Sean Stephenson
Sean Stephenson is a Master Beekeeper, a past Chair of Bucks County BKA, a Moderator for the BBKA Exam Board and supports the online module exams run by the BBKA. He has supported beekeeping education in Buckinghamshire for many years, currently organising the Bucks Microscopy group, with over 40 members, as well as running microscopy days for the BBKA and other BKA Associations around the country. Sean keeps over 30 colonies just over the Hertfordshire border in the Chilterns around Wendover.
Paul Verrier
Paul Verrier started out as a physicist and applied mathematician hoping to create an impact in theoretical astrophysics. He spent a couple of years helping University of London scientists from various colleges to solve their scientific problems using the, then, new fangled computer. In 1975 he took up a position at Rothamsted Research to continue the same task, but to deal with all the sciences across the whole of the Agricultural Research Council.
He came by chance to work with entomologists on moths and aphids and, at the same time, he gained a colony of bees and joined the North Bucks BKA. For several years he learnt the craft, including a bit of migratory beekeeping with up to 17 colonies and played an active part in NBBKA and a main contact for swarms and was also the spray liaison officer.
Phil Stevenson
Phil Stevenson is Professor of Plant Chemistry at the Natural Resources Institute within the University of Greenwich where he is Head of the Chemical Ecology research group. He also holds a dual position as a NERC Merit researcher and Senior Research Leader of Biological Chemistry and In Vitro Research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Phil’s research has focussed on the biological and ecological role of plant chemicals and understanding how these compounds can be used to support sustainable agriculture. This work includes research on pollen and nectar chemistry to determine their role in pollinator behaviour and health and behavioural ecology, natural pest resistance in crops to identify breeding traits and the optimisation of pesticidal plants (botanical insecticides) as environmentally benign and affordable alternatives to synthetic insecticides.