Sustainable University

Technology and nature go hand in hand. BUT has opened a university apiary

Brno University of Technology opened its own apiary at the beginning of October! The initiative came from the staff of the Sustainability Office, and its goal is to support biodiversity on campus, bring the life of bees closer to the academic community and the public, and connect technical education with environmental practice.

VUT has its own apiary. | Author: Václav Koníček

The new apiary is located in the garden of the BUT Rectorate and consists of three modern hives that allow for both regular beekeeping and observation of bee life. “The rectorate apiary will provide a tangible contribution to sustainability and biodiversity in an urban environment. It will serve as an educational and awareness-raising site where research, practice, and environmental education can be connected. At the same time, it will strengthen the university’s community dimension – it can become a place where employees, students, and members of the public interested in nature and beekeeping meet,” said BUT sustainability coordinator Kateřina Myslivcová.

Thanks to the new apiary, BUT students and staff will be able to learn about the importance of bees for the ecosystem as well as the practical aspects of beekeeping. Beekeeper Pavel Illek explained during the opening that honeybees will be kept in the university hives. These social insects collect nectar, which they then turn into honey. “Bees live their own lives, and we try to harm them as little as possible and interfere minimally with their environment. We only take part of the honey they produce,” he explained, describing the basic principles of beekeeping.

Beekeeper Pavel Illek gave an insight into the life of bees | Author: Václav Koníček

The project also aims to connect technical education with environmental practice. “As a technical university, we want our hives to have a technological dimension as well. Thanks to cooperation with graduates and developers from BUT, we will monitor the behavior of our bees and collect valuable data through sensors in the hive stands and hive scales,” Myslivcová explained.

The developers of the ApiBeekeeper 4.0 technology, which was created at BUT and is now returning to its alma mater, said that the goal of their project is to make beekeepers’ work easier. According to them, the core of the device consists of sensors that monitor the weight and condition of the bee colony in the hive and send the data to beekeepers. By obtaining continuous information about what is happening inside the hives, beekeepers can streamline processes and optimize their activities.

The hives are equipped with modern technology. | Author: Václav Koníček

The opening of the rectorate apiary was attended by representatives of the university’s management and other staff. BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček said at the event that he was pleased something like this was taking place at the university and looked forward to the university’s own honey, which the school will extract and use. The university believes that the project will contribute not only to the development of scientific activities in sustainable development but also to raising awareness and strengthening people’s relationship with nature. The apiary is also intended to symbolize the connection between technology and nature, which will become increasingly important for our society in the future.

The rector of Brno University of Technology also spoke at the opening of the apiary. | Author: Václav Koníček

The plan to establish the Rector's Apiary was financially supported by the project Acceleration of Green Skills and Sustainability at Brno University of Technology (Component 7.4 of the National Recovery Plan for Higher Education for 2023-2025). Project registration number NPO VUT_MSMT_2143/2024-5.