2024-12-18

“I feel comfortable around bees now,” said a student from the Department of Zoology, St. Teresa's College (Autonomous), Kochi. The department, in collaboration with TIES, hosted an enriching one-day field-cum-lab study program titled "Enjoy Learning Skills" for undergraduate students. The program, aimed at deepening students' understanding of biodiversity conservation, featured interactive sessions and hands-on activities. The program focused on apiculture, aimed to deepen students' understanding of beekeeping and its role in biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary of TIES, led a session on “Introduction to Apiculture,” where he highlighted the biology of honey bees and their ecological importance. 

Following this, Mr. Sarath Babu N B, Nature Education Officer at TIES, conducted a session on “Apiculture Farming.” His session provided a thorough overview of beekeeping practices. He covered the fundamentals of the ecosystem services of honey bees, different types of honey bees in India, the importance of apiculture, hive management, diseases, and challenges in apiculture. The session also highlighted the value-added products, and the economic and environmental benefits of apiculture. Mr. Sarath Babu engaged students with practical insights and encouraged interactive discussions to enhance their understanding of the field.

The hands-on experience to explore Apis cerana indica under careful supervision, allowed them to handle a bee colony, identify drones, workers, and queens, and examine a comb. Feedback from students indicated that they now feel confident handling a bee or managing a beehive.

The program, which combined theoretical insights and practical exposure, emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of apiculture while fostering a sense of environmental responsibility.

Coordinated by Ms. Jemma Pius and Ms. Arya Ashok of the Department of Zoology, along with Ms. Arya Shaji, Ms. Abhirami K P, and Ms. Megha Babu from TIES, the event saw the participation of 29 students.