Dr Philip Donkersley
Senior Research Associate, Part-time Senior Teaching AssociateProfile
Research ProfilePhilip Donkersley is a transdisciplinary invertebrate biologist at Lancaster University, whose work spans animal behaviour, ecology, microbiomes and conservation policy. Since completing his PhD on pollinator biology in 2014, Philip has pioneered novel tools and methodologies, secured competitive funding, and forged partnerships across academia, government and industry to address global challenges in pollinator health and ecosystem resilience.
Innovative Tools & