Leo Case is a recent graduate of Oregon State University, where he earned a B.S. in Botany and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He is currently spending a gap year pursuing volunteer opportunities and applying to graduate programs to continue his studies in botany.
Because he did not grow up deeply connected to nature or science, Leo’s journey into these fields has been an intentional one. This experience has shaped his interest in exploring creative and interdisciplinary approaches to science communication. He is passionate about giving back to his community through engaging, participatory, and accessible outreach.
For his outreach project, Leo created #BugJitsu, a social media initiative that combines two of his greatest passions: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and entomology. Through short-form videos, he plans to share basic entomological concepts, fun insect facts, and bug awareness content in ways that connect with both communities. His goal is to create entertaining and lightly educational content that highlights the many ways insects intersect with our daily lives.
Leo was inspired by the surprising overlap between these two worlds. Many entomologists know little about combat sports or martial arts, while many BJJ practitioners know even less about insects. Yet BJJ is already full of arthropod-inspired terminology, including worm guard, spider guard, spiderweb position, butterfly guard, butterfly hooks, “shrimping,” and the buggy choke. At the same time, insects often engage in behaviors that can be compared to martial arts concepts, providing a unique and engaging way to introduce entomology to new audiences.
Through #BugJitsu, Leo hopes to bring these communities closer together, spark curiosity, and help people discover unexpected connections between science and everyday interests. Follow his account, @leodoptera, to catch the videos when they are released!
