Sheila Colla

Sheila Colla is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University, Toronto, Canada, and is eligible to supervise in the Biology Graduate Program. She leads the Colla Conservation Science Lab, which focuses on native pollinator conservation through interdisciplinary research in ecology, policy, and community science.

Her research centers on the conservation of native bees, particularly bumble bees, examining their ecology, threats from habitat loss, climate change, and pathogen spillover, and integrating scientific findings with environmental policy and public engagement. She collaborates extensively with environmental NGOs, government agencies, and academic partners at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in interdisciplinary pollinator conservation, combining field ecology, historical data analysis, community science validation, and policy critique. Her work increasingly emphasizes the importance of public perception, stakeholder collaboration, and evidence-based management for at-risk species like the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.

• Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the text.

Dr. Colla advises graduate students in the Biology program and actively engages in public education through talks, webinars, and outreach initiatives like BumbleBeeWatch. Her lab collaborates with the Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation at York University, contributing to national conservation strategies. The lab also produces practical resources such as gardening guides and educational posters to support habitat creation for endangered pollinators.

The Colla Conservation Science Lab is actively involved in field research, including nest relocations and RFID tagging of bumble bees, and is recognized in media outlets like the Toronto Star for its contributions to understanding climate change impacts on species distribution.