STEVEN STARR RECEIVES
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S CALVERT AWARD

In 1987, the American Entomological Society initiated the Calvert Award to be presented to a young person who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in insect-related study. The Award is named in honor of Dr. Philip P. Calvert who joined the Society as a teenager, later became its president, and was a member for 74 years. As Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and an Associate of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Dr. Calvert played an important role in stimulating an interest in insects among young people.

This year, the fifteenth Calvert Award was presented to Steven Starr, a senior at Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. His project was entitled, “Moth Egg Differentiation Using Electron Microscopy and Staining.” The closely related Tufted Apple Bud Moth and the Oblique Banded Leaf Roller both cause damage to the Pennsylvania apple crop but their larvae feed at different times of the year. If orchard growers could tell the eggs apart, they would be able to be more selective in applying insecticides to their crop. Steven’s research explored the use of electron microscopy for differentiating the eggs from the two species. Steven’s project was selected from among more than 25 insect-related science projects presented at the annual Delaware Valley Science Fairs held on April 11 at the Expo Center in Fort Washington, PA.

Anika Vaidyanathan, a sixth grade student from Newark, Delaware who attends Bancroft Academy in Wilmington, received a second place award for her project, “Monitoring Neighborhood Streams.” She studied stream invertebrates and water chemistry of several streams in northern Delaware to determine water quality. She found that that the quality ranged from poor to excellent.

Both Steven and Anika were honored at the Calvert Award ceremonies held April 25 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Jon K. Gelhaus, president of the American Entomological Society, presented them with certificates of accomplishment and memberships in the American Entomological Society. Steven also received a $50 check , while Anika received a $25 check and membership in the Young Entomologists’ Society.



Created 26 April 2001 by Hal White
Copyright 2001, The American Entomological Society