The posts concerning the differences between what beekeepers and
researchers want brought to mind a panel discussion at the American
Beekeeping Federation some time back.

In part, I wrote at that time," Many beekeepers see scientists as employed
to solve applied problems and publish the results in accessible trade
journals. They often have little patience for research published in
scientific journals, especially that which they perceive has little
practical value. A good many researchers, on the other hand, see beekeepers
as supplying little, if any, funding. As a consequence, they have little
patience for what they often view as complaints by a cadre of folks who are
not informed about what really is involved in bee research.

Unfortunately, this conflict sometimes leads to beekeepers becoming fed up
with researchers, and vice versa. In the worst-case scenario beekeepers may
accuse researchers of complacency, even complicity, in ignoring their
needs. At the same time scientists can lose respect for beekeepers, who
they perceive as ungrateful for research even when it does directly affect
their livelihood. "

See the rest of the story at:  http://apis.ifas.ufl.edu/apis98/apmar98.htm#1




Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford
Retired Extension Apiculturist,
Professor Emeritus
University of Florida
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