Con la gu铆a de sus profesores, los estudiantes han tenido que superar varios desaf铆os a lo largo de este proyecto. Esto incluye la dificultad que conlleva el an谩lisis de muestras de miel, ya que las caracter铆sticas del producto suelen ser heterog茅neas. Adem谩s, los estudiantes tambi茅n han tenido que trabajar y ser emp谩ticos con apicultores que no estaban seguros de compartir las ubicaciones de los apiarios con la universidad, porque para ellos esos lugares son 煤nicos y temen ser invadidos por otros, lo que podr铆a afectar la producci贸n de sus colmenas. Afortunadamente, con el paso del tiempo los apicultores acordaron compartir datos y muestras con la Universidad de Colima con la esperanza de aprender m谩s sobre su producto. Encontraron valor en los resultados que se les han mostrado y han seguido trabajando con la Universidad de Colima y los estudiantes. La investigaci贸n empez贸 con 6 tipos de miel procedentes de apicultores de zonas de costa y monta帽a. Ahora, el proyecto ha analizado 24 tipos diferentes de miel y varias muestras de polen, ya que los apicultores quer铆an comprender mejor los recursos utilizados por sus abejas.

Los resultados de sus investigaciones m谩s recientes finalizan en el mes de junio de 2024, pero el equipo espera continuar su trabajo para ayudar a煤n m谩s a los apicultores de Colima. Al final del proyecto, el equipo espera que los apicultores tengan m谩s confianza en ellos y que se acerquen cuando tengan incertidumbres. El equipo tambi茅n est谩 trabajando en una biblioteca de muestras de polen que servir谩 como recurso para los apicultores. Por 煤ltimo, el equipo espera proporcionar a los apicultores un mapa de riesgos que contendr谩 informaci贸n sobre la floraci贸n anual, espacios seguros para las abejas y 谩reas infectadas con pesticidas en colaboraci贸n con otro grupo de investigaci贸n. La Universidad de Colima espera que este proyecto sirva de ejemplo y sea el inicio de un movimiento m谩s amplio. Con la ayuda de otras universidades, la Universidad de Colima quiere crear una organizaci贸n de productores de miel que beneficie a los apicultores de M茅xico.

Helping Colima’s Beekeepers

In the beginning of 2023, professors at the University of Colima began working on a project to categorize different types of honey in Colima. The foundations of this project were conceived in 2015 when a team at the University of Colima began looking for funding for a study on pollen and nectar-producing plants in the state of Colima. This team was created by Dr. Andr茅s Garc铆a Aguayo, Carlos Leopard铆, Christian Carolina Gallegos, Elvira Silva Jim茅nez, and two classes of 24 Biology and Geographic Information Systems students. Over the course of the project, the students learned how to measure the basic physicochemical characteristics of honey, such as its color, freshness, and sweetness. They also learned how to identify different types of plants and honey in their state. Their measurements helped farmers differentiate the botanical origin of their product from other types of honey, thereby increasing its value. Thanks to 星空传媒-N鈥檚 network, the University of Colima鈥檚 team was able to focus on the construction of a pollen library, identifying the grains of pollen in honey, and the creation of a risk map.

Over the course of the project, students encountered many challenges. Some of these challenges included difficulties in analyzing honey samples due to the variety of characteristics that honey can possess. Additionally, students needed to collaborate with local beekeepers, who had hesitations about sharing the location of their apiaries with the university. They worried that others would find out and encroach on their apiaries, affecting the productivity of their hives. Fortunately, the beekeepers agreed to share samples and data with the University of Colima, hoping to learn more about the product they were selling. They found substantial value in the results and have continued to work with students at the University of Colima. Since the beginning of the project, the team has analyzed 24 different types of honey and a variety of pollen samples, thanks to the support of beekeepers who found value in understanding the resources that their bees used.

