Britain's only Professor of Apiculture (the study of bees), from Sussex University, presents a crucial insight into the importance of the honey bee.

Dr Francis Ratnieks' presentation, ‘Protecting the Amazing Honey Bee', highlights the creatures' unique qualities, and investigate theories to account for the recent and potentially disastrous decline of bee numbers.  The presentation also outlines the important work being carried out at Sussex University to help the situation, which involves breeding more resilient species.

Dr Ratnieks has appeared several times on television and radio in the last few weeks following the recent announcement that the government is finally releasing proper funding to research threats to bees.  

Ratnieks says: ‘I will give information on the honey bee, including its importance to humans, via pollination, and also to science.  I will then outline some of the problems it faces due to diseases and other factors like reduced forage, and end up discussing the ‘Sussex Plan for Bee Health and Well Being', which is a plan for four research projects that I have devised and initiated.  I have received funding of around £250k so far and am hoping to raise £1 million.'