Ruud has an MSc (Hons) in silviculture, animal ecology and conservation from Wageningen University. Entomology was always an important hobby that later became part of his media persona: the Bugman. Ruud is an advocate for teaching outside.
He mucked around for more than 30 years on radio and TV (Maggie’s Garden Show, What Now? to Buggin’ with Ruud on Animal Planet and Discovery Channel) and wrote stories for many different magazines, thus becoming the greatest advocate for bugs.
Environmental Education is now the most important facet of his activities.
“If we are serious about our Operating Space (The Planet) then we need to ensure that younger generations are trained to become science and nature-literate.”
Ruud Kleinpaste
Born in Indonesia, raised and educated in the Netherlands and migrated to New Zealand in 1978.
Entomology was always an important hobby that later became part of his media persona: the Bugman.
Ruud advocates teaching outside; he’s championing biodiversity, biosecurity and environmental education projects from Fiordland, Southland, Christchurch to Hawke’s Bay (Cape to City) and Bay of Islands; engaging whole communities in citizen science.
Try stopping him!
