Few people openly confess that insects are their life’s passion, but Gurion Ang, an honours student at The University of Queensland, says they are fascinating creatures that hold the key to Australia’s food security.
Mr Ang is conducting research into how predatory wasps could be used to control the caterpillars responsible for destroying popular crops such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and canola.
“When caterpillars feed on leaves the plant releases volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) which attract female wasps," Mr Ang said.
“The wasps then inject their eggs into the caterpillars, which develop by feeding exclusively on their host’s bodies, eventually killing them when they emerge to pupate.
“Understanding wasp behaviour will provide Australian agriculturalists with greater insight into how wasps might be used as biocontrol agents in insect pest management strategies."
Mr Ang says that while he has always been interested in biology, he first caught the research bug when he travelled to Australia from Singapore to participate in UQ’s Summer Research Program.
The program, which was introduced by the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) in 2009 and receives funding from the School of Biological Sciences, provides students with the opportunity to work on a research project in a formal research setting during the summer break.
“I grew up on wildlife documentaries instead of cartoons and according to my parents my first audible word was ‘frog’," he said.
“I was keen to travel to Australia to participate in the Summer Research Program because summer is the perfect season to study bugs - they are out and about, and everywhere."
Mr Ang’s research is quickly getting noticed, and he recently took home the runner-up prize at the First Australasian Conference of Undergraduate Research at Macquarie University, and a Highly Commended award at UQ’s 2012 Undergraduate Research Conference.
Competing against high-achieving student researchers from universities across Australia and New Zealand, Mr Ang said the guidance he received from his mentors at UQ gave him the edge.
“I received supervision from UQ’s well-established team of esteemed researchers and had ample opportunities to propose and work on my original ideas” he said.
Dr Jessica Gallagher, Acting Director of OUE, says UQ prides itself on the broad range of undergraduate research programs and activities available to students to assist them with developing value research and communication skills that will enhance their employability and career options.
“This year, over 540 students from around the world will participate in UQ’s Summer Research program," Dr Gallagher said.
“The diversity of research projects that students will be undertaking is truly remarkable and highlights the breadth and strength of UQ’s research community and facilities."
Mr Ang, who has a unique enthusiasm about the small creatures around us and how they make the world tick, said his research at UQ has inspired him to become an entomologist, and continue on to study a research higher degree.
He advises budding researchers to pursue their interests, ask questions and step forward when they see an opportunity.
“If you do something you are passionate about, everything else comes naturally,” Mr Ang said.
To find out more about UQ’s Undergraduate Research Programs, visit http://www.uq.edu.au/undergraduate
