Tony Gustin: From Live Bugs to Virtual Reality — Building Creepy Crawly Zoo 2.0

By | September 14, 2026 |

Tony Gustin is the founder of The Gateway Science Project, Inc. and the educator behind Tony’s Creepy Crawly Zoo, also known by the trade name The Bug Whisperer. Since 1995, he has used insects, spiders, and other invertebrates to spark curiosity in students and show that science begins with observation, questioning, and wonder.

His live programs reached more than 1.5 million students and introduced children to entomology as a gateway into broader scientific thinking. Tony also created the award-winning video Who Wants to be an Entomologist? and wrote My Science Diary, a student activity book focused on observation and critical thinking.

After the pandemic ended live programming, Tony developed a specialized 8K macro 360-degree camera system to bring students inside real habitats through virtual reality. That work became Tony’s Creepy Crawly Zoo 2.0, an immersive VR science experience that continues his mission to Excite! Educate! Inspire! and turn curiosity into scientific literacy.

Takeaways:

Tony Gustin has utilized insects and invertebrates to ignite curiosity in students since 1995.
His live programs have introduced over 1.5 million students to entomology and scientific inquiry.
The pandemic catalyzed the development of an innovative virtual reality experience for educational purposes.
Tony’s Creepy Crawly Zoo 2.0 offers immersive experiences that aim to foster scientific literacy.
He emphasizes that scientific curiosity can lead children down diverse educational paths beyond entomology.
The transition from live shows to virtual reality exemplifies adaptability in education amidst unforeseen challenges.

Chapters: