CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 09/13/22

National pollinator conservation conference hosted at UGA this fall

By Amanda Budd
A bee sits on top of a black-eyed Susan in a close-up shot
The Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes conference will be held in Athens, Georgia, from Oct. 10 through 12. The 2022 event will be the first time the national conference is held in the Southeast.

The national Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes conference will be held in Athens, Georgia, from Oct. 10 through 12.

The annual conference brings together various research professionals, educators, practitioners and others interested in bee conservation through discussions, talks and continued education sessions. It is the first time in the history of the conference that it will be held in the Southeast.

“We’re looking forward to getting to network, participate and meet people. We’re having speakers come in from all over, but also some who are local. I’m really looking forward to getting to have this interaction,” said Kris Braman, one of the coordinators for the event and entomology department head at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The conference is emphasizing public engagement this year with the help of UGA Cooperative Extension county agents, who have been advertising the event to those beyond the research realm. To make the event more accessible, the conference offered scholarships to six applicants to cover registration, lodging and travel costs.

Speakers at the conference include a welcome from Nick T. Place, CAES dean and director, and presentations from CAES faculty, staff and graduate students including Keith Delaplane, Jennifer Berry and Rachel Smith.

During the conference, there will be opportunities to attend a workshop on how to implement a community-wide pollinator protection program and a tour of the UGA’s State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

The general conference registration fee is $275, or $180 for students, and optional workshops and tours are available for an additional cost. These fees cover two receptions, two breakfasts and one lunch.

Fees do not include lodging at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach where the conference will be held, but rooms are available. Registration for the conference closes Sept. 30 at noon EST.

This conference is funded in part by the Pollinator Health Research and Application program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The conference is planned jointly by UGA, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University and the Cincinnati Zoo.

To learn more and too see a full conference schedule, visit the conference website. To register, visit the conference registration page.

Amanda Budd is a writer with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Amanda Budd
Experts/Sources:
Kris Braman
University and state leaders cut the ribbon during the Science and Ag Hill dedication ceremony. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
UGA dedicates first phase of Science and Ag Hill modernization 11/01/24
The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony on Oct. 30 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of renovations to modernize research and instruction facilities and infrastructure on UGA’s Science and Ag Hill. This area of campus, located just south of Sanford Stadium, includes buildings dedicated to a variety of scientific disciplines such as biology, physics, geology and agricultural sciences.
CAES doctoral students Sofia Varriano and Leniha Lagarde follow farmer Clay Brady to the pasture where many of his chickens are kept. CAES News
UGA researchers study how free-range chickens influence farm sustainability 10/31/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Researchers in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are studying how pastured and free-range chickens impact ecosystems on integrated crop-livestock farms. Supported by a $749,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, entomology doctoral student Sofia Varriano and her thesis advisor, agroecologist and systems biology Professor Bill Snyder, are testing the promise of integrated crop-livestock agriculture to increase the sustainability of smaller farms.
The study represents the most detailed and comprehensive picture to date of the health of the monarch fall migration in Eastern North America. (Photo courtesy of Pat Davis) CAES News
The monarch butterfly may not be endangered, but its migration is 10/22/24 Leigh Hataway
With vigorous debate surrounding the health of the monarch butterfly, new research from the University of Georgia may have answered the biggest question plaguing butterfly researchers. Why are the wintering populations declining while breeding populations are stable? Published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests that monarchs are dying off during their fall migration south to Mexico.
Jennifer Berry, Apicultural Research Professional and Lab Manager for the UGA Honey Bee Program, recently achieved her Ph.D. and Triple Dawg status. She has been working with the Honey Bee Program at UGA for over 20 years. (Photo by UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.) CAES News
Queen bee: Berry turns a sweet hobby into research and impact 08/20/24 Brandon Ward
Jennifer Berry has always been interested in insects. As a child, she would spend time in the woods behind her house, fascinated by the multi-legged life that lived among the trees. In summers, Berry visited her grandparents’ Missouri farm, where her grandfather would take her to a buzzing tree to collect bits of honeycomb. After safely smoking out some of the bees, he would hold Berry up to see the hive and take a couple of small combs for them to enjoy. “I always wanted more,” she said.
LiceCheck CAES News
A back-to-school guide to the nitty-gritty on head lice 08/12/24 Allison Johnson
As students return to school, head lice often become a common concern for administrators and parents. Understanding how to prevent and manage head lice infestations is crucial for maintaining healthy environments in schools and at home. Allison Johnson, the Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator for the University of Georgia, provides essential information and advice to help mitigate the spread of this pesky pest.
European paper wasp on nest. CAES News
Ouch! What just bit me? 08/08/24 Elmer Gray
As autumn approaches and the stifling heat of summer begins to cool down, spending more time outdoors may be on your radar. But, as Georgia is home to many stinging and biting insects, fall fun can turn into a minefield of discomfort. Elmer Gray, a research entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and specialist for UGA Cooperative Extension, shares information on some of the season's most common culprits, urging residents to stay vigilant and take preventive measures.