Dr Beth Nicholls
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bethbees.bsky.social
Dr Beth Nicholls
@bethbees.bsky.social
1.5K followers 1.1K following 24 posts
UKRI FLF at Sussex uni interested in the not-so-tiny minds of bees | Associate Ed. J. Pollination Ecology | 1st Gen | She/Her
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bethbees.bsky.social
This. Took. Forever. So if you see a typo...no you didn't!

In other news, very excited for our 2-day UK #UrbanAgriculture forum starting tomorrow and welcoming lots of amazing researchers, growers and policymakers to @sussex.ac.uk #FoodSecurity #FoodSystems #Diversity #Community #Governance
A photo of an abstract book entitled Growing Together in front of an apple tree
September 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM
bethbees.bsky.social
🍅Our new paper in @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social evaluating the effectiveness of #CitizenScience approach for understanding plant-pollinator interactions in urban food growing 🫛 @davegoulson.bsky.social @calacastellanos.bsky.social @leah-salm.bsky.social nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Understanding Pollination in Urban Food Production: The Importance of Data Validation and Participant Feedback for Citizen Science Project Design
Urban agriculture depends on insect pollination, but knowledge gaps persist due to difficulties accessing diverse growing spaces. We developed a citizen science approach for monitoring insect visits ...
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
An article I wrote for @theconversation.com in response to #allotment sell-offs. Featuring evidence from myself and @davegoulson.bsky.social and the amazing work led by Jill Edmondson's team at Sheffield. #communitygardens #urbanbiodiversity #growyourown
theconversation.com/allotments-a...
Allotments are vanishing when the UK urgently needs more of them
In praise of digging for potatoes.
theconversation.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
ccioannou.bsky.social
Applications for Winter 2025 conference attendance grants are trickling in, awarding up to £500 with a high success rate (if eligible).
Deadline isn't until 1st October, but don't forget to get referee statements in by then too!
All the info you need is here:
www.asab.org/conference-g...
@asab.org
asab-meetings.bsky.social ASAB Winter 2025 @asab-meetings.bsky.social · Aug 5
ICYMI : #ASABWinter2025 will take place from December 15-16, once again in lovely Edinburgh!

Registration is now open 🎉 Abstract submission deadline for posters and talks is August 29 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♂️

More information here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
Winter ASAB 2025 December 15-16 Edinburgh How sensory information affects behaviour.
August 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
Amid this weeks news about Labour's plans to sell off EIGHT allotment sites around the UK, what better time to get together and discuss research priorities around UK urban agriculture! Register here: lnkd.in/eq25UG3j
bethbees.bsky.social Dr Beth Nicholls @bethbees.bsky.social · Jul 30
🥕 Are you a UK researcher or practitioner working in urban agriculture? Please join us at 'Growing Together: A Transdisciplinary Forum on UK Urban Food Systems'
📅17-18th September 2025
📍University of Sussex
✍️Register by 31st Aug: lnkd.in/eQHbQxP2
❓More info? Contact: e.nicholls@sussex.ac.uk
A poster advertising the eventnb with images of home growing and a QR code in the bottom right corner to scan to register. The Text reads: This interdisciplinary two-day event will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to: • Map current UK urban agriculture research • Identify knowledge gaps and shared priorities • Foster new collaborations for future projects and funding A second page of the poster advertising the event. This provides a schedule for the day, including three panel sessions on Diversity, Governance and Community on Day 1, 17th September, and a faciliated workshop to focus on research priorities, synergies and knowledge gaps and a visit to Moulsecoomb Forest Garden. The bottom half of the poster has photos of speakers.
August 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
viveknityananda.bsky.social
Registration for the ASAB conference is now open - come join us!
asab.org ASAB @asab.org · Jul 29
Join us for #ASABWinter2025 in Edinburgh Dec 15-16 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Abstracts for posters/talks due Aug 29

