Insect Hotel - Robogals Science Challenge 2016
Channel: Amy Online
Date: 14/08/2016

Major Challenge entry to the Robogals Science Challenge 2016
Amy Shipway
Intermediate category
Project title: Insect Hotel


1.  Why did you choose this project?
I was unsure what to do for my major project this year and when we were away on holiday an idea stuck me.  We visited a marsupial park where they had an “insect hotel” and I thought I could make one at home to find out what insects we have in our garden and what insects we could try to attract.

2.  What did you enjoy most about the project?
I really enjoyed finding all the materials that I used for the insect hotel, most of these we had in our garden, garage and park.  With my Dad’s help I enjoyed building the hotel and stuffing all the different materials into the various holes which hopefully the insects will come and stay in. 

3.  What have you learned from this project?
I have learned about insects from reading several books and by observing which insects we have currently in our garden. I have also leaned how important insects are to our gardens and to the ecosystem.  I read about construction techniques for building the hotel and having things stay in place. 

4.  How did you project change your understanding of science/engineering?
It helped me understand just how important insects are to our environment and the habitat they need to survive and maintain the balance of species.  I also learned what an entomologist does.

5.  How did your parent or mentor help you?
My mum helped me find some of the material used in the hotel.  She also helped me work out how to structure my video and what points I should include.  She then also helped with the filming.  Dad helped me with some of the building by cutting up the wood for the levels and fitting the wire around the hotel and the final filming.

6.  Engineering is the application of science to creations or designs that benefits mankind.  What do you think are the engineering applications of the knowledge found in your science project?
You could create larger insect hotels or even an insect farm to encourage more insects into our gardens. You could look at creating an insect breeding facility to breed insects and reintroduce into areas where they may have disappeared from.  You could also study the insects closely so we could monitor what conditions they need most to survive in.

7.  Briefly explain the underlying scientific theories behind the project? Why you chose this method/equipment and whether the experiment is repeatable and why?
I chose a demonstration and the materials after looking at other insect hotels and working out what sort of plants and holes that insects would like to hide in. I wanted to build a hotel as it was a nicer way to study the insects instead of capturing them in a container.  My experiment is both repeatable as you could build another and it is also on-going as the hotel is built of long lasting materials so as long as it’s standing you can study the insects that are checking in.