Three hundred years ago it was widely believed insects spontaneously appeared from dust, mud or rotten meat. Then Maria Sibylla Merian came along and changed science forever. The 17th-Century artist and naturalist is celebrated as one of the world's first ecologists. But she faced many challenges – not the least of which was her gender. BBC Ideas tells her story.
The Day is an independent, online, subscription-based news publication for schools, focusing on the big global issues beneath the headlines. Our dedicated newsroom writes news, features, polls, quizzes, translations… activities to bring the wider world into the classroom. Through the news we help children and teachers develop the thinking, speaking and writing skills to build a better world. Our stories are a proven cross-curricular resource published at five different reading levels for ages 5 to 19. The Day has a loyal and growing membership in over 70 countries and its effectiveness is supported by case studies and teacher endorsements.