Support and Grow the UT Dallas Apiary Program!

The Office of Sustainability, in conjunction with Dr. Christina Thompson of the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, is seeking additional funding to support and grow the UT Dallas Apiary Program. As a Bee Campus USA affiliate, numerous events and experiences are designed for students to have hands-on experience in increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites for native pollinators, and tending to our live bee apiary on campus!

These events, both academic and pollinator-related outreach engagements, give students a memorable experience to learn about these pollinators in ways they will never forget. These experiences allow students to see bees in managed and wild habitats so that they may learn about the behaviors and the threats that native bees (and various other pollinators) face today. This includes inspecting and installing hives, collecting and bottling local, Comet Honey harvested right on the UT Dallas campus, and more! All proceeds from the Comet Honey sale go towards funding opportunities for sustainability innovation at UT Dallas.

Our campus serves as an example for others seeking inspiration to beautify their landscapes while protecting pollinators, incorporating these experiences into academia. Taught by our own apiologist, Dr. Christina Thompson, Honeybee Biology and Honeybees & Society gives students the opportunity to learn about the lives of bees and survey the many ways in which honeybees contribute to our lives.

Because of the magnitude of the program and the growing interest from our student body in participating in these events, our fundraising goal is $500 to purchase supplemental supplies to accommodate more events. Additional funds received will be used throughout semesters to create a long-term funding plan to sustain activities throughout the year.

The UT Dallas Apiary Program events engage students from all majors to interact with pollinators and inspire them to become leaders of sustainability within their own communities and fields of study. As a long-standing Bee Campus USA affiliate, UT Dallas students, faculty, administrators, and staff work together to carry out these commitments and make our campus a better place for pollinators.