This press release was originally published by EurekAlert! and AlphaGalileo.

On June 28, 2023, at 6 PM (EEST), the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia will present the temporary exhibition ‘The pollinators we can’t live without’.

The new exhibition of the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NMNHS) focuses on the essence and importance of pollinators. The attendees of the exhibition will be introduced to the results of scientific projects related to the study of pollinators, the threats they are facing and the steps we need to take to preserve them.

The most prominent plant pollinators might be bees, but they are not the only ones. Pollination is also carried out by birds, lizards, bats and other small mammals, and mostly by insects such as flies, butterflies and beetles. Scientists and conservationists emphasise the serious decline in the distribution and number of insects that play an essential role in the reproduction of plants. The main threats to pollinators, that they have identified, are the change in the management of natural landscapes, changes in climate, intensive agriculture and the increasing of world trade and introduced species. Unfortunately, very little is known about the biology of some species and the factors that negatively affect their populations. Therefore, legislative and public initiatives are essential to protect the insects involved in the plant pollination process.

In order to deal with this destructive trend for biodiversity and its consequences, the European Union (EU), as well as a number of global organisations such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are joining efforts to study and preserve pollinators. To support this process, the EU funds a number of research activities aimed at improving our knowledge of pollinators' condition and role in ecosystems, such as B-GOOD, PoshBee and Safeguard.

B-GOOD develops computer models and technologies supporting the implementation of healthy and sustainable beekeeping in the European Union by combining the expertise of both scientists and beekeepers.

PoshBee is a recently-concluded research project which investigated the effects of pesticides on bees alone and in combination with other negative factors in order to determine how they affect bee health.

Safeguard assesses the status of different species of wild pollinators in Europe and the factors that negatively affect them, to propose measures to reverse the loss of wild pollinators.

As a part of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the mission of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia (NMNHS) incorporates the following areas: fundamental and applied studies, management and preservation of collections, promotion of natural-scientific knowledge through the exposition and popular literature, training of doctorate degree candidates and young experts, expert activities.

Pensoft Publishers is a globally recognised academic publishing company that has gained fame for its innovative and advanced tools, processes, and approaches to publishing journals, books, and conference materials. The company's Research and Technical Development department actively participates in diverse research and technology initiatives. Additionally, Pensoft offers services in website design and development, constructing integrated publishing platforms, and facilitating science communication.

The event is organised by the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NMNHS), in partnership with Pensoft Publishers and the scientific projects B-GOOD (GA No. 817622), PoshBee (GA No. 773921) and Safeguard (GA No. 101003476).

 

Opening date: 28 June 2023, 6 PM (EEST)

Duration: 28 June - 29 September 2023

Location: National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NMNHS), Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. 1, Sofia, Bulgaria

 

Invitation to 'The pollinators we can't live without'. Designed by Zlatka Yaramova (NMNHS)