With all the hubbub lately about the disappearance and collapse of a number of bee colonies and the growing influence of organizations like Save The Bees, it’s nice to see one of New York’s own make a positive difference. A high school junior from Brooklyn was recently recognized for his efforts, and rightly so!
In a city as big a New York, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. But one student from Brooklyn is making a name for himself for his efforts to solve the problem of rapidly declining bee populations.
Angus Jelinek, a 17-year-old from Brooklyn has developed a sustainable method that’s been adopted by more than 300 farms in New York and Massachusetts that involves the planting of specific local flowers, along with techniques to reduce the pathogen and bacterial loads in bee colonies.
He has also inventoried bee populations, interviewed numerous beekeepers and farmers, and co-authored a scientific paper about his method that is currently in review.
For his efforts Jelinek has been named a 2018 honoree by the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a prize that celebrates 25 young people who have had a positive impact on people and the environment. Jelinek is one of 10 chosen from a talented group of nearly 400 applicants.
“Nothing is more inspiring than stories about heroic people who have truly made a difference to the world,” says founder T.A. Barron. “And we need our heroes today more than ever. Not celebrities, but heroes – people whose character can inspire us all. That is the purpose of the Gloria Barron Prize: to shine the spotlight on these amazing young people so that their stories will inspire others.”
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