Science Café on the Coast: The Buzz on Bees

News item published on: 2016-01-06 13:30:54

Did you know the honeybee was designated as the Mississippi State Insect in 1980? Bees play an important role in agriculture through pollination and, as an added bonus, also provide beeswax and honey; however, this little insect with a big impact on the human food chain is dying off at alarming rates. Join us Tuesday, January 12 at 6 p.m. at the Orange Grove Public Library as Tim Lockley and Joshua Reeves explain why bees are so important, why they are in danger and what we can do to encourage growth in the honeybee population.

Tim Lockley retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after a 30 plus year career as a research scientist and authored over 180 scientific articles in numerous regional, national and international, peer-reviewed journals; including a chapter in the Annual Review of Entomology (1983).  Now he is the Senior Entomologist for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce on the Gulf Coast. Lockley served as an officer in the Entomological Society of America, the Arachnological Society, the Mississippi Academy of Sciences and the State Board of the Mississippi PTA and was former Local Secretary for the Mississippi Chapter of Mensa.  He also served three tours in Viet Nam and in Operation Desert Storm.  Retired from the military after 8 years of active duty and 20 years in the guard/reserves for a total of 28 years.

Joshua Reeves is a Management and Program Analyst for NASA and co-owner of J&J Bee’s and Trees LLC.  He received a degree in Business Management from Valdosta State University and served 6 years as an Air Force officer.  He started bee keeping 5 years ago in Medina Ohio where he took his first Beekeepers Beginner’s Classes at AI Root taught by Kim Flottum.  Joshua moved home and started J&J Bee’s and Trees in 2014 with his father Jim.  Their goals are to impact the community through education, family and making the environment more vibrant and wholesome.  J&J has a hive-hosting program, performs hive removals and of course sells products fresh from the hive.   

Science Café on the Coast is a collaboration between The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Libraries, Harrison County Library System, Long Beach Public Library, and Hancock County Library System and offers those with minimal background in science the chance to meet and discuss scientific issues in a relaxed social setting.  Admission is free and open to the public. 

For more information, contact Adrienne McPhaul, Librarian for Science and Technology, Health and Nursing at the Southern Miss Gulf Coast Libraries, at 228.214.3467 or e-mail .