Grammar school pupils in Salzburg have developed high-tech hives as part of a pioneering science project, it has emerged.
Students of the Mittelschule in Eugendorf have cooperated with experts from polytechnic college FH Salzburg and the Gemini Startup Base in nearby Hallwang regarding the endeavour.
In their maths, IT and natural science courses, the children got an in-depth knowledge of a honeybee colony’s activity.
They were then taught how to install special sensors inside a hive to measure data such as volume and temperature as well as the insects’ angle when they are arriving at the entrance.
The undertaking – which aims at “sending bees into the digital age” – has been praised by Salzburg’s Education Councillor Daniela Gutschi.
The People’s Party politician underlined that expertise in subjects such as computer science and maths was “in greater demand than ever before.”
After having obtained the necessary technical knowledge, the Mittelschule Eugendorf teenagers are now set to start building the hives which will be located at their school’s premises, in Hallwang and at the FH Salzburg campus.
If everything goes according to plan, the first honeybee colonies will the installed at the high-tech apiaries in April.
