معرفی
Doctor James Makinson is a Research Fellow at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University. His research focuses on the foraging ecology and communication behavior of social Hymenoptera, particularly stingless bees, honey bees, and bumblebees. He leads studies on stingless bee pollination of tropical crops like macadamia, avocado, lychee, and mango, leveraging telemetry and hive monitoring technology.
Previous Positions: Previously at Queen Mary University of London and Rothamsted Research, he used harmonic radar to track honeybee and bumblebee flight paths. His PhD at the University of Sydney explored collective behavior in honeybee swarms, analyzing waggle dance communication.
Research Interests: Makinson’s work spans behavioral ecology, animal communication, collective decision-making, pollination systems, and foraging strategies. He emphasizes translating ecological insights into practical pollination management strategies for agriculture.
Grants & Collaborations: Key projects include:
- Supporting Australian stingless bee industry expansion (Hort Innovation Australia, 2023–2028)
- Climate change impacts on mango pollinators (Australia-India Council, 2022–2025)
- Global pollinator trends analysis (HIE collaborations with international teams)
Awards: Recognized for science communication (FameLab 2014), research excellence (Anne Sleep Award 2017), and postgraduate scholarships (APA, Endeavour Fellowship).
Labs/Teams: Works within HIE’s Plants-Animals Interactions theme, collaborating with Prof. James Cook and others on pollination networks and insect behavior. His fieldwork spans Australia, Thailand, the UK, and Spain.
