Three sophomores from the Phoenix Bioscience High School will be featured in a bee-themed episode of PBS’ SciGirls, a show designed to spark young girls’ interest in math and science.
Briana Diaz, Monica Hernandez and Damaris Moore were signed up for the show by their teachers, said Shoshanna Kroeger, a science instructor at Phoenix Bioscience High School.
The girls started the project for the episode on March 26 and completed it five days later. The show, titled “Bee Haven,” will air on PBS on Nov. 30.
The girls didn’t know what their project would be until after they were selected for the show.
The girls worked with ASU’s Honey Bee Research Lab on the Polytechnic campus and Growhouse, a community garden and art galley, in downtown Phoenix. At the Honey Bee Lab, the girls learned how to make a hive and take care of its inhabitants. Honey was provided.
“Eating the honey, that was the best part,” Diaz said. “Also being in the hives finding the Queen, getting to be hands-on with the bees.”
Before moving the hive to Growhouse, the girls had to make sure the bees would have enough food at their new location, Moore said.
Diaz said the PBS staff told them what to do, but it was the girls’ responsibility to make sure everything was done correctly. The film crew stood by and shot the whole process.
“We were on our own a lot,” Diaz said. “They organized it, but we did all the calculations and stuff.”
Diaz said the show is aimed at elementary-school girls, so the math and science weren’t difficult.
“But if we messed up, it was on us,” she said.
“It was trying to be a secret, but someone’s mother just had to tell everyone about it,” said Moore, who shot a look at Diaz. “But I think it’s going to be awkward watching myself.”
“I’m just going to sit there and think ‘What was I thinking with my hair?’” Diaz said.
The beehive now has a permanent home at Growhouse.
“I got the training to maintain the hive,” Growhouse owner Kenny Barrett said. “Now we’re in the process of training students.”
The hive is going to be integrated into the high school’s wildlife-ecology path. Currently, seniors are interning at Growhouse, helping with the hive and harvesting honey, Kroeger said.
The first harvest of honey happened about a week ago, Barrett said.
The goal of the hive is to bring biodiversity to downtown and to promote local food and growing in the city, Kroeger said. It’s focusing on the global and local issue of healthy ecosystems and healthy food.
“The idea is that they brought something into our school and into the downtown community. Something that our students and community can build on,” Kroeger said. “(Growhouse) is a model for other community gardens. We’re lucky to have it right next door.”
As for Hernandez, Diaz and Moore, they say their work with bees is done.
However, all three plan on pursuing the medical pathway next year when they are juniors. Hernandez plans to attend a university in California. Moore has her sights set on the University of Southern California, and Diaz plans on applying to the Air Force or Naval Academy.
“Science is always cool,” Moore said. “And they made it interesting.”
Contact the reporter at cydney.mcfarland@asu.edu.
