Bath Science Café

The next Science Café will explore efforts to halt the much publicised decline of Britain’s honeybees.

The decline in honeybee colonies is impacting on world ecology and economy and could result in global financial losses of more than €310 billion per year.

In recent years, unsustainable agriculture, habitat degradation and an increased exposure to pathogens has placed significant pressures on many species of bees, creating widespread declines in bee populations.

In this presentation, Dr Mark Greco will share details of the novel methods he is using to explore insect morphology, physiology, behaviour and population dynamics in social insect colonies such as honeybees.

Dr Greco has been involved in the management and application of Australian native bees and European Honeybees since 1991, and is author of many publications and books on bees.

Originally, a Medical Radiation Scientist, Dr Greco is developing innovative methods for studying insects and their behaviour using an imaging technique which he terms Diagnostic Radioentomology (DR).

DR allows for experimentation and analysis of insects and their colonies with minimal disruption to behaviour patterns, and has already been described as the Gold-Standard in honeybee population dynamics and as an emerging non-invasive technique for behavioural, evolutionary and classical biologists who need to study animals without harming them.

Dr Greco’s presentation will cover past research on Australian native bees, and a brief description of his new methods including their uses with his current research on honeybees. He will also introduce some examples of potential future research opportunities using these methods.

Professor Peter Vukusic
Department of Physics at Exeter University

May’s Science Café will explore the science of colour in biology, and a major international research effort to reveal the extent of engineering ingenuity with which nature has been controlling the creation of colour for millions of years.

Peter Vukusic is a Professor of BioPhotonics and his research comprises the discovery, characterisation and biomimetic application of photonic systems that have evolved naturally in animals and plants.

The brightest creatures are usually the most eye-catching. For centuries a spectrum of observers, from young children to experienced scientists, have wondered at the origin of brilliant colours and patterns in certain animals and plants.

The conclusions of a major international study into the subject are providing remarkable lessons on how best to learn and apply light and colour manipulation techniques.

Professor Vukusic said: “In biological terms, we find that it is naturally-evolved nanoscale regular structure that generates the most eye-catching optical functions in the living world.

“These biological systems are increasingly offering inspiration and designs for our applied photonic technologies.”

This science cafe will present an overview of this emerging field of study, as well as several exciting recent discoveries that reflect nature’s optical design ingenuity, and the use technology is making of these.

Professor Vukusic has been frequently featured on scientific programs of the BBC and National Geographic, so this promises to be an extremely engaging discussion.

Link: Peter Vukusic