The BeeHIVE Cluster has three working groups that bring together cluster members who have the relevant knowledge and skills in a particular area of strategic importance to the cluster. Their role is to provide ideas, advice, expertise, and support to help the cluster achieve its mandate and deliverables.
Collaboration & Funding
Mandate: Support excellence and innovation in pollinator research within the cluster and beyond through collaborative research, new partnerships, and funding opportunities
Cluster Deliverables:
- Integrate pollinator expertise and technology at UBC (and beyond) to design interdisciplinary research questions and projects
- Become a recognized cluster of research excellence in the study of the honey bee, involving our three themes: honey bees as pollinators, biomonitors, and producers
- Strengthen existing partnerships with Hives for Humanity, the Worker Bee Honey Company, and key agricultural government agencies
- Develop new partnerships with local farmers, beekeepers, and honey producers as well as potential new industry collaborators
- Apply for grant funding to cover the direct costs of conducting research
Questions to Consider:
- How can we leverage cluster funding and our collective resources to improve the health of honey bees and other pollinators?
- How can we foster interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and inter-sectoral research and partnerships?
- How can we best collaborate and communicate?
- Which grants offer the best match for the cluster’s needs, timelines, and strengths?
- What are our short-term vs. long-term collaboration and funding goals?
Community Engagement
Mandate: Promote the cluster’s activities to the community and stakeholders via this website, videos, public lectures, workshops, etc.
Cluster Deliverables:
- Update information on the cluster's website and Twitter feed
- Create educational videos (3/yr)
- Run a public lecture series, with 3/yr hosted at the UBC-Vancouver Point Grey campus
Questions to Consider:
- Who is our target audience?
- What message(s) do we want to convey?
- What are our short-term vs. long-term community engagement goals?
Training & EDI
Mandate: Support the development and mentorship of early career scientists, and ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion in all our research and outreach activities
Cluster Deliverables:
- Development of all team members through training and mentoring
- Inclusion of at-risk populations, specifically in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, who are experiencing social and economic barriers to stability (in partnership with Hives for Humanity)
Questions to Consider:
- How can we best support our students, postdoctoral fellows and new faculty?
- How can we ensure that our membership and activities include a range of gender and sexual identities, career stages, and groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education?
- What are our short-term vs. long-term training goals?