All About Bee Café
We are space scientists and education specialists
We are space industry professionals who have worked on a diverse range of missions, projects and outreach with the leading space agencies NASA, ESA Science, CNES, JAXA and ROSCOSMOS.
Our Team
Get to Know Us
Anne Brumfitt
Education Consultant
Anne Brumfitt is the former consultant to the European Space Agency ESTEC Science. She has pioneered space science education in 17 member countries and 19 languages. In 2008 she was awarded by the International Astronautics Federation, The Frank J Malina Astronautics Medal for outstanding contribution to Space Science Education. In doing so she became the first living female recipient of the award. As of 2021, only 34 people have ever been bestowed this prestigious medal since the inaugural medal was awarded in 1984. Her hobbies include garden design and Beekeeping.
Rev Lachlan Thompson
Research Consultant
Lachlan is a former Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at RMIT University. His specialty being space habitat experiments and the lead researcher of the Spiders in Space Experiment which flew on NASA Space Shuttle Columbia STS107 in 2003. He is an Anglican priest in the Dioceses of Melbourne.  In his position as the CEO of the Australian Space Debris Tracking Station for the ASTRIAnet he is active in reducing space flight hazards. To relax he enjoys time as a registered Beekeeper.
David Thompson
Consultant
David is a teacher at Box Hill University specializing in computer games and simulation. David brings to the team knowledge of how to manage and present the experiment data. Plus he is always ready to suit up and help out.
Stuart Ross
Consultant
Stuie, is a key team member who has helped make Bee Cafe's Science Week interactive experiences awesome. His electronic and video experience has enabled many young people discover the secret world of insects and how we use science to learn about them. His hobbies include astronomy and electronics.
The Story of Bee Café
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Bee Café was started out of the research we were doing in how to have a sustainable food crop on Mars. It didn't take us long to realize that in order to do this research we also needed to study the problems of growing food plants here on planet earth. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that our gardens, and vegetable patches are struggling under the rising temperature of global climate change. Leading to the rapid spread of predatory mites such as Varroa Destructor. Aided by higher temperatures and mega mono crop farming has resulted in a rapid decile of honeybees world wide. Honeybees alone are responsible for 80% of worldwide pollination and are our specialist pollinators. Of around 100 crop species, honeybees pollinate more than 70, including fruits, vegetables and nuts. Beekeeper honeybees kept in hives pollinate around 35% while the rest is done by wild species
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Bees evolved somewhere between 174 to 75 million years ago. At that era the climate of our planet was mostly tropical. Whilst bees like moist high warm temperatures they do not like dry heat. At dry temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius bees are under stress. Yes you and I are also effected by climate change and so are our plants and all living creatures we know of.
Bees need your help!
We need your help!
Your backyard science experiments will help us understand why your garden is growing or not growing as it should.
We particularly would like to learn who and what are the pollinators that are visiting your plants.
