard cover book with dust jacket that includes a short biography of each author.  Many stories recall childhood experiences involving insects while others tell of life-altering insect encounters later in life.  All are interesting tales involving the insect world. 

The book authors and students from the class include (in alphabetical order): M.Walter Baldauf, Diana Castillo, Jody Green, Carolyn Foley, Christa Hardy, Thelma Heidel, Alana Jacobson, Paul Marquardt, Marissa McDonough, Philip Morton, Jessica Platt, Janice van Zee, Ashley Walter, and Professor Larry Murdock.  Contributing illustrators include Thelma Heidel, Diana Castillo, Jody Green, and Janice van Zee.  The book editors include Jody Green, Thelma Heidel, and Professor Larry Murdock.

If you would like to purchase this book, please visit the Lulu Press website at www.lulu.com/content/930323 or www.lulu.com and search for Fishing in the Entomological Stream. The book is available for $25.95. (No profits are generated from this project.)