Hamutahl Cohen

Hamutahl Cohen is a Research Fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz, affiliated with the SCWIBLES (Science, Conservation, and Wildlife Biology Learning Experiences for Students) program. Her research addresses critical challenges in agricultural sustainability through the lens of pollinator health, focusing on bee population declines driven by diseases, parasites, and habitat loss.

Her primary research interests span Agricultural Ecology, Entomology, Pollination Ecology, Bee Health, and Conservation Biology. Cohen investigates how agricultural intensification and urban expansion affect wild and managed bee species, developing practical habitat-restoration strategies for farmers and gardeners. Her fieldwork emphasizes immersive observation of bee-plant interactions, species diversity, and behavioral ecology in natural settings.

Through the SCWIBLES fellowship, Cohen mentors high school students at Watsonville High in hands-on environmental education, guiding classroom and garden-based investigations into local ecosystems. She cultivates scientific curiosity by encouraging students to document bee species, foraging patterns, and ecological relationships, bridging academic research with community engagement.