Be the Nerd: Recent Episodes
Brian McCornack
Erin and I could talk for hours, and we have. In this episode we talk about her path to Entomology and Extension more specifically. She’s a Professor at Iowa State University, the co-creator of this whole “be the need” thing, and one of my best friends. She’s creative, brilliant, and full of ideas. I always find it fascinating that as much as you think you know someone, there always something new to learn! We hope you enjoy hearing how all of this got started. Like most great ideas, it was on the back of a napkin. What is it about napkins? Or, maybe it was the beverages on those napkins? Meh. Either way, we hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane and my giggling.
YouTube is a powerful tool allowing you to reach millions with some dedication and patience. Learn about Jason’s experience building the Insect Hunter YouTube channel dedicated to extension entomology (96 videos with nearly 7 million views). It has hosted videos for Purdue, Texas A&M and University of Idaho and currently has 52,000 subscribers and over 327,800 hours of video content consumed since its creation in 2014. He shows off some of his equipment techniques and some affordable hands-on video activities you can do with a wireless endoscope. Resources: Insect Hunter YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/insecthunter; Video Script Example: https://bit.ly/34DeyhM; Depstech Wireless Endoscope: https://amzn.to/2HIO3P1
Digital microscopes have opened up an easier route to share images with growers in real time. Rather than them try to gather around one computer screen, projecting a picture that was previously taken, or all struggling to see what you want them to see with their loupes, digital microscopy can be used in formal presentations, workshops, and in field settings to help share small pests and/or details easily with your clientele (view episode here: https://youtu.be/a04ZAggBfco)
Resources: • https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/labs/diepenbrock/ • https://www.microscope.com/digital-microscopes/ • https://www.celestron.com/collections/digital-microscopes
Participants will gain some basic instruction or training on how to shoot, edit, and produce better images and video for “quick to market” content. This session is meant to be interactive, so bring your devices and your questions! Topics included but are not limited to: 1) what makes a good video, 2) getting to know your mobile device, 3) basics in composition, and 4) a crash course on video editing using applications on mobile devices (paid and free versions). Participants will be encouraged to share their own work more broadly in social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook using #esaShareFair.