Research Outline

'Bees, Pesticides and Insect declines: defining the sublethal effects of pesticides on honeybees.'

Jul 15, 2023

Elena Law

Student, University of Leeds

Liked by Aditya Jindal and 4 others

Throughout August and September of this year I am excited to be starting my pre-defined Laidlaw project 'Bees, Pesticides and Insect declines: defining the sublethal effects of pesticides on honeybees'. I will be using labs at the University of Leeds and working with my supervisor Elizabeth Duncan (Associate Professor of Zoology).

The main goal behind this project is to stabilise the global population of honeybees as they work as one of the leading pollinators, sustaining our current environments. They also have huge importance in the security of crops, as we're experiencing increasing pressure on food resources due to the developing global population.

I will be introduced to laboratory techniques and then left to work independently, investigating the beginnings of how agricultural pesticides may effect 'longevity, cognition, stress response and reproduction in the honeybee'. We know that pesticides produce these types of effects and that this is what often leads to colony declines- as populations stop working together to maintain hives and health of the queen bee. Therefore, the main aim of my work will be to figure out the mechanisms behind these effects.

I look forward to begin posting more details and findings from my project as I begin it in August.

Elena Law (She/Her)

Student, University of Leeds

Hi, I'm Elena and I am a part of Laidlaw's 2023-24 cohort at the University of Leeds.

I am currently studying Biotechnology with Enterprise which focusses on applying aspects of molecular and cellular biology to solve current problems. This can be in the form of using genetic modification to improve food security, discovering useful antibiotic properties of bacteria or the creation of vaccines via investigation of viruses. Along side this I also have begun learning about various areas of business in my enterprise modules.

I have chosen to work on a pre-defined research project: 'Bees, Pesticides and Insect declines: defining the sublethal effects of pesticides on honeybees'. I am excited for this project as I will be able to expand my biological knowledge into the field of entomology and continue to develop my lab-skills independently as I will be observing effects of sulfoxaflor and biological chemicals on young honey bees whilst also analysing their DNA to investigate any genetic mutations.

I enjoy spending time walking and running (especially around my home in the Peak District), making me motivated to make a difference in conserving and rebuilding our world's natural environments. Additionally outside of my studies I love to dance (ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre...), sing, attend classes with Uni's yoga society, bake and explore in & around leeds (including finding good places to eat) with my friends.