Insect larvae might be one of nature’s most remarkable inventions — astonishingly flexible, surprisingly intelligent, and vital to our sustainable future. Dr. Juliano Morimoto, Aberdeen University, will explore what an insect larva really is and explain just how clever these creatures can be. He’ll examine their role in the life cycles of familiar species. Finally, we will see how insect larvae are engineering our sustainable practices across both developing and developed countries. You just might find yourself appreciating — even loving — one of nature’s most underrated and extraordinary creations.

Our annual Curious Minds Lecture series, presented by Culture Perth & Kinross and the Perthshire Society of Natural Science is themed around “Contemporary Science in Scotland” and, over past seasons, speakers have covered a stimulating array of scientific topics from dinosaur fossils in Skye, through the human genome to black holes, gravitational waves and the science of consciousness.