Master’s students at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway are inviting the public to learn how everyday choices can help protect Ireland’s bees on 27 November.
‘Bee the Change’ will take place as part of ATU’s Galway City (Dublin Road) campus Open Day from 10am, featuring interactive activities, expert insights and honey tasting to highlight the importance of pollinators and the challenges facing Ireland’s native honeybee.
Free event on ATU’s Galway City campus
Organised by students on ATU’s MSc in Science Communication programme, this free event will explore how planting pollinator-friendly flowers, supporting Irish beekeepers and making informed honey purchases can contribute to protecting Ireland’s biodiversity. Ireland’s native bee faces significant pressures, making public awareness and practical conservation action increasingly important.
“Protecting our bees doesn’t have to start with a big gesture. Small, everyday actions, from planting the right wildflowers to making informed choices about the honey we buy, can make a difference. We’re excited to have current and prospective students join our ‘Bee the Change’ event on Friday 27th November, from 10am at ATU’s Galway City campus,” said student organisers Gerard McDaid, Catriona Reid, Sibéal Regan, and Samantha Carty.
Wildflower game, honey tasting and a smart TV prize
An interactive wildflower matching game will help visitors identify plants that provide valuable food and habitats for pollinators. Attendees can sample different honeys and learn more about their origins and production.
The event, which promises a smart TV school prize giveaway, will also feature guest speaker Pat Fitzmaurice, Pollinator Plan Farmland Officer at the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Pat works with farmers to promote practical measures that support pollinators and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
‘Bringing science to the public’
ATU lecturer Tomas Mangan said: “Science communication is about making important scientific information accessible and relevant to people’s everyday lives. ‘Bee the Change’ is an excellent example of how our students are bringing science to the public in an engaging and practical way.”
The event forms part of the students’ practical learning experience on ATU’s MSc in Science Communication, which prepares graduates to make scientific information accessible to wider audiences.
The group’s takeaway message is simple: whether by planting pollinator-friendly flowers, supporting local beekeepers or choosing Irish honey, everyone can play a part in protecting Ireland’s bees.
Why Ireland’s bees need help
Ireland has 98 wild bee species as well as the honeybee, and one third of the wild species are threatened with extinction, according to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. Ireland’s native honeybee, the dark or “black” bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), is under pressure from hybridisation with imported strains, according to the Native Irish Honey Bee Society.
Bee the Change takes place on Friday 27 November 2026 from 10am at ATU Galway City (Dublin Road) campus, as part of the Open Day. Admission is free.
This article is based on a press release from ATU MSc in Science Communication students. Photos supplied.
Leave a Reply