Comparing visitor motivation and demographics between an insect festival and science festivals

Abstract

Both science festivals and insect festivals have increased in frequency in the last few decades. In order to compare insect festivals with science festivals, we modified a validated science festival visitor survey (EvalFest) for Purdue’s Bug Bowl, a long-running insect festival. Benchmarking against EvalFest and Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES) results, we found that Bug Bowl audiences were similar in having high levels of education, a high interest in science, and frequently visiting science venues. In fact, 23% of Bug Bowl survey takers indicated that they were actual scientists themselves. In contrast to EvalFest results, Bug Bowl had a higher rate of returning visitors than new visitors. Bug Bowl visitor motivations were primarily to have fun and bring their children for a learning experience, and they rated their experiences very positively. Ninety-one percent of Bug Bowl attendees surveyed lived in the state of Indiana. We discuss gaps in expected visitor demographics and possible applications for a shared common evaluation within a working group of insect festivals.

Comparing Entomology-Themed Outreach Events: Annual Festivals and Open Houses in the United States

“…While the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of entomology-themed outreach events still remain uncertain [16], a current examination of online information resources has revealed some adverse effects on attendance records and hosting of such events. For example, post-COVID attendance records at events like the Virginia Tech Hokie BugFest and the Arizona Insect Festival were strong but still shy of pre-pandemic levels.…”

“…Although literature reviews and web searches reveal the existence of many entomologythemed outreach events [8,11,12], few published studies have been conducted to assess their impacts [2,13,16]. Here, we discuss the results of a survey used to assess the purpose and organization of major entomology-themed outreach events in the United States and the impacts they have on their audiences, institutions, and surrounding communities.…”