A superorganism approach to social insect colony health

Speaker: Professor Peter Naumann

Venue: Room E-250, College of Animal Sciences, Zijingang Campus

Abstract: Professor Peter Neumann is a world-renowned expert in bee health, based at the University of Bern's Institute of Bee Health in Switzerland. His research is dedicated to understanding the challenges facing honey bees and other pollinators, with a particular focus on parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and the complex factors behind colony losses. He is a member of European Scientific Academy since 2014. A cornerstone of Professor Neumann's legacy is his pivotal role in the creation and development of COLOSS (Prevention of Honey Bee COLony LOSSes). Recognizing the need for a coordinated, international response to widespread bee declines, he was instrumental in founding this global non-profit network. Under his guidance as a founding president and active member, COLOSS has grown into a vital collaborative body, uniting thousands of researchers and professionals from over 120 countries. The organization is renowned for its standardized monitoring of bee health and large-scale, collaborative research initiatives that generate critical insights into the causes of colony mortality.