A national expert on the study of insects and the disappearing honey bee will deliver her take on plant biodiversity on the Colorado State University campus on Nov. 1. at the 16th annual Thornton-Massa lecture.
May Berenbaum’s talk “Insects and wild parsnips: Coevolutionary arms races and peace treaties” will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Lory Student Theater. Her lecture is free and open to the public.
Berenbaum is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and was a the winner of the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement.
She is renowned for being a public intellectual translating entomology for the general public, according to CSU. Berenbaum testified before Congress on the disappearing honey bees, and guides graduate and undergraduate students on the study of insects, said Jennifer Dimas, spokeswoman for CSU.
Her talk at CSU will focus on the essential role that insects play in promoting plant biodiversity. Berenbaum has served as head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois for more than 20 years and holds one of that university’s highest honors, a Swanlund Chair.
Berenbaum has been a leading researcher in the declining honey bee population and has appeared in documentaries examining the issue including “Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling US?” and “Pollen Nation.”
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or @montewhaley
