Dr. Pamela Scheffler is conducting a research project on the ecology of native Trigona bees used in small-holder agricultural systems as a 2022-2023 U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Her research period is from January – September 2023.

Based in Payangan, Gianyar, Bali, Dr. Scheffler is collaborating with Professor Dr. Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia at Universitas Udayana for this research. By combining an ecologist’s perspective with an engineer’s, they hope to create a knowledge base that will simplify the adoption of native bees for small-holder agricultural systems, supporting and diversifying the economic and ecological sustainability of these systems. Her research will focus on bee ecology and behavior, including foraging patterns, food sources, and limits to honey production.

Dr. Scheffler received her PhD in ecology from the Pennsylvania State University, where she studied the community ecology of dung beetles in the Brazilian Amazon. She is currently a professor of geography, biology, and environmental science at the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Community College, where she teaches in the Tropical Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management Program and natural sciences. Her research interests include habitat disturbance and resilience, the ecology of introduced species, island ecology, agroforestry, and small-landholder agricultural systems.