PolliNation Podcast

Dr. David Lowenstein is a post-doc researcher at Oregon State University's Department of Horticulture. Today we talk about his fascinating research on urban pollinators during his time in Chicago. We discuss biodiversity in a city, what property owners can do to attract pollinators, and the unique challenges of urban bee research. For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Utah, Dr. Joseph Wilson has coauthored a marvelous book called The Bees in Your Backyard. We discuss the book in detail in the interview, including how to tell bees apart from other insects, common bee myths, and more. Joseph has conducted research on evolution and ecology of bees and wasps, and frequently guests on radio and news media to discuss this increasingly hot topic. For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

Today's episode is all about getting the public involved in surveying and identifying different species of bees. Dr Elaine Evans is our guest. She's the new Extensions Educator working on bee conservation at University of Minnesota. She has been working on education and advocacy for native pollinators for a long time, and is the lead on a fascinating project called the Minnesota Bumblebee Survey. Listen in to this episode to understand how you can get involved in some important citizen science initiatives. For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

"A hairy vegetarian wasp." That's how professor Francis Ratnieks of the University of Sussex describes the bee. Professor Ratnieks has done a lot of research on bees, from honeybee biology to practical solutions for beekeepers and homeowners interested in encouraging pollinators. This wide-ranging interview is full of tips for how to select pollinator plants, reasons for becoming a beekeeper, and common myths that people have about bees. For more, visit us at pollinationpodcast.oregonstate.edu.

PolliNation is a podcast from Oregon State University Extension Service that tells the stories of researchers, land managers and concerned citizens who are making bold strides to improve the health of pollinators. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at agsci.oregonstate.edu/pollinator-health.