A heartfelt Julie Nicholson Community Science Award acceptance celebrating insects, iNaturalist, inverting, and Vermont’s growing community of nature observers. 12/8/2025 Norwich, Vermont
Hello, I’m Bugeyed Bernie, and I speak for the insects—those small, essential creatures that keep our ecosystems alive and our curiosity awake. As I accept the Julie Nicholson Community Science Award, I’m filled with gratitude for the many people who lift this work up and make community science in Vermont such a vibrant force. This post shares my appreciation, my hopes for a more insect-aware world, and an invitation to join the movement we call inverting—looking closely, learning deeply, and discovering the wonder hidden in every tiny wingbeat.
Hello, I’m Bugeyed Bernie, and I speak for the insects—for they couldn’t be here tonight. They may be small, but their importance is vast.
I’m honored to receive the Julie Nicholson Community Science Award. I offer my deep appreciation—and three simple requests.
I also want to honor the past recipients of this award, whose curiosity and dedication have strengthened Vermont’s understanding of the living world. Their work creates a ripple effect of wonder and stewardship.
I offer my gratitude to everyone at Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE). You work tirelessly for nature and share your knowledge with such generosity and joy. You show that learning is a gift meant to be passed on.
VCE demonstrates what science becomes when the doors are opened wide— when data is shared, when the public is welcomed in. You’ve made it clear that anyone, anyone can help illuminate the natural world.
Spencer’s coordination of the Vermont Wild Bee Atlas shows exactly what that looks like—from nets to microscopes, from field observations to classroom lessons, from obscure bits of insect anatomy to iNaturalist IDs, bee checklists, and research papers.
Desiree’s plant–insect interaction study invites the public not only to observe the study but also to be part of it.
And Kent’s leadership across Vermont’s many atlas programs—his celebration of life in flight, wings of delight—inspires people to look up, look closely, and appreciate what is usually invisible.
Part of the joy of inverting is not just discovering new insects, but also meeting remarkable people like those I’ve mentioned—guiding lights and mentors, including John Asher, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, and my dear friend, Don Miller, Professor Emeritus, Vermont State Colleges.
Many unheralded people work quietly in nature—like Erika Mitchell, with over 125,000 Vermont iNaturalist observations, and Josh Lincoln, with more than 380,000 IDs.
Which brings me to request number one: please help confirm bee and insect identifications on iNaturalist so they reach research grade.
My own confidence to share this passion is bolstered by Maeve—a nature advocate, teacher, birder, and author—who reminds me that paying close attention is an act of love.
I try to spread that love through conversations about insects, my VTBugeyed blog, and the nature walks we lead.
My mission is simple: to introduce more people to the joy of observing invertebrates—especially insects.
I call it inverting.
Maeve and I offer an introduction to inverting through Bug Safaris at other people's yards, walks, and presentations —because once someone notices an insect for the first time, really notices it, something in them changes. Curiosity awakens. Wonder takes hold.
From that belief, a new chapter has begun:
The Vermont Entomology Academy, founded this year.
Our mission is to spark curiosity and create nature connections through the world of insects. At VEA, people learn the basics of entomology, use observation tools, explore iNaturalist, and discover the joy of looking closely. Because when you slow down and look closely, the world grows infinitely larger.
This June, with the support of Bee The Change and Saint Michael’s College, we’ll hold our first five-day Bug-huggers Adventure Camp led by Declan McCabe. We’re also building the BUGmobile, a traveling insect museum to deliver hands-on learning.
Which leads to request number two: will you join us?
We’re building a pool of members who volunteer to offer at least one hour-long, interactive insect presentation each year. No fixed schedule—just a willingness to share what you love.
This academy is built on shared leadership and the belief that everyone has something meaningful to contribute. There is a place for you.
If we want more people to care about insects—and the world insects sustain—we can’t speak only to each other.
We must reach those who don’t yet know what they’re missing, those who have never looked closely.
When we take people outside and show them how to see, they don’t just walk into nature—they belong to it. And they return.
My final request: if you see an insect today, give it a little hug in your heart. It’s cold out there, and they’re ectothermic*.
They need more of us to care.
So spread the word: “Inverting is the new birding.”
Thank you (*ectothermic - dependent on external sources of body heat).
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Bernie Paquette Receives the 2025 Julie Nicholson Community Science Award (VCE article, October 22, 2025, by Alden Wicker).
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies invites you to a Winter Celebration on December 8, 2025, at the Norwich Inn to celebrate the season and to honor Bernie Paquette, VCE's 2025 Julie Nicholson Community Science Awardee. We hope you'll join us!
Each year, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies gives the Julie Nicholson Community Science Award to recognize and honor a VCE volunteer whose contributions to community science projects around Vermont exemplify extraordinary passion, knowledge, and commitment to wildlife conservation. We are pleased to give this lifetime achievement award to Bernie this year and look forward to celebrating him with you on December 8.
By The Numbers
FIRST observation of Populicerus duzeei on iNaturalist in the U.S., observed by Bernie in 2023 and identified in 2025.
- Surpassed 100 bee species observed in our 1.3-acre yard (2019 - 2025).
- Surpassed 1,000 insect species observed in our 1.3-acre yard (2019 - 2025).
- Reached 29.9k insect observations in Vermont (2020 - 2025).
- 2020: 1.2K, 2021: 4.3K, 2022: 6.7K, 2023: 5.7K, 2024: 6.2K, 2025: 5.6K (Average 5k per year).
- Lifetime insect posts that were observed in our Jericho 1.3-acre yard: 21,294 (1,108 species).
- Lifetime Vermont Insect posts that reached Research Grade through 12/6/2025: 17,503 (892 species).
- Lifetime Vermont Bee Species 129
- Lifetime bee posts that were observed in our Jericho 1.3-acre yard: 9,886 (112 species).
- Lifetime Vermont Bee posts that reached Research Grade through 12/6/2025: 8,129 (125 species).
- Lifetime VT Bee Posts that need ID through 12/4/2025: 4,585 (77 species)
- 7, 397 IDs for others on iNaturalist (almost all bees). As of Dec. 6, 2025.
See Firsts for Vermont on iNaturalist listing at https://vtbugeyed.blogspot.com/2025/11/uncommon-insects-of-vermont-backyard.html
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