Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 95

An audience
with the queen.
The Würzburg-
based HOBOS
project enables
fascinating live
views from views from
inside an active
bee colony.bee colony.
“HOBOS is the only “HOBOS is the only
project in the world project in the world
that makes it possi-that makes it possi-
ble to go so deeply ble to go so deeply
into the world of the into the world of the
honey bee.”honey bee.”
>>>> Prof. Dr. Jürgen TautzProf. Dr. Jürgen Tautz
The future of our planet depends on the
intelligent, sustainable treatment of the intelligent, sustainable treatment of the
biosphere by humanity. Playing an active biosphere by humanity. Playing an active
part in species protection starts with part in species protection starts with
knowledge. That’s why the Audi Environ-knowledge. That’s why the Audi Environ-
mental Foundation has been funding mental Foundation has been funding
various bee projects since , espe-various bee projects since , espe-
cially to make nature and our environ-cially to make nature and our environ-
ment interesting and exciting for kids ment interesting and exciting for kids
and teenagers. and teenagers.
One of these commitments is the HOBOSOne of these commitments is the HOBOS
(HOneyBee Online Studies) project. This (HOneyBee Online Studies) project. This
unparalleled online educational plat-unparalleled online educational plat-
form of the Julius Maximilian University form of the Julius Maximilian University
of Würzburg was launched in  by of Würzburg was launched in  by
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Tautz, a leading expert Prof. Dr. Jürgen Tautz, a leading expert
on bees. The centerpiece of the project on bees. The centerpiece of the project
is an active bee colony. An array of cam-is an active bee colony. An array of cam-
eras and sensors are used to record the eras and sensors are used to record the
bustling action in and around the bee-bustling action in and around the bee-
hive in Würzburg, which can be watched hive in Würzburg, which can be watched
on video without disturbing the colony on video without disturbing the colony
in the slightest. Data on the bee colony, in the slightest. Data on the bee colony,
the state of vegetation and the weather the state of vegetation and the weather
is recorded in real time. When do the is recorded in real time. When do the
honey bees swarm ? Do bees sleep at honey bees swarm ? Do bees sleep at
night ? And what do honey bees do in night ? And what do honey bees do in
the winter ?the winter ?
At www.hobos.de/en, schoolchildren, At www.hobos.de/en, schoolchildren,
teachers, college students, hobby bee-teachers, college students, hobby bee-
keepers and anyone with an interest in keepers and anyone with an interest in
biology can carry out scientifi c observa-biology can carry out scientifi c observa-
tions. Data can be selected, fi ltered and tions. Data can be selected, fi ltered and
grouped based on its relevance to indi-grouped based on its relevance to indi-
vidual users’ interests. Questions can vidual users’ interests. Questions can
focus on topics such as how bees react to focus on topics such as how bees react to
environmental factors, the internal orga-environmental factors, the internal orga-
nization of the bee colony, or details
related to communication between the related to communication between the
bees. Automatically generated graphics bees. Automatically generated graphics
make the honey bees’ highly complex make the honey bees’ highly complex
life processes and the interrelationships life processes and the interrelationships
with nature visible and easy to under-with nature visible and easy to under-
stand.stand.
PHOTO : PHOTO : Sam Droege Sam Droege ILLUSTRATION :ILLUSTRATION : AUDI AG AUDI AG