Scarlett Howard

Scarlett Howard is a Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, Monash University. Her work bridges cognitive science and ecology, focusing on insect behavior and conservation. She leads and collaborates on projects addressing pollinator resilience to climate change, urbanization impacts on bees, and neuroethological studies of numerical cognition in insects. Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life on land and climate action.

• Primary affiliation: Monash University, School of Biological Sciences

Research Interests: Howard’s work explores how insects perceive and process quantitative information, adapt to environmental changes, and interact with human-altered ecosystems. She combines field studies with controlled experiments to understand pollinator behavior under climate pressures and urban expansion. Recent projects include developing Australia’s National Pollination Strategy and investigating cognitive capacities in hymenopteran insects.

Publications Trends: Her recent articles analyze spatial-numerical associations in bees, pollinator responses to environmental shifts, and the intersection of animal cognition with ecological sustainability. Notable contributions include studies on honeybee arithmetic and the ethical implications of animal cognition research.

• Key projects: Australian National Pollination Strategy (2024–2029), Climate Adaptation for Native Bees (2023–2026)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Dyer Lab on neuroethology and the Dorin Lab on pollination ecology, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity challenges.