Have You Ever Wondered What 30,000 Insect Specimens Look Like? Meet Jerry And The Sault College Insect Collection
It’s hard to fathom, but Sault College’s rare and extensive insect collection does not disappoint. 24 years in the making, this amazing collection came to be because of the passion of a retired Sault College professor.
Jerry Zuchlinksi’s life-long love of nature led him to enrol and complete the College’s Forestry Technician program eventually completing his Master’s degree from Laurentian University. It was there that he began working on insect ecology, which sealed his fate with insects.
Fast forward to 1994, Jerry brought his passion to the College and began working as a professor in our Natural Environment & Outdoor studies programs. “Upon being hired as a Professor, it was my hope to convert the focus of our entomology courses and to provide our graduates with a broader understanding of the important ecological functions that insects perform,” said Jerry. “And as part of this, I began collecting specimens to provide students with quality materials that provide hands-on learning opportunity in identification, to help to demonstrate the incredible diversity that insects represent, and foster an appreciation of the complexity of ecological connections,” he added.
Jerry put an estimated 15,000 hours of personal time into this collection, which has approximately 30,000 specimens with nearly 1200 identified species represented in a taxonomically organized system. And there’s more:
"Our Collection May Be Extensive, But We Look Forward To Continuing To Grow It So Future Generations Can Benefit And Learn From This Intriguing Field Of Study."
The benefits of this collection spread well beyond teaching in the classroom. “The collection has also provided faculty with the opportunity to participate in various studies with the CFS, Ministry of Natural Resources and Hydro 1 related to long-horned beetles, dragonflies and pollinators. The local nature of our collection also makes the collection an important contributor to the provincial database as well,” said Jerry about the benefits of this extensive collection.
The advanced learning this collection provides prepares our students for the working world by developing and expanding their skills, offering hands-on experience, and providing a solid foundation for their future career paths.
And of course none of this would be possible without Jerry. He is a shining example of how passion can lead to amazing things!
Unlock your passion for Natural Environment and learn more about our amazing programs! Visit www.saultcollege.ca/nature/