Colony Collapse Disorder

Jill Dolowich

I am especially interested in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) as an environmental issue as well as an economic and policy issue. Within the United States honeybees contribute to the success of one-third of U.S. agriculture; furthermore these insects are responsible for countless jobs and many billions of dollars in revenue. They are the unsung heroes of harvests of numerous fruits, berries, and nuts, and therefore crucial to the long-term viability of our global economy. I have taken a special liking to these insects and, through my research; I hoped to find creative ways to enable the species to survive the current challenges to their existence. During the summer of 2010, I had a unique opportunity to conduct original research at Michigan State University in the entomology lab of Dr. Zachary Y. Huang through the High School Honors Science Program. My work focused on the impact of time on the duration of honeybees’ memory in relay learning. My field research required working in close proximity to thousands of bees to investigate degradation of memory as a possible cause of CCD . . . My advice to students who are undertaking a project combining mathematics and science would be to never give up on your initial goals. Although you may have to tweak your methodology, you should never give up on answering your initial questions. My research encountered several stumbling blocks related to replicating conditions across trials, which I was able to overcome through perseverance and enthusiasm. The honeybees were not returning to the hives, and after careful observation, I realized it was due to the placement of the hives.