From slides to bytes: digital parasites innovate education and promote awareness

Abstract

Conservation of wildlife parasites is important and urgent –about 30% of parasite species are estimated to become extinct by the end of the century– but it still receives little recognition and support. Digital technologies offer a powerful, yet underutilized, opportunity for parasitology education and public engagement which can support parasite conservation. Interactive web-based resources provide several benefits. They are accessible to a wide audience independently of their geographical location and sociocultural context, contributing to capacity building in the Global South. Digital tools can also help in attracting aspiring researchers into parasitology, which is an underappreciated career path, addressing the generational gap of parasitologists. Moreover, digital tools can engage the general public, helping to shift their often narrow conception of parasites from solely disease-inducing to organisms that are known to provide a broad variety of ecosystem services. Furthermore, digital resources are adaptable as open-source content can be translated, localised and tailored to specific needs. They provide an ethical and sustainable alternative or addition to traditional dissections, complying with the 3-Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Hasselt University, in collaboration with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, introduces a set of openly available, interactive, web-based resources designed to unlock parasitology for students and non-parasitologists. These include interactive e-learning modules illustrating parasite life cycles and anatomy, and annotated 3D µCT scans providing immersive insights into parasite morphology. We present future plans for the bridging of parasitological data and complementary modules on host histology and anatomy. Besides these elements, which are primarily aimed at students, we also plan to build educational game and story-telling modules for children and young adults. These can be shown during outreach events to engage and inform the public. By moving from slides to bytes, parasitology can become more engaging and inclusive, bridging education, research, and conservation through digital innovation.