Personal profile: Shasta Henry

Shasta is completing her PhD in 2020, investigating the impact of wildfire on Tasmania’s smallest alpine residents, invertebrates. She is a passionate entomologist and educator, having transitioned to science and science communication from eco-tourism in 2009. During her time at UTas Shasta has completed a Bachelor of Science and Honours in zoology/entomology, worked as a tutor for Riawunnah and junior lecturer in the Geography department, volunteered as a Young Tassie Scientist and completed an internship at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC, “that’s how I got a species of beetle named after me.”

She also maintains a public presence as the Bug Girl via ABC Radio, The Gourmet Farmer and Libraries Tasmania to name a few. While interpreting insects for the Tasmanian public, Shasta often talks about insects as food, introduced pests, native pollinators, ecological adaptation and how to identify insects for kids. From her days working as a white water rafting guide and rock climbing instructor Shasta still loves to travel and explore nature, “but collecting insects is much easier on the knees.”

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