Kit Prendergast
Australia
Studying Biodiversity & Ecology Affiliated Curtin University Appointed 2016
My research will shed light on how to promote and preserve native bees in the ‘burbs of this biodiversity hotspot.
Kit is undertaking a PhD project to discover what native bees inhabit urban areas in South West Western Australia and the factors that enhance or limit their diversity and abundance, including the relative value of residential gardens vs. remnant bushland fragments as quality habitat for bees. In addition, she is investigating the potential for the introduced honeybee to outcompete native bee, with her results shedding light on how to harmonise native bee conservation with the important Western Australian honeybee keeping industry.
Kit was a finalist for the 2019 WA Young Achiever’s Award, and a national finalist in the national 2019 FameLab competition. Kit regularly gives native bee presentations, bee walks, and bee hotels workshops to the community and school groups. She showcased her research in a photographic exhibition and by dressing up as a Blue-banded bee in the 2019 FringeWorld Festival. Kit has had numerous publications, published in both academic journals, and in popular magazines for the public. She has also written a book on bee hotels.
