Students at Gin Gin State High School have officially been listed as the discoverers of a brand new species of wasp (Cotesia ginginensis).
Head of Science Department, Karyn Goodman, shared some more details below about the major discovery and what it means to the students and teachers involved.
Can you describe the achievement your group recently received? What does it mean for your members and community?
Students of the Gin Gin SHS Science faculty worked with scientists at the University of Sunshine Coast (Dr Andy Howe) and University of Adelaide (Dr Erinn Fagan-Jeffries) on a Citizen Science project to collect insects in an effort capture some who were yet to be formally classified and named.
It is estimated that up to 85% of insects worldwide are yet to be discovered and named, like we did.
We ended up finding a small wasp which was as yet undiscovered or named.
After a long process of identification and taxonomy approval processes we were able to pick it’s name.
This is forever what this particular wasp will be known as, and the students of Gin Gin SHS will always be attributed as the collectors.
It is called “Cotesia ginginensis”.
To be a part of the internationally recognised entomology classification process is beyond comprehension for the students.
An honour and privilege only few scientists ever achieve let alone a group of rural students.
What motivated your group to pursue this achievement?
We study classification and were studying an agriculture unit so the importance of insects was well known to the students.
The chance to be one of the few groups to find one was too good an invite to pass up.
50 other schools took part across Queensland and we were honoured to have our application accepted.
What challenges did you face during this journey?
It was a long process from the initial setting up of the malaise trap, and the next few weeks collecting the specimens, to the final recent stages of the official publication happening.
There was a lot of steps to go through including DNA analysis to ensure it was, in fact, the first of its species to be formally identified.
The students involved actually graduated year 12 before it was finally announced.
However we kept in touch and included them in each step so they would be able to celebrate with us.
Often our rural location and small school size is prohibitive but we pushed on and were pleased to be able to participate.
How did the support of the wider community influence your success?
We worked closely with the science teachers at school, the local scientists and the investigation scientists to ensure we did the collection to proper procedures ensuring mistakes did not interfere with the processes required to ensure a final successful outcome.
What skills or lessons have your members learnt through this process?
Students learnt the processes behind scientific investigations, the value of working within a global community and achieving required standards.
They now see their role as contributing to the larger scientific world internationally. All team members matter in a project this big.
Can you share any memorable moments or highlights from your collective journey?
The trap set up and collection, knowing we were doing these same steps with 50 other schools (very few high schools) and participating in facetime sessions with the scientists involved certainly helped them appreciate the bigger picture.
We thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors and doing ‘real’ science.
What advice would you offer other groups in the community aspiring to achieve a similar milestone?
Get involved, step up and be part of something bigger than your backyard.
These are memories of the school science class that none of these students will ever forget.
As their teacher it was a unique milestone I will never forget, and it inspires me to try and do the same for future generations of students.
You can read the published paper here.
