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As beekeepers, many of us try out new management practices and equipment in order to maintain healthier, more productive colonies. We might even engage in small-scale experimentation to gauge effectiveness. Our guest for the August Zoom Speaker Series, Dr. Sean Bignami will address the particular challenges and considerations we might wish to keep in mind when conducting experiments in a home apiary. Dr. Bignami’s presentation, “Experimental Design & the Challenge of Data-Driven Home Apiculture,” will provide a primer on experimental design, with particular emphasis on the most important factors home beekeepers should keep in mind when "experimenting" with apiculture methods. The presentation will be followed by ample time for discussion and questions.

Dr. Sean Bignami earned his B.S. in Aquatic Biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the University of Miami (FL). As a Professor of Biology at Concordia University Irvine, Dr. Bignami teaches courses such as Field Biology Techniques, Research in Biology, Marine Biology, and Zoology. His own research includes laboratory- and field-based studies, with particular emphasis on the population status and aquaculture of the Pismo clam.

Dr. Bignami is also a third-generation beekeeper and has been keeping bees at his home for four years. His location in Orange County, CA presents unique challenges due to the arid climate and prevalence of Africanized genetics in the feral bee populations, producing a mixture of successes and failures.

I am also proud to say that Dr. Bignami is my younger brother, and I’m thrilled to have him share his insights into scientific methodology and experimental design with our members.

Ian Thomas-Bignami, VP Member Education