NTU Prof. Matan Shelomi of the Department of Entomology was awarded the 2024 Science Communication Award by the Entomological Society of America (ESA). According to an ESA press release last August, this award “recognizes impactful and innovative communication projects or programs that engage diverse public audiences with entomology-related scientific information.” Prof. Shelomi received this honor for his massive open online course (MOOC) Edible Insects, hosted on NTU’s Coursera platform. The MOOC course is based on his in-person class, Edible Insects, which has been one of NTU’s most popular elective courses since its launch in 2018.
Created in collaboration with the NTU Center for Teaching and Learning Development and the Digital Learning Center, this English-taught course consists of six modules, each with 12 short lectures. The topics range from why people eat or avoid certain foods to the global exploration of edible insects, their benefits and costs, how they are produced and marketed, and some non-food insect products. It is the second Coursera MOOC related to insects, and the first anywhere in the world to focus on insects as a food or feed source. Translated into multiple languages, the course has reached a diverse group of learners from Mexico to India, many of whom are not university students. By making this course freely available to anyone worldwide, Prof. Shelomi hopes not only to provide knowledge about the potential role of insects as a food source in the future but also to share his enthusiasm for both insects and adventurous eating with the public.
Founded in 1889, the ESA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the insect sciences, with over 7,000 members. Prof. Shelomi officially received his award at the society’s annual meeting in November.
Promotional Material for NTU's award-winning Edible Insect Course
