Research on the Effect of COVID-19 on Nano-Composite Use and Production by Bees will be presented by a French research team on March 24, 12:00 p.m. CDT during the Illinois State University International Seminar Series COVID-19: International Perspectives. This free online webinar is open to the public with advance registration.

Presenters include Dr. Jean-Michel Martinez, Pierre Grabolosa and Jean Llobet. The three are members of a trans-disciplinary research project named LINA led by Dr. Marie-Agnès Courty. LINA (Lire la nature, oser l’apiculture) translates to “read nature, dare beekeeping.”  

Martinez is responsible for the physics aspects of the project. He is a researcher at CNRS PROMES (French National Center for Scientific Research) and lecturer at the Université Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) where he earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Physics/Applied Physics.

Grabolosa manages the information systems for the project. He earned his B.S. in computer science from Western Carolina University and is head of the e-learning service at IMERIR (Mediterranean Institute of Study and Research in Software Engineering and Robotics). He is also a visiting faculty member at UPVD.

Llobet covers beekeeping, biological and ethological dimensions of the project. He studied agronomy at the California State University within the International Farmer Association for Education program and is a university lecturer in beekeeping biological engineering at UPVD.

The International Seminar Series is a collaboration between the Illinois State University Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP) and Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN).  Series coordinators are MCN Dean Judy Neubrander and Dr. Susana Calderon. The series continues with events each Wednesday at noon through May 5, 2021.  To register, or learn more about upcoming sessions, visit the International Seminar Series website.

The French research team working in the field.
Pierre Grabolosa, Jean-Michel Martinez and Jean Llobet doing research in the field.