Many people are aware that bees are essential to pollination, which contributes to healthy ecosystems and food security. However, the intelligence of bees and other insect pollinators has been classically overlooked. Understanding the intelligence and behaviour of insects has applications to creating bio-inspired technology, enhancing pollination, unravelling the evolution of intelligence, and conserving pollinators.
Dr Scarlett Howard studies the intelligence of the miniature brains of bees, with bees as voluntary collaborators. Dr Howard has discovered that honeybees possess an understanding of the concept of zero, can perform addition and subtraction, learn to categorise quantities as odd or even, and can even acquire a basic symbolic number language, akin to Arabic numerals. She is currently examining how environmental change is impacting pollinator intelligence, behaviour, and pollination capacity. Her research into the numerical abilities of bees is ongoing, as she explores the applications of bee intelligence to bio-inspired technology. Dr Howard is an avid science communicator, writing for popular news outlets, co-hosting a radio show, conducting public lectures, appearing on TV, radio, and podcasts, and participating in community events to raise awareness of insect conservation and value.