It's National Pollinator Week and there's exciting news on the horizon.

Staff research associate Billy Synk of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, University of California, Davis, has been named director of Pollination Programs for Project Apis m. (aka Project Apis mellifera or PAm),

PAm executive director Christi Heintz posted today:

"The last month has been a banner month for PAm.  First, we are very fortunate to have Billy Synk joining our staff as Director of Pollination Programs.  He's been UC Davis' staff research associate and beekeeper.  Billy will be a great asset to PAm.  He knows bees, the beekeeping industry, apiculture research, and has the skills to expand not only our habitat projects but also our research program.  Secondly, the Federal Strategy to improve honey bee health was released.  PAm was part of the process since the initial meeting in Washington D.C. and was mentioned twice in the final document.  PAm is poised to take full advantage of the multi-agency focus on honey bees and will work hard to pursue opportunities that can help bees and beekeepers as a result of this effort.  Lastly, six new studies on Varroa control  were approved for funding.  We are very excited to get this research underway and prevent that anniversary party for Varroa when September, 2017 rolls around and the pest has been in the country 30 years. We committed to several innovative studies that also held a good chance for success.  This week is Pollinator Week, but every day is Honey Bee Day at Project Apis m.!"

As the director of Pollination Programs, Synk will be based in Sacramento and manage PAm's "Seeds for Bees" project and work with Pheasants Forever on the Honey Bee and Monarch Butterfly Partnership, Heintz said.

Said Synk: "I've always been really passionate about bees, and I care about this industry, I'm enthusiastic and energized by the opportunity to work with PAm while developing and implementing programs that benefit honey bees and beekeepers."

PAm's mission "is to fund and direct research to enhance the health and vitality of honey bee colonies while improving crop production." It is headquartered in Paso Robles.  Heinz works out of southern Arizona.  "We are geographically mobile, just like beekeepers!" Heintz quipped.

Synk holds a bachelor's degree in environmental policy and management from Ohio State University, where he was trained by noted bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, who later worked at UC Davis before joining her fellow bee scientists at Washington State University. Synk appeared on the cover of the American Bee Journal in February 2014.

At UC Davis, Synk worked on research projects with bee scientists Brian Johnson and Neal Williams. He played a role in the behind-the-scenes publication of National Geographic's Quest for a Superbee. For about a year, Synk worked closely with Bay Area-based photographer Anand Varma on a time-lapsed photography project of the development of a honey bee: from an egg to an adult. You can see this incredible video on YouTube.

And, be sure to listen to Varma's TED talk on bees.