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 To subscribe to the revamped Apis newsletter, see: http://apis.shorturl.com/