Ph.D. student Bri Price is looking for beekeeper volunteers in Washington State to participate in a 3-year longitudinal survey-focused research project about Varroa management motivations and strategies across Washington State. There are three annual surveys with Washington State beekeepers, 2026 through 2028. The first survey (closes November 15, 2026) will be the longest and ask foundational experiential and demographic information on top of Varroa management-focused questions.
Bri is interested in colony losses, sources people use most to learn what they know about Varroa management, what strategies they employ, and how networks within and amongst beekeeping associations influence strategies used.
Participants will later be asked to watch a new open-access 10-part video series about comprehensive Varroa management, titled HIVE PNW (Holistic Integrated Varroa Education for the Pacific Northwest) that will be released on our WSU Bee Program YouTube channel in December 2026. Then participants will answer two more surveys (one in 2027, one in 2028) to finish!
How to Participate
(Deadline to opt in to participate is November 15, 2026)
- Step 1: First click this link to read more about the project, consent to participate, enter contact information, and get a unique identifier code. Keep this identifier code to answer three surveys (one in 2026, 2027, & 2028). This will help keep your identity separate from the answers you give but conserve each individual’s data the three responses.
- Step 2: Then, answer the first survey by using this link. It should take you less than 20 minutes. Once you complete it, you will be sent a cool, uniquely designed magnet from the WSU Bee Program (see below).
- Step 3: Watch the new upcoming video series that will be released on our YouTube channel in December 2026.
- Step 4: Answer the surveys Bri will send you to fill out the 2027 and 2028.
To boost and retain particpation over time, non-monetary incentives will be distributed to people after each answered survey including a uniquely designed magnet for Survey 1, a Scalvini queen cage for Survey 2, and a personalized hive tool for Survey 3.