Hello everyone,
This blog post is to invite you to participate in a research project entitled “The Queens of Inferno: Identity Politics in Malta’s Apicultural Conflict“, conducted by an anthropology MA student and Principal Investigator, Jacob M Jansen (University of Colorado, Boulder).
The study explores the ways in which beekeepers, entomologists, conservationists, and bee enthusiasts make agricultural decisions about the types of honey bee utilized in Malta’s beekeeping practices. One key purpose of this study is to better understand whether recent interests to conserve the Maltese honey bee (Apis melliferia ruttneri) are supported by agricultural communities amidst the environmental uncertainties of climate change.
A primary outcome of this study will be qualitative data on the status of honey bees as political indicators in the decision making of beekeepers, entomologists, conservationists, and bee enthusiasts. Although this study takes place in Malta, its implications for the ways human agricultural decisions impact the future of honey bee speciation is wide-reaching. Because honey bees have been largely shaped by trait desirability throughout global beekeeping history, this study hopes to better understand why people stake claims in one form of perceived apicultural development over another as the Maltese honey bee–and beekeeping in Malta—face unprecedented changes.
This study will involve as many as 100 participants, at varying levels of involvement and for varying amounts of time. You may choose your degree of involvement. Participants must be aged above 18 years, and have some relationship to beekeeping practices or an interest in bees. Qualifying participants will likely have some connection to beekeeping, entomology, conservation, or a general enthusiasm about bees!
Study participants will be emailed an informed consent form to fill out, and scheduled to take part in a 1-on-1 interview with the Principal Investigator. All interviews will be conducted in English. Interviews can take place over Zoom. The Principal Investigator is interested in recording notes about human subjects in their private and public practices related to bees. These notes will document your interactions with people, environments, and discussions relevant to bees.
If you would like to participate in this study, please email Mr. Jansen at: jacob.jansen@colorado.edu
Thank you for your consideration,
Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee 
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