More details here: asabwinter.github.io/2025/
Winter ASAB 2025 December 15th-16th Edinburgh ASABwinter.github.io/2025/ How sensory information affects behaviour Logo of a moth
July 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
🥕 Are you a UK researcher or practitioner working in urban agriculture? Please join us at 'Growing Together: A Transdisciplinary Forum on UK Urban Food Systems'
📅17-18th September 2025
📍University of Sussex
✍️Register by 31st Aug: lnkd.in/eQHbQxP2
❓More info? Contact: e.nicholls@sussex.ac.uk
A poster advertising the eventnb with images of home growing and a QR code in the bottom right corner to scan to register. The Text reads: This interdisciplinary two-day event will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to: • Map current UK urban agriculture research • Identify knowledge gaps and shared priorities • Foster new collaborations for future projects and funding A second page of the poster advertising the event. This provides a schedule for the day, including three panel sessions on Diversity, Governance and Community on Day 1, 17th September, and a faciliated workshop to focus on research priorities, synergies and knowledge gaps and a visit to Moulsecoomb Forest Garden. The bottom half of the poster has photos of speakers.
July 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
waspwoman.bsky.social
Starring @idrisadams.bsky.social, on BBC Breakfast - PhD student @londonnercdtp.bsky.social @uclcber.bsky.social

We are so proud of you Idris - a media natural spreading the #WaspLove!

@ucllifesciences.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social
ucllifesciences.bsky.social UCL Faculty of Life Sciences @ucllifesciences.bsky.social · Jul 29
Wasps on BBC Breakfast 🐝
Our expert joined BBC Breakfast to talk all things wasps - why they're essential, misunderstood, and worth celebrating.

Discover the Grant Museum’s fascinating new exhibition on wasp diversity.
🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-coll...

#UCL #GrantMuseum #BBCBreakfast #Wasps
July 29, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
roald-arboel.com
I need help identifying a #bumblebee!

I’m in the Peruvian Andes, cloud forest near Salkantay (and Machu Picchu). We spotted this monstrously big orange bumblebee, 3-4cm long (see picture. We actually spotted them twice, but only managed to photo once). My best ID so far is Bombus dahlbomii, but…
Picture of a large orange bumblebee seen from the side/back.
June 13, 2025 at 1:57 AM
bethbees.bsky.social
Please share! Competitively funded PhD project on the role of #bee foraging choices on plant-pollinator interactions and floral #evolution at Sussex Uni www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-f...
A bumblebee visiting a snapdragon flower
June 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
rossonisergio.bsky.social
🚨 Our study from @bethbees.bsky.social lab is out in @royalsocietypublishing.org . We show that bumblebees taste some amino acids (valine), but not others (lysine). Bees might choose flowers not just by how sweet they taste! #bees 🐝 #taste 👅 #pollen #nectar 🌺 #protein 🥩

doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
Gustatory sensitivity to amino acids in bumblebee mouthparts | Royal Society Open Science
Bees rely on amino acids from nectar and pollen for essential physiological functions. While nectar typically contains low (less than 1 mM) amino acid concentrations, levels in pollen are higher but variable (10–200 mM). Behavioural studies suggest ...
doi.org
May 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
davegoulson.bsky.social
The Dartington Forest Garden is threatened with destruction by landlords the Dartington Trust. It took >30 years to grow, and is a wonderful example of a radically different approach to food & fibre production. Please sign the petition, and share.

www.agroforestry.co.uk/save-darting...
Save the Dartington Forest Garden - The Agroforestry Research Trust
www.agroforestry.co.uk
March 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
seanrands.bsky.social
Flowers🌸 as infection🤧 hotspots for pollinators🐝: landscape and behaviour have an impact. New preprint from @cristinabotias.bsky.social, @bethbees.bsky.social, @nataliehempel.bsky.social and me doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A spatially explicit model of pollinator-plant-pathogen interactions
Flowers have long been suggested to be infection hotspots for pollinator diseases, as, during their brief lifespan, they are visited and handled by many individuals from a diverse range of species. Ev...
doi.org
March 17, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
vickihird.bsky.social
Huge Frustration as UK Government pauses the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/frustra...
Frustration as UK Government pauses the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme | The Wildlife Trusts
Today the UK Government have paused all new applications from farmers to access England’s flagship green farming scheme.
www.wildlifetrusts.org
March 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
kazohashilab.bsky.social
Our latest paper led by Kentaro Takagi was featured on the cover of Functional Ecology! 🎉👏🐝🌸

"Realized flower constancy in bumble bees: Optimal foraging strategy balancing cognitive and travel costs and its possible consequences for floral diversity"

For full details: bit.ly/4bzIADN
The cover of the latest issue of Functional Ecology. The featured photo shows the indoor experiment using bumble bees (Bombus ignitus) and artificial flowers. The worker gathers sugar solution from an artificial “flower” made of a transparent acrylic jar with a circular-coloured paper attached to the inside.
March 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
Looking forward to participating in this session on Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture today at the University of Ghana in collaboration with @ids.ac.uk and @sussex.ac.uk
Photo of session programme
February 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
soapboxscibrighton.bsky.social
Applications to Soapbox Science Brighton 2025 are open! All female and non-binary scientists in STEM subjects are welcome to apply 🥼👩‍🔬🌼🐜🐭🐝🧪⚛️

Apply by March 2nd
soapboxscience.org/apply-to-spe...
February 9, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
campaign4parks.bsky.social
We're back with our next Future Leaders Course 📢

This is your opportunity to join our programme for young people (20 - 30 years) who want to make a difference – for #NationalParks, landscapes, nature and people.

Applications close Sun 23 Feb ⏰

Learn more & apply 👉 www.cnp.org.uk/national-par...
Future Leaders Course
February 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
pocketwildingie.bsky.social
Pruning tips to assist #CavityNesting insects and more from the excellent "Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects" guide from @xercessociety.bsky.social - a Science-based invertebrate conservation nonprofit.

#Bugsky

PDF here:
xerces.org/sites/defaul...
Full guide: Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf Full guide: Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf Full guide: Nesting & Overwintering Habitat for Pollinators and other Beneficial Insects https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf
January 21, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
vickihird.bsky.social
It is a messy unresolved issue on how eaters can be sure of what they are buying with regen..
Good @theconversation.com piece.
Regeneratively farmed is the new buzz label on supermarket shelves – but what does it actually mean?
theconversation.com/regenerative...
Regeneratively farmed is the new buzz label on supermarket shelves – but what does it actually mean?
While regenerative agriculture might seem like a pioneering new approach, this term isn’t new. Here’s how it differs from organic.
theconversation.com
January 22, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Dr Beth Nicholls
johannajoyce.bsky.social
Disappointing new study showing - once again - that women are leaving research careers at far higher levels than men

If you're interested to read about strategies to reverse these types of curves, check out our recent #Cell perspective- link below ⤵️

#WomeninSTEM 👩‍🔬👩🏾‍🔬🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Among nearly 35,000 biological scientists who authored their first paper in 2000, women were more likely than men to have stopped publishing after 5, 10 or 20 years. The size of this gender gap varies between disciplines.
January 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
Loved this session and excited to try growing some dye plants this year (that are also #Pollinator friendly of course!) and dye my own wool
susfoodtrust.bsky.social Sustainable Food Trust @susfoodtrust.bsky.social · Jan 10
We were delighted to welcome people to a wool skills workshop at #ORFC25 this morning.

The session highlighted the wonders of wool and why it needs to be considered as more than just a byproduct.
January 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
Today at 2pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall #ORFC25 join us for a panel discussion on 'What might #InsectSentience mean for agroecology' with @natacharossi.bsky.social @vickihird.bsky.social. We will discuss what new research might mean for how we value #EcosystemServices and insect #Welfare
A bumblebee visiting comfrey
January 10, 2025 at 7:39 AM
bethbees.bsky.social
Today 4pm Ship St Lecture Theatre #ORFC25 come and hear about #Biodiversity in #Polycultures and our work on #Pollinators in #UrbanAgriculture using #CitizenScience @davegoulson.bsky.social @buzzclub.bsky.social
A photo of an allotment plot
January 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
bethbees.bsky.social
Solidarity. Sovereignty. Love. Inclusion. Wisdom. Resistance. What a fantastic start to #ORFC25
The stage at the ornate Oxford Town Hall for the opening plenary of the Oxford Real Farming Conference. A woman is playing the harp and singing folk songs on stage.
January 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM