WVC Speaks Lecture Series presents Dr. Bob Gillespie and “Pollinators of North Central Washington” on June 2

Media Contacts: Randy Mitchell, education and career planning director, 509.682.6858, or Libby Siebens, executive director community relations, 509.682.6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

May 12, 2016

Wenatchee Valley College Natural Resources faculty Dr. Bob Gillespie will present “Pollinators of North Central Washington” at the next WVC Speaks Lecture Series event. The lecture is Thursday, June 2, at 2 p.m. in McArthur Lecture Hall, Wenatchi Hall room 2105 and via interactive television on the WVC at Omak campus in Heritage Building room 901.

The talk will introduce the diversity of insects that pollinate local plants as well as discuss the interesting life history of pollinators. According to The Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through invertebrate conservation, pollinators are necessary for the reproduction of over 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the crop species worldwide. Their economic value, in the U.S., is estimated at $3 billion annually.

Gillespie teaches natural resources, agriculture and biology courses at WVC. He has a bachelor of science in education from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Idaho and a Ph.D. in biology from Montana State University. He and his students are conducting a study to identify the native bees pollinating native plants that border cherry orchards on Stemilt Hill and Wenatchee Heights.

Daily parking passes on the Wenatchee campus cost $2. Parking permit machines are available in the Wells Hall/Music and Art Gallery, Smith Gym, Brown Library and Sexton Hall lots. Students must have valid WVC parking permits.

WVC Speaks is sponsored by the WVC Professional Development Committee.