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Course Description

Honey bees have long been an object of fascination for mankind, prized for their honey and beeswax since prehistoric times. Bee pollination is responsible for more than $15 billion in increased crop value each year in the U.S., and their decline threatens the commercial production of many specialty crops that depend on them. The complexity of bees’ communal life has intrigued observers and scientists alike.

This course aims to examine one of the most amazing life forms we know, exploring the complex relationships between humans and honey bees throughout history. Topics covered include chemical ecology, insect physiology, beekeeping, behavioral ecology, pollination biology, sociobiology, the effects of diseases and pesticides on bee health, and conservation biology.

Faculty Author

Marina Caillaud

David Peck

Bryan Danforth

Benefits to the Learner

  • Discover how honey bees evolved and their relationship to other types of bees
  • Identify the major organ systems and other features of a bee’s anatomy
  • Describe the life cycle of a honey bee and how individual members of the colony communicate with one another
  • Explore the complex cognitive skills that bees apply to problem solving and how humans can learn to make better decisions by mimicking bees
  • Quantify the economic value of bee pollination in agriculture and other human endeavors
  • Analyze evidence of pollinator decline, identify likely causes, and develop strategies to support pollinators locally and globally

Target Audience

  • Beekeepers
  • Anyone interested in honey bees and other bees
  • Anyone interested in humanity's relationship with the natural world
  • Anyone interested in the impacts of current agricultural practices — including the use of pesticides and herbicides — on the environment
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Type
self-paced (non-instructor led)
Dates
Aug 07, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $0.00
Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

  • Please note that your course starts on the date of your enrollment, and you may begin immediately.

  • You have access for one-year from the date of your enrollment in this self-paced course. 

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