Creating Networks at the 2023 International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy

Heather Frantz

Applause, laughter, and thoughtful murmurs echoed from President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center during the 5^th International Conference on Pollinator Biology, Health and Policy. Held on June 3^rd-6^th 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania, 246 people from 15 countries came together, representing academia, government, industry, stakeholder (beekeepers, growers, land managers), K-12 education, and non-profit groups.

The theme for this year's conference was Networks: From Genes to Communities- understanding and leveraging networks to support pollinator health, from gene networks to ecological community networks, to scientific networks. 50 lectures were given, and over 100 posters presented, all on unique aspects to pollinator research and conservation.

Between talks, networks were created between conference participants, as ideas were informally exchanged during meals and breaks. Sunday dinner was enjoyed at The Arboretum at Penn State, with the botanical gardens providing a tranquil setting featuring the 3.5 acre Pollinator and Bird Garden. This garden exemplifies pollinator research, providing a diversity of blooms and nesting resources in several habitat types to serve an abundance of pollinator species including bees, flies, hummingbirds, beetles, butterflies, and moths.

Mark your calendar for the next International Pollinator Conference, for June 24^th-28^th 2026, at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT!