Dr. Jennie Fagen, Project Advisor
Dr. Fagen is a Senior Research Scholar in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology with a passion for all things plants (the bugs are okay too). She developed the original VRBees project proposal with the goal of improving the landscaping around Varsity Research Building while maintaining the A. barbara nesting habitat.
Andrew Ernst, Technical Advisor
Max O’Connor, Design Consultant
Max is a junior studying Horticultural Science and Landscape Design. Their role in this project is to design an aesthetically pleasing landscape for both the people working at the Varsity Research Building and the bees living just outside. Max is interested in learning more about the challenges that come with designing landscapes for more than one species to benefit from.
Jared Spurlin, Insect Ecology Consultant
Jared is a senior studying Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. His passion is for the preservation of natural areas and their inhabitants, no matter the size. His focus for this project is to generate an experiment plan, then investigate the results and future implications of the study.
Esme Chiara, Entomology Consultant
Esme is a sophomore majoring in zoology and minoring in entomology and applied ecology. She is responsible for ensuring that the landscape design aspect of the VRBees project is suitable for A. barbara, as well as ensuring that the ecology research done is suitable for their habitat. She is also hoping to learn more about how life cycle and habitat preferences factor into landscape designs.