Dr. Tom Seeley - "Honeybee Democracy: How Bees Choose a Home"
Honey bees make decisions collectively—and democratically. Every year, faced with the life-or-death problem of choosing and traveling to a new home, honey bees stake everything on a process that includes collective fact-finding, vigorous debate, and consensus building. In fact, these incredible insects have much to teach us when it comes to collective wisdom and effective group decision making. Dr. Thomas D. Seeley, a professor of animal behavior at Cornell University and a passionate beekeeper, will tell the amazing story that he and others have unravelled of house hunting and democratic debate among the honeybees.
He will describe how these bees evaluate potential nest sites, advertise their discoveries to one another, engage in open deliberation, choose a final site, and navigate together—as a swirling cloud of bees—to their new home. He will also suggest that what works well for bees can also work well for people: any decision-making group should consist of individuals with shared interests and mutual respect, a leader's influence should be minimized, debate should be relied upon, diverse solutions should be sought, and the majority will should be counted on for a dependable resolution.
We must charge a modest admission fee to defray the costs of this event. The talk is open to the public, but you can pay here online via Amazon to reserve, as seating is limited. We will also have copies of Tom Seeley's books available for purchase at the event.
The cost will be $9 and seating will be limited, so RSVP on their site here: LINKY Edit: The talk is being held on Saturday, Feb 19th from 2pm to 4pm, at The Arsenal In Central Park, New York. (Thanks, Emily.)
For those of you who have been attending the New York City Beekeeping Meetup Group FREE Winter course (you should be), there is a lecture Thursday night , 2/10/11 (tomorrow), at the Central Park Armory.
Today's topic:
38 Days ‘Till Spring!
The Spring Equinox is March 20th, and bees are at their most energetic in spring.
We will compare a feral hive in a tree with an overwintered colony in the care of a beekeeper, and then compare both with “packages” and “nucs” in newly-established hives.
The issue of why plants provide nectar and pollen will be considered and the “arms race” between plants who want to get pollinated and “pollinators”, who merely want groceries, will be revealed and illustrated with some of the more complex and devious weapons evolved by each.
As always, RSVP with the group on their website.
And for those of you who have been wondering why I've been so lazy updating my blog, don't you fret. I've been planning some fun stuff with some other folks. For instance, were you to be in Williamsburg on Saturday, February 12th, say around 12PM, near the corner of Frost & Meeker, you might run into me.
And other, local beekeepers.
And awesomeness.
Faux serious? NO! FOR SERIOUS!
Stay tuned for details.
deets on the lecture:
ReplyDeleteProf. Tom Seeley - "Honeybee Democracy: How Bees Choose A Home"
Saturday, Feb 19th, 2pm to 4pm
At The Arsenal In Central Park, New York