Title
Buzzkill: Beekeepers’ Understanding of the Environment through the lens of Colony Collapse Disorder
Abstract
Colony collapse disorder, or the mysterious disappearance of worldwide honey bee populations, has upset the beekeeping community for the last six years. In this study, I use colony collapse disorder as a lens to better understand the beekeeping community’s attitudes towards the environment. This study consists of an analysis of nine interviews conducted with individuals involved in either beekeeping or pesticide regulation. I combine summaries of the pre-existing literature on colony collapse disorder along with several other environmental topics with the theoretical portion of this study to create a better conceptualization of concepts like risk society and eco-Marxism. These theories serve as the basis for the “results” chapter, in which I finally analyze the ideas expressed in the interviews. This study serves to not only better understand intricacies and attitudes of the beekeeping community, but to create a broad picture of the ways in which groups of people discuss an environmental function in peril.
Advisor
Mariola, Matthew
Department
Sociology and Anthropology; Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
New, Margaret E., "Buzzkill: Beekeepers’ Understanding of the Environment through the lens of Colony Collapse Disorder" (2015). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6798.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6798
Disciplines
Other Sociology
Keywords
Beekeepers, colony collapse disorder, bees, pesticides, environmental sociology
Publication Date
2015
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2015 Margaret E. New