Researchers at the University's dot.rural digital economy hub feature in this week’s episode of BBC2’s Beechgrove Garden, which will be screened across the UK on Sunday 26 May at 8.30am.
In the programme Dr Annie Robinson talks about the group’s collaboration with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the importance of bumblebees, and how gardeners can encourage bumblebees into their gardens.
dot.rural have developed an online interactive tool called Beewatch, which helps scientists to identify the types of bumblebees visiting UK gardens.
Members of the public can simply take a photograph of the bumblebee in the garden, make a note of the location and the date, and submit the information via the website. One of the bee experts then reviews the information and confirms the identification of the bumblebee.
This information allows the scientists to increase their knowledge about the diversity and geographical spread of the UK’s bumblebees. Last year members of the public sent in 3,000 photos.
Watch a clip of Annie on the Beechgrove Garden
dot.rural is the digital economy research centre at the University of Aberdeen, which brings together rural communities with researchers from a range of disciplines including computing science, communications engineering, human geography, sociology, environmental science, medicine and transport. Research focuses on how digital technologies can meet the challenges facing rural communities in areas such as transport, healthcare, business, society and the environment.