"City Bugs" program recognized as a University-Community Partnership Project, by Jill Goetz (News from Natural Resources) UCBerkeley has recognized "City Bugs", an innovative educational program designed to interest urban youngsters in science, as a University - Community Partnership Project. "Exploring Urban Biodiversity through Insects of the San Francisco Bay Region," is part of the college's Enviornmental Leadership Projgram and is a collaborative project of the CNR Division of Insect Biology, UC Cooperative Extension, Interactive University and the Oakland Unified School District. It was one of 12 outreach efforts chosen by a committee of UC faculty and staff as outstanding examples of campus - community partnerships working to improve educational opportunities and quality of life in the local community. The programs will be formally recognized in September at a reception hosted by Chancellor and Mrs. Robert Berdahl. "City Bugs" aims to integrate science, technology and science literacy and bridge the gap between Cal and local urban schools. Participating students explore their local ecology, gain an appreciation for the biodiversity around them and learn scientific classification, taxonomy and physiology - all the while sharpening their computer and Internet skills. Started in 1997, the program was recently expanded and revised and now involves 4 Oakland middle schools. Its core UC participants are Vernard Lewis, Cooperative Extension specialist; Professor and Associate Dean Donald Dahlsten; graduate students Steven Suoja, Dan Rubinoff and Arielle Levine; and Debbie Lenz, project coordinator. With several Oakland teachers, they are developing a K-12 science curriculum on such topics as insect diversity and anatomy, conservation, habitat, integrated pest management and harmful vs. benefical insects. The curriculum combines hands-on classroom and off-site activities, such as raising bugs in the classroom, viewing bug dispalys, visits from local entomologists and visits to gardens. On the Internet, students learn how to identify insects with visual displays onscreen and become more familiar with the Internet generally, in a culturally relevant way. Participating teachers can train other Oakland school teachers to use the material in their own classrooms. The curricula will be posted on the "City Bugs" web page, which can be used by other schools and the public. Its designers envision "City Bugs" as a key stimulus for the placement and use of more computers in classrooms that currently lack these resources. "We are very excited to receive recognition as a University-Community Partnership Project," says Lenz, a former Oakland school teacher, "because it affirms the importance of outreach efforts to the community as well as the vision of the entomologists who started this project." Adds Lisa Yesson, program manager for UC Interactive University, "City Bugs is a model of how a committed team of UC Berkeley faculty, students and staff can use technology and hands-on experiences to bring unique university resources into K-12 classrooms to enhance teaching and learning." "City Bugs" doesn't serve only schoolchildren. Its web page provides a wealth of information on insects to the general public, and campus entomologists answer dozens of e-mail questions each month from students and the public as a result of the site. The "City Bugs" web page is at http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/citybugs/ .