Welcome to the fascinating and often overlooked world of native bees. This talk is a guided tour of foundational concepts to a deeper meaning of not just bee diversity, but also pollinator diversity, ecology, and identification. Award-winning conservation photographer and author Krystle Hickman explores:

• the ecological roles native bees play
• the differences between honeybees and native bees
• behavior and biodiversity
• the basics of bee taxonomy
• how scientists and photographers identify species through visual characteristics and field observations.

Blending conservation, storytelling, science, communication and striking photography, Hickman invites audiences into the world of native bees while revealing how curiosity, observation and visual storytelling can deepen our connection to the world around us.

Krystle Hickman is a National Geographic Explorer and Expedition Expert, award-winning conservation photographer and author, keynote speaker, and artist whose work explores biodiversity, pollinators, and environmental storytelling through fieldwork around the world. Her book The ABC’s of California’s Native Bees received multiple awards including an IPPY Gold Medal and a Foreword INDIES Award, and was recognized by the Los Angeles Times as one of the Best Science Books of 2025.

Get 15% off the book and a ticket with the book/ticket combo option at checkout!

This talk is part of the Vancouver WA Pollinator Festival June 26th, 2027, in partnership with our friends at Vancouver Bee Project!