Background and motivation
I have been fascinated by animals and nature for as long as I can remember, which is why I chose to study a natural science after graduating from high school. I wanted to work in a field closely connected to animals and ecosystems, and I therefore enrolled in agricultural biology at the University of Hohenheim—one of the few places in Germany offering this programme. During my studies, I specialised in zoology and farm animal biology and first encountered honey bees in 2007 through dedicated coursework.
My interest in honey bees quickly developed into a lasting fascination. Like many aspiring beekeepers, I initially faced the question of how to get started without an apiary or a personal mentor. By fortunate circumstances, I met an experienced local beekeeper in my hometown of Neuhausen, who supported my first steps, helped me establish my initial two honey bee colonies, and organised a temporary apiary site. Thrown in at the deep end, I began caring for my first colonies and learning beekeeping through hands-on experience.
In the following year, I attended a four-week beekeeping course at the Apicultural State Institute of the University of Hohenheim. The course provided a solid foundation in both theoretical and practical beekeeping and deepened my understanding well beyond what was available in the literature at the time.
After completing the course, I decided to focus my diploma thesis on honey bees and began my scientific career in May 2008 at the Apicultural State Institute in Hohenheim. Working alongside experienced colleagues such as Dr Gerhard Liebig, and learning from DEBIMO beekeepers Klaus Hampel, Thomas Leukhardt, and Simon Hummel, I gained valuable insights into both applied beekeeping and experimental research.
After graduating as an agricultural biologist, I continued with doctoral research at the institute. During this time, I managed approximately 20 honey bee colonies under experimental conditions to investigate interactions between bee diseases, environmental factors, plant protection products, and varroacides. This work laid the foundation for my long-term interest in sublethal stressors and colony-level effects in honey bees.
Guided by the principle that there is no substitute for experience, I continue to expand my practical and scientific knowledge to manage my own colonies in a sustainable and bee-friendly manner. In times of intensive agriculture and simplified landscapes, I see beekeeping not only as a scientific and practical endeavour, but also as a personal contribution to biodiversity conservation, cultural landscapes, and environmental protection.