Wild Bee Scientists: Our insect house project

Together with scientists from the University of Freiburg’s Department for Landscape Ecology, a group of UWC Robert Bosch College students are conducting research into insect biodiversity in Germany. The project, supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung initiative “Our Common Future”, involves sending out insect houses to schools all over Germany, so that solitary bees and wasps can lay their eggs in these houses. Schools then send the insect houses back to Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, where students and researchers analyse them and identify the species within. Every Wednesday morning, a group of 10 RBC students meets with university researchers to work on the project – contacting schools, building insect houses and identifying wasp and bee species.

The aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of the factors influencing insect biodiversity, and to monitor the long-term development of insect populations. We are encouraging schools in Germany to participate – more information is available at www.schulinsektenhaus.de and in this video created by our students.