The final expedition of the Leverhulme project starts today! I’m heading out to the Pacific Coast in Mexico to locate new buzz pollination interactions. With a team of local researchers we will be spending the next two weaks exploring the coast and mountains of Jalisco in search for bees and plants. Stay tuned for updates!
Departure Day
20 May 2022
Today is World Bee Day and a good day to depart in this buzz pollination expedition. It’s been a while since I had a proper field expedition in Mexico and this time I’m going to one of my favourite places along the Pacific coast. Initially we had planned to sample in the Yucatán but changes in the research team and timing required us to adjust the plans slightly. We have put together a very nice team of pollinator and plant experts to join this expedition. In Mexico City, I will be meeting Ivan Hernández, a seasoned field biologist with a very keen eye for nature and an outstanding explorer. I have know Ivan from my first year at university and remain long time friends. Ivan is very resourceful and more than once he managed to get me out of trouble while rock climbing back in the day. It is really great that he has kindly agreed to join me in this adventure and couldn’t ask for a better field partner. Later in the trip we will be joined by Juan and Cesar who are also fantastic scientists and field biologists. More on that later!
As usual, the expedition starts with an early morning departure from Edinburgh airport. At home I said farewell to my family whom I will miss dearly. These farewells are my very least favourite part of the trip. I’m already looking forward to be back with them! For now, I am sitting on the plane where I will spend most of the next 16 hours.