K-State entomologist uses AI to help the public keep bees buzzing
What’s that buzzing? Or rather, who’s that buzzing?
K-State’s Brian Spiesman, assistant professor of entomology, has created a high-tech way to answer that question.
His BeeMachine, a bee-tracking app, uses Google’s TensorFlow AI models to identify and track all kinds of bees.
The plight of the bumblebees is well understood: they’re essential to our ecosystem and the health of plant communities.
But there are other smaller and hard-to-identify bees that are just as important.
“The app is pretty straightforward,” Spiesman said. “You take a picture of a bee, and the AI gives you the top three species predictions. I’m teaching my students how to use these tools in a course called Digital Entomology. I want them to learn the basics of how to apply AI in the field.”
Since launching the app two years ago, more than 6,200 users have logged 20,000 bee sightings. The app connects users around the world to contribute to bee conservation efforts.
“Ultimately, it’s about getting people excited about bees,” Spiesman said. “We want people to go out in nature, appreciate these pollinators and collect data that scientists can use. With help from AI, we can reimagine what conservation looks like, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public action.”
Written by: Heather Ackerly
Curated from: https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=90747
