Inspired by Bees

Brynmore Williams and Rachael Bonoan

Saturday, June 6, 2015, 2:30-3:30 pm

Part of The Buzz About Bees

 deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

Perceiving Bees Through The Senses of Five: A scientist's and filmmaker's approach. 

Filmmaker Brynmore Williams and PhD candidate and researcher Rachael Bonoan discussed their respective interest in and mutual respect for bees. Williams is fascinated by the sound of bees, and is also an urban beekeeper, while Bonoan is interested in how nutrition affects the immune system in honeybees. Their discussion focused on honeybee senses (sight, taste, hearing, smell, touch) since between the two of them; all five senses can be addressed.

Brynmore Williams is an award-winning documentary filmmaker.  He tells phoenix stories: stories of rebirth and second chances.  These stories capture the indomitable spirit of his characters and celebrate their resolve when faced with insurmountable obstacles. His goal is always to capture the passion, determination and ingenuity of his subjects and inspire audiences to keep believing in the magic that is around us every day.  Brynmore has been keeping bees for seven years.

Rachael Bonoan is a Ph.D. student at Tufts University and a board member for the Boston Area Beekeeper's Association who studies honeybee health and nutrition. She is particularly interested in how honeybees get the right nutrients-in the right amounts-from their ever-changing environment. For her research, Rachael keeps eight observation hives at the Tufts Medford/Somerville campus and hopes to get five - ten Langstroth hives up and running at the Tufts Veterinary School in Grafton, MA. In addition to her studies, Rachael enjoys communicating her research and the importance of pollinator health to beekeepers, garden clubs, and the general public.