The science of bees and pollination topic of two timely talks

KELOWNA – With spring in the air, and blossoms just starting to open up, spring bees are busy at work in local orchards and gardens doing their work.

The science behind the many varieties of bees and pollinators is the subject of two talks this month and part of the Public Art Pollinator Pasture Project.

Jointly sponsored by UBC and the Okanagan Regional Library, combines public talks, art, science and the importance of pollinators into a series of public events.

Elizabeth Elle is a professor of biology at Simon Fraser University in Community and Evolutionary Ecology. She founded the Elle Lab which has several research projects underway on the topics of pollinator diversity and crop pollination. She is a passionate advocate for the conservation of wild pollinators and is a partner on the Border Free Bees project in both Vancouver and Kelowna. 

When: Thursday, April 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
What: Save the Wild Bees: How They Help Produce Our Food, and How You Can Help in Their Conservation
Who: Elizabeth Elle, Simon Fraser University biology professor
Where: Okanagan Regional Library, Kelowna branch, 1380 Ellis Street

Kenna MacKenzie is the Associate Director, Research, Development, and Technology at the Summerland Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). She worked as an AAFC scientist in Kentville, Nova Scotia in Entomology focusing on pollination and insect management of fruit crops and has a PhD in entomology from Cornell University. She has published more than 40 academic papers on agricultural entomology and plant sciences, many on the pollination of blueberries and other fruit crops. 

When: Thursday, April 21, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
What: Pollinators and Farming in the Okanagan
Who: Kenna MacKenzie, Associate Director, Research, Development, and Technology at the Summerland Research and Development Centre
Where: Okanagan Regional Library, Kelowna branch, 1380 Ellis Street

The talks are free but pre-registration is encouraged.

The Pollinizing Sessions is a partnership with Okanagan Regional Library and UBC Okanagan’s research project, the Public Art Pollinator Pasture. UBC Okanagan and Emily Carr University have teamed up for a three-year partnership project with the City of Kelowna and the City of Richmond to create community and public art projects around bees.

Find out more information by contacting Nancy Holmes at 250-764-9666 or email ecoartokanagan@gmail.com.