Congratulations to our own Dr Chris Reid. Best known to Flame readers as the local entomologist Beetling About each month with Illawarra insects – including interesting ‘roadkill’ at Helensburgh Station – Chris is Australia’s sole expert on leaf beetles, the principal research scientist and curator of entomology at Australian Museum (AM). For a lifetime’s service to science, he was awarded the 2025 Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) Medal, presented at the Eureka Prizes on September 3. 

The museum said Chris has “transformed global understanding of beetle taxonomy” and paid tribute to his contributions as a researcher, mentor, advisor, communicator and all-round good scientist, involved in popular citizen science initiatives, such as the Christmas Beetle app. The AM said his career reflects “not only scientific achievement but also generosity, curiosity and commitment to conservation”.

Well done, Dr Chris!