Native Australian bees hone in on the prize

By May 31st, 2017

Native Australian bees have taken out the prize for Small Publishers' Adult Book of the Year at the 2017 Australian book awards - with some thanks to former CSIRO entomologist Tim Heard.

Former CSIRO entomologist and avid native bees promoter and educator Tim Heard has taken out the 2017 Small Publishers’ Adult Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards with his The Australian Native Bee Book.

man in suit received award at podium

Dr Tim Heard receives the Australian Book Industry Awards 2017 award.

Tim said the book drew on his 35 years of beekeeping, and a career in scientific research on insects and ecology.

“There’s an enormous and growing interest in bees in general and native bees especially,” says Dr Heard.

“Our aim was to present enough technical information to satisfy a scientific readership, while creating an accessible, practical manual for anyone keeping backyard bees.

“It’s gratifying to hear that the book is doing well on both fronts.”

This is the second major award received by The Australian Native Bee Book. It also topped the Practical Zoology category in the prestigious Whitley Awards for Australasian Zoological Literature in 2016.

For more information, visit www.nativebeebook.com.au