Taxonomy: The intersection between science, language, and culture | Shasta Henry | TEDxHobart

Do you know how species are named? Do you know why species are named? Shasta Henry introduces the audience to a charismatic cockroach and explains how it received a palawa kani scientific name.
Shasta is completing a PhD in Entomology at the University of Tasmania, investigating the state's unique alpine insect fauna. After growing up in Launceston, Shasta travelled interstate and internationally, both in her past life as an adventure tour guide as well as for academic exchange. After receiving her Honours degree in invertebrate ecology, she completed a taxonomy internship at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC; this is how she got a species of Amazonian beetle named after her!
Acknowledging that insects were lacking in public relations, Shasta has combined her tourism and science experience as a science communicator. She has addressed a broad array of subjects, like insects as inspiration for technology, their role in the human food chain and in our urban legends. Shasta speaks to classrooms of children visited by the Young Tassie Scientists program, to industry professionals from agronomy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@themilkywayuniverse6962]

As a biology student and a Peruvian
This was freaking awesome
Que Dios te bendiga

[@SonicPhonic]

Bravo! Great TED talk! Having studied psychology, I know how ignorance pervaded medicine. Around 1850, Hungarian midwives who washed their
hands before work lowered infant mortality by almost 60% compared to doctors who didn't.

[@shastahenry8903]

Wow - I've heard some other examples but this one is great - thanks. I remember learning that because of Christian/misogyny/ignorance, scientists couldn't understand bees for just, so long. Hmmm, cares for young, cant be male, but has dangerous stinger, can't be female = bees make no sense!

[@ivorylightning4985]

This video honestly really inspired me to look further into science and maybe even pursuing it. Science is a beautiful thing however it does not exist I’m a vacuumed and is being ran by real people who live in he same society as us, and so progression to let go and undo all of the wrongs of the past that are continuing to go on is just as much of a fight in the scientific community as it is anywhere else.

[@shastahenry8903]

Science will always be lucky to attract another thoughtful and insightful person to help expand our horizons! :)

[@adrianacalahorra]

BRILLIANT

[@SoySigno]

Verry nice and sensitive reflections. We are all learning.

[@shastahenry8903]

I loved learning more about this branch of my science to build this talk - thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@SmarterImpact]

That was so good, thank you for the insight

[@shastahenry8903]

thankyou so much 🙂

[@ellendurkee5444]

Well done!

[@shastahenry8903]

Thank you so much, my friend ❤!

[@Gauravchuhan_90]

only those people used to watch ted x who are bothered about their future

[@shastahenry8903]

TED has definitely been the origin of many of the things I now care about!