Research produces scientific and popular publications and identification guides. Identification services on African aquatic insects, including material from other African countries, are offered. Additional lists of Aquatic Arthropods are included in Dr Martin Villet's web page. Departmental staff annually teach courses on aquatic entomology to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Rhodes University, Zoology and Entomology Department and students make use of the collection for research. Occasional workshops on identification techniques of aquatic invertebrates are run by the department.
Staff assist with museum displays, give lectures to school groups and assist with school projects.
Close working associations with Rhodes University's Institute for Water Research , the University of Cape Town's Freshwater Research Unit , the Water Research Commission and Umgeni Waters, are maintained.