Hey there, I'm Sarah C, and let me spill the honey – I've been a bug geek my whole life!

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Flashback to 2012 when I earned my BSc(tech) degree from Waikato University. Since then, I've roamed all over Aotearoa, dabbling in entomology and getting my hands dirty with everything from insect warfare to AI breeding secrets. Fast forward to a decade ago, and I snagged the incredible role of Apiary Manager at NZ's premier apiculture science organisation. Picture this: 150 honeybee colonies under my watch, and I hadn't cracked open a beehive before! Yet, that moment marked the start of my love affair with honeybees, and ever since, I've been on a mission to educate folks about the wonders of bugs and bees.

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Through my journey, I discovered that my true passion lies not just in the science of apiculture but in connecting with beekeepers worldwide. New Zealand's beekeeping community is vibrant, but it breaks my heart when hobbyists throw in the towel due to bee losses (often not their fault) or a lack of confidence in beekeeping know-how. That's where I step in – as an Apiary Manager, I hit the road, visiting people's apiaries, and sharing hands-on knowledge to reignite the joy in their beekeeping hobby.

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What sets me apart?

 

I'm all about making scientific knowledge accesible to everyone. I love spreading the word about the fantastic world of bees and beekeeping. Whether it's a live bee demonstration for all ages or sharing my wisdom in the classroom, seeing the awe on people's faces when they encounter bees up close is my greatest reward.

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With a long-standing presence in the apiculture sector, I wear many bee-related hats:

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• I teach NZQA Level 3 Introduction to Beekeeping through PCITO.

• I take bees into schools for FieldBased STEM, injecting hands-on professional learning and development right into the classroom.

• I've co-authored two New Zealand Beekeeping books with my esteemed friend and mentor, Dr. Mark Goodwin.

• Our passion project includes a series of YouTube How-To videos, complementing the insights shared in the books.

• I played a pivotal role in kickstarting a fantastic initiative aimed at uncovering the origins of New Zealand's extraordinary honey flavors.

• With years of collaboration in apiculture science, Dr. Goodwin and I have published numerous scientific papers.

 

Yes, I'm Bee Mad, and I'm thrilled to have you here with me on this buzzing adventure! Thank you for being part of the hive!