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This observational beehive was created for N.C.-based Bee Downtown by industrial design majors Ginny Stern ’15, Cary Cook ’16 and senior Eric Antolic for businesses wanting to host a bee colony. The finished product supports the honeybee population while allowing people to view bees’ daily activities inside a glass frame.

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See bees at work in this observational hive built by industrial design majors for a business windowsill.

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An early faceplate sketch for the student-created observational hive.

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An early design of the observational hive’s functionality.

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Students outlined what their design needed to incorporate, including functionality, aesthetic appeal, practicality and accessibility.

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An early design of the observational hive’s functionality.

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Cary Cook ’16, left, and senior Eric Antolic are two of three industrial design majors who created an observational beehive for a Durham business, Bee Downtown. Photo submitted

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Ginny Stern ’15 is one of three industrial design majors who created an observational beehive for a Durham business, Bee Downtown, while a student. Photo submitted

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Photos from industrial design's observational beehive project

Posted July 11, 2017 at 12 p.m.

Three Appalachian State University industrial design majors – Ginny Stern ’15, Cary Cook ’16 and senior Eric Antolic – researched and designed an observational beehive that has become a hit for N.C.-based company Bee Downtown.

Owner Leigh Kathryn Bonner needed some revisions to a window-ledge beehive model before she could replicate it and sell to customers. Appalachian students stepped up to challenge, creating opportunities for a regional company while helping preserve the honeybee population.

Saving the bees
Saving the bees

Appalachian student and faculty researchers seek to recover declining honeybee population

July 13, 2017

There’s hope for declining honeybee populations thanks to Appalachian student and faculty research and special projects.

Read the story

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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