Tue 5 Dec 06 Bees in East Africa BIOTA East Africa is a German Biodiversity project in Kakamega Forest, Kenya. An important set of activities within this project concern pollination and pollinator biodiversity. BIOTA identified a need for capacity building in this field in Kenya and in September-October 2006 offered a course in Nairobi, Kenya, in bee identification and pollination research methodology. The taxonomy section of the course was given by Mary Gikungu and Connal Eardley, who represented EAFRINET and SAFRINET respectively. The course was held from 27th September to 20th October 2006. It comprised 12 carefully selected students from the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University (Nairobi) and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), and four technicians and assistants who participated as full students. A highlight of the course was the testing of a computer-based identification key produced using the Lucid software. After the students seemed to be tired of working with hardcopy keys, they all came to life again when introduced to the Lucid key! Manfred Kramer, of BIOTA, presented the pollination module. The interest in the course clearly demonstrated enthusiasm for the study of pollination and bee taxonomy in Kenya. Clearly Kenya has recognized the importance of pollination for agriculture and biodiversity conservation, having pollination curricula in its universities with pollination/pollinator projects in agriculture, reducing the spread of invasive alien species and the conservation of natural areas. Their haste to become involved in this growing field of research will surely be of great benefit in the future. | email EardleyC@arc.agric.za