USU's Science Unwrapped Explores the Lives of Social Bees on March 20

All living things, including people, face trade-offs. We only have so much time and energy to accomplish the things we want to do. Animals strive to reproduce, live as long as possible and defend their young, but sometimes they have to give up one or more of these goals.

On the other hand, there are creatures that “can have it all,” says Utah State University biologist Karen Kapheim, who studies the lives of social bees. Queen bees, she says, have lots of helpers that enable them to avoid more trade-offs than most other animals and to accomplish more of what they want to do.

Kapheim, professor in USU’s Department of Biology and the USU Ecology Center, and her graduate students Kate Hunter, Tim DeLory and Ren Weinstock will be featured speakers at USU’s Science Unwrapped public outreach program Friday, March 20. They will present “Why Queen Bees Can Have It All” at 7 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center Emert Auditorium, Room ESLC 130, on the Logan campus.

All ages are invited to the free gathering, hosted by USU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

During the presentation, Kapheim and her students will use the Wooclap audience engagement mobile application and invite the Science Unwrapped audience to join in answering quiz questions during the interactive talk. The Wooclap event code is “QUEENBEES,” and posters with a QR code participation link will be posted in the auditorium.

Hands-on learning activities led by USU student groups and community volunteers, along with refreshments, will follow the half-hour presentation. In addition, this spring’s series features research posters by USU graduate students.

“Our Spring 2026 ‘Celebrate Grad Student Research’ series continues with our March 20 event,” says Brynja Kohler, Science Unwrapped chair, associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. “We’re excited to have Dr. Kapheim tell us about the research she’s conducting with her graduate students, and how it can teach us about evolutionary processes.”

Kapheim’s presentation will be video-recorded and posted on the Science Unwrapped website, following the in-person event.

The remaining Celebrate Grad Student Research series schedule is:

• Friday, March 20: “Why Queen Bees Can Have It All,” USU biologist Karen Kapheim.
• Friday, April 10: “Earthquakes: Predicting the Unpredictable,” USU geoscientists Lindsey Broderick and Srisharan Shreedharan.

Directions and parking information are available on the program’s website. Parking for the event is free in the Aggie Parking Terrace at 700 E. 600 North, and in the Big Blue Parking Terrace at 850 E. 700 North. Motorists parking in these locations do not need to use the USU mobile parking application.

For more information, call 435-797-3517 or visit the Science Unwrapped website.