After two years of virtual conferences, BeeCon returned to York University in a hybrid format. More than 400 attendees participated in the two-day conference hosted by the Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (BEEc).
BeeCon is a free, annual conference that brings together bee biologists on a global scale to discuss bees, collection methods, pollination, genomics, conservation and behaviour. This year’s BeeCon welcomed bee researchers and community members from 47 countries spanning six continents. BeeCon took place Oct. 13 and 14.
This year’s conference featured keynote speaker, Professor Hollis Woodard of the Department of Entomology at the University of California. Woodard presented a talk titled, “The Ontogeny of Sociality in Bumble Bee Queens.” A YouTube recording of the Woodward’s presentation can be viewed here.
With bee populations being threatened by a host of factors, the collaborative efforts of bee researchers and academics are vital in preserving pollinator populations worldwide. BEEc fosters collaborative and innovative research to advance policy changes to sustain bee evolution and conservation. Through BeeCon’s free attendance, researchers can share cutting-edge findings on a global scale, creating positive change for the future.
The 2022 BeeCon was sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation, the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and the Faculty of Science.
Recordings of select BeeCon presentations are available and can be viewed on the BEEc YouTube channel, subscribers to the channel can receive a notification when new videos are uploaded.