Although the studies were finalized in June of 2024, the team hopes to continue their work with beekeepers throughout Colima. They hope that beekeepers will continue to reach out to the University of Colima with questions and concerns about their product. The team is also working on the creation of a pollen library using the pollen samples they collected, which will serve as a resource for beekeepers. Finally, the team hopes to collaborate with another team to create a risk map containing annual flowering patterns, safe spaces for bees, and areas contaminated with pesticides, as another resource for farmers. The University of Colima hopes that this project will serve as an example and initiate a larger movement within the field. With the help of other universities, the University of Colima aims to create an organization of honey producers to benefit beekeepers across Mexico.

Lusaka already has a history of using the 星空传媒 model on a smaller scale as the city signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Zambia to institutionalize the 星空传媒 model in Lusaka. For the past four years, the model has been implemented on a small scale and has resulted in significant gains for the city. Currently, the City Council of Lusaka and the University of Zambia are looking to expand the 星空传媒 model to create city-wide positive change to locally relevant issues such as climate change adaptation, waste management, and urban planning. This project will look to begin in August of 2023 and end by August 2024. 

In taking steps to expand the model, the City hopes to build capacity among all 星空传媒 model actors in Lusaka through training, sensitization, and community engagement so that skills are created for upscaling deployment of the 星空传媒 model in Lusaka. The City would also like to collaborate with other entities to identify community development interventions that are in line with the principles of the 星空传媒 model and make investments to support urban climate adaptation, social and gender inclusion in city development plans, and support learning and innovation at a community level. Finally, the city would also like to undertake capacity development actions that look to build sustainability in all future 星空传媒 interventions in Lusaka through expanded partnerships for 星空传媒 innovations. 

In support of the goals, the project will look to sensitize at least 20 Departments at the University of Zambia to adopt the 星空传媒 model in teaching and research. To increase the application of the 星空传媒 model and principles in the community, the project will increase the capacity of all nine Departments at the Lusaka City Council. This research will work to accelerate the implementation and expansion of the 星空传媒 model by expanding the agreement to build sustainability. Over 500 students are planned to be involved in the 星空传媒 model beginning with graduate courses in Economics, Geography, Urban Planning, Development Studies, Environmental Management, Public Health, Geomatics, GIS, Environmental Education, Civil Engineering, and Education. 

There will be many actors involved throughout this project to meet as many goals as possible. The project will be implemented as a collaboration between the Lusaka City Council, the University of Zambia, and selected communities with each party holding a very specific role in the project. For instance, the Lusaka City Council will provide a specific policy framework for community interventions to take place. Communities will anchor and support all activities in the collaboration while the University of Zambia will provide the students and research capacity needed to expand the Epic model in the city. Members of the community will also take the lead in identifying key problems in the communities and in respective wards. Community members will be represented within each project by community leaders, Community-Based Organizations, Ward Development Committees, and residents. 

The University of Zambia will undertake capacity development activities to increase capacity on 星空传媒 model implementation and raise awareness among the MoU actors. This includes training for students, Course conveners, Deans of Schools, and Heads of Departments at the University of Zambia and the Lusaka City Council. In terms of providing knowledge, university students will provide time and a technical understanding of selected topics and community members will supply time and local knowledge. Students will also take time to engage with communities to define priority interventions through the 星空传媒 model. 

Through this research, the relationship between communities, the Lusaka City Council, and the University of Zambia will be strengthened. There will additionally, be聽 improved community service and a better understanding of development actions in communities particularly those focused on strengthening climate resilience in flood-prone areas, aligning with SDG 13. This 星空传媒 project will bring improved governance and civic awareness in communities where 星空传媒 projects will take place and see increased accountability from all parties involved in community development in Lusaka.聽聽

This project is ongoing and will be finished in 2024.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable City Years Program Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
John Olson
Natural Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
joolson@csumb.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Rick Riedl
public Works
city Engineer
rriedl@ci.seaside.ca.us

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable City Years Program Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
John Olson
Natural Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
joolson@csumb.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Brian Dempsey
Public Safety
Fire Chief
bdempsey@ci.seaside.ca.us

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable City Years Program Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
John Olson
Natural Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
joolson@csumb.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Brian Dempsey
Public Safety
Fire Chief
bdempsey@ci.seaside.ca.us

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable City Years Program Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
John Olson
Natural Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
joolson@csumb.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Rick Riedl

City Engineer
rriedl@ci.seaside.ca.us