MSBA Member Meeting: Ben Powell (Apimondia conference)

Speaker Profile:

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the natural world and the interactions of its inhabitants, especially the smaller majority (insects and other invertebrates). I believe that conservation and wise use of natural resources is essential to preserving ecosystem services, especially in developing communities, and the public has a vested interest in protecting pollinators and other invertebrates for the critical roles they play in maintaining agriculture and ecosystems. As the Apiculture and Pollinator Program coordinator, my primary goal is to provide educational resources for South Carolina's beekeepers and expand appreciation for all insects and invertebrates, especially those that pollinate South Carolina's farms and forests.

I focus my education and outreach programs on two areas: 1) advancing apiculture and beekeeping and 2) improving public awareness about the importance of pollinators and invertebrate biodiversity.