Abstract: The Scottie Bee Palynology Project: SEM and NMR Analysis was created at Agnes Scott College, a teaching-focused institution that emphasizes liberal arts education, to provide students with research experience. This ongoing initiative, funded by the ESA SEEDS program, offers opportunities for students to engage in animal husbandry, field sample collection, and laboratory instrument use. The project's objectives include studying honey bees, collecting and analyzing honey and pollen samples, learning geo-logging with iNaturalist, and training in advanced laboratory techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for biological and chemical analysis. Through pollen analysis, the project has increased understanding of the biodiversity of the Agnes Scott campus and surrounding areas by identifying the plants that Agnes Scott honey bees pollinate. This underscores the importance of understanding pollination in maintaining ecosystem health. The Scottie Bee Palynology Project provides valuable research experience for students and highlights the importance of involving students in research. By incorporating advanced laboratory techniques, students gain experience in cutting-edge technologies and are better equipped to pursue further research in these fields.
