[Entm-researchstaff] Fwd: INSECT FAIR: TOUCH-A-BUG volunteers needed!

[Krista Zavala]

Sent on behalf of Veronica Tyts <veronica.tyts at ucr.edu>

Hello everyone!

I wanted to follow up to correct a small mistake in the guidelines (I've
attached the updated version here). We will have two rows of five tables,
so we need at least *10 volunteers per shift.*

At the moment, fewer than half of the tables are covered, so please sign up
if you are available.

Here is the sign-up spreadsheet (this has also been clarified there):
 Touch-a-Bug sign up 2026
<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A0NfK4JujuQzr79cAyPQ6Dmw_0DYimFsXQ7xc7JIGnM>

Best,
Veronica.

*Veronica Tyts*
Ph.D. candidate (she/her) | Heteropteran Systematics Lab
<https://heteroptera.ucr.edu/>
Department of Entomology
University of California, Riverside


On Mon, Apr 13, 2026 at 8:56 PM Veronica Tyts <veronica.tyts at ucr.edu> wrote:

>
> Hello everyone!
>
> The Insect Fair is approaching! This year it will be held on *Saturday,
> April 25, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Riverside Main Library*.
>
> As usual, super popular *Touch-a-Bug* needs many volunteers from the
> department! Volunteers will be stationed at a table with ~3 live insects
> and will help visitors interact with them (including handling if allowed
> for the insect). Fact sheets will be provided to help guide conversations.
>
> We’ve also introduced a few new elements this year:
>
>    - *Q&A Panel Opportunity:* Visitors can submit questions via a link at
>    the final table if we’re unable to address everything during interactions,
>    and to speed things up a bit.
>       - Q&A sessions will take place *12:00–12:15 PM* and *3:00–3:15 PM*
>       - We are looking for *one faculty member, one graduate student, and
>       one undergraduate* for each session
>       - Questions will be shared 10 minutes in advance near the stage, so
>       you can prepare
>       - If you’re interested, please reach out to me or sign up in the
>       spreadsheet
>       <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A0NfK4JujuQzr79cAyPQ6Dmw_0DYimFsXQ7xc7JIGnM/edit?usp=sharing>
>       (scroll below the main Touch-a-Bug section)
>    - *Volunteer Guidelines & Shift Leaders:*
>    To improve organization and avoid volunteers being stuck longer than
>    expected, we’ve created a set of guidelines (attached in PDF) and
>    introduced a *Shift Leader role* for each time slot.
>    Please review the attached PDF and include your contact information in
>    the sign-up sheet so shift leaders can contact you if needed (in case you
>    are late). Also, please don't be afraid to nominate yourself as a Shift
>    leader. It will help a lot!
>
> *Volunteer shifts are 1 hour long*, and I highly encourage you to sign up
> for at least one—it also comes with the undeniable benefit of air
> conditioning :)
>
> Please see the attached *guidelines* and *sign-up spreadsheet*. The
> sign-up spreadsheet is accessible only with a UCR email account, so please
> make sure you are logged into your UCR email if you have trouble opening it.
>
>  Touch-a-Bug sign up 2026
> <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A0NfK4JujuQzr79cAyPQ6Dmw_0DYimFsXQ7xc7JIGnM>
> If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
>
> Thank you all for your help,
> Veronica.
> *Veronica Tyts*
> Ph.D. candidate (she/her) | Heteropteran Systematics Lab
> <https://heteroptera.ucr.edu/>
> Department of Entomology
> University of California, Riverside
>
>
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