On today’s episode, we welcome back the good friend of the podcast, Dr. Samuel Ramsey. Also joining us today is Dr. Jim Tew, sitting in this week for Kim Flottum. Sammy joins Jeff and Jim to talk about his recent move from Maryland to Boulder, Colorado, where he is now the Endowed Professor of Entomology at CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute and the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

Sammy also brings us up-to-date on the research on the Tropilaelaps mite in Thailand and how it could impact beekeepers around the world, should it take the path of the Varroa. Speaking of which, Dr. Ramsey introduces the listener to the Euvarroa Mite… think: a varroa with attitude hair. Regarding Varroa, Sammy is researching ways to control them by disrupting the varroa’s use of the egg yoke protein, vitellogenin, found in the fat bodies of the honey bee. It is exciting research that may one day lead to control and management options against the Varroa mite.

Also, after we stopped recording the episode, Sammy shared with us the challenges he’s faced as he worked toward’s his PhD in entomology. He was told repeatedly, that there  was “something just not quite right” about him to be a doctor of entomology. There were multiple attempts to hold him back and keep him out of the program. Honestly, as two white men, these challenges are unseen by Jeff and Jim. Sammy’s experience is hard to hear. It is amazing that these attitudes still exist in such ‘learned’ and ‘intellectually advanced’ micro-societies as found in leading universities. What is unbelievable is that they are allowed to exist today.

Sammy’s personal story of overcoming the challenges and obstacles thrown at him were captured in the National Geographic 2022 Explorers Festival. We encourage you to watch this compelling and inspiring presentation.

We hope you enjoy the episode. Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Thank you for listening!

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast: 

• Dr. Ramsey's Bio Frontiers Page at the University of Colorado, Boulder - https://www.colorado.edu/biofrontiers/samuel-ramsey
• Sammy's National Geographic Explorers 2022 Presentation - https://vimeo.com/725731093
• Honey Bee Obscura - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their sponsorship of Bee Books: Old & New with Kim Flottum. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a regular podcast featuring interviews with leading bee and insect researchers in the world of pollination, hosted by Dr. Kirsten Traynor.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening! 

Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC