Since 2006 bee expert Prof. Dr. Jürgen Tautz has been developing HOBOS (HOney Bee Online Studies) as a novel and interactive teaching concept. A preliminary stage of HOBOS came about on June 1, 2009 and made it possible for school classes from nine countries to delve into a real honeybee colony via the Internet. These countries included Germany, USA, China, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland and Jordan.
Tautz is in charge of the project. He has conceived a specialized beehive equipped with sensors, measuring devices and thermographic cameras. On the basis of this living superorganism – a key organism for many ecosystems and agriculture – one can understand different aspects of the behavior of the honeybee, ecology and agriculture at a global level. HOBOS aims for education, culture and science because the future of mankind depends on an intelligent treatment of the biosphere. The Internet portal HOBOS will be extended as an educational portal for schools and universities during the next few years.
A specially conceived beehive is equipped with sensors, measuring devices and several cameras, as well as a thermographic camera. Thus, the Orwell prophecies of 1984 have become a reality for the inhabitants of this special bee house, but on the behalf of interested people.
All data are accessible online and are stored on a long-term basis.
By observing this living superorganism, a key organism for many ecosystems and for agriculture, different aspects of the honeybee's behavior, ecology and agriculture can be understood.
HOBOS aims to provide educational institutions, the youth and researchers with access to the above topics. For the future of the human race depends on the sustainable treatment of the biosphere. The Internet portal HOBOS will be expanded continually as an educational portal for international schools and universities throughout the next few years.
Column of Juergen Tautz: Bees as pest controllers
Wherever bees fly, caterpillars are severely disturbed, eating up to 70 percent less leaf mass in those areas.