Plight of the Pollinators (B)

pollinator Perspective

Dustin Brugmann

A developing global crisis could have serious implications on our food security and biodiversity for generations to come. Pollinators are they key agent in randomly delivering genetic material to plants, but a number of issues including climate change, colony collapse disorder, pollinator food source, urban development, etc is affecting this natural phenomenon.

Imagine you are a pollinator with a large territory to visit in search of nectar. What would be the ideal habitat or place of rest? We will explore the various behaviors of different pollinators in order to design and fabricate pollinator hotels or habitat enhancements to encourage pollinators to visit plants more frequently. Students will learn new 3d modeling and building techniques, implementing electronics as needed, to take their designs from concept to working prototype.