Insects are bewilderingly diverse and abundant. They are responsible for carrying out a wide range of activities in ecosystems, from pollination and dung removal, to pest control and herbivory, leading to them being described as "the little things that run the world".

Unfortunately, evidence is mounting that insect numbers are declining in many regions, with consequences for how ecosystems function. Drawing on ongoing research by the presenter, this talk will discuss some of the evidence for insect declines (including museum records), factors threatening insects in the modern world, and what can be done to conserve insect abundance and diversity.

Ed Turner is Professor of Insect Ecology and Curator of Insects in the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge. His research includes lots of collaborative work with the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust in the UK, and with the oil palm industry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and IPB University in Indonesia and Malaysia.