Akito Kawahara

Akito Kawahara is a renowned entomologist and Director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. He is a leading expert on the evolution and diversity of butterflies and moths, with a focus on genetics, behavior, and predator-prey interactions. His work has appeared in over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including Science and PNAS, and he has secured more than $13 million in research grants. Kawahara has also shared his expertise in numerous media appearances, including PBS's Nature and American Spring Live, as well as David Attenborough's Conquest of the Skies, and NPR. He also gave a TED Talk, "Why You Can Thank a Moth," and has written for The Washington Post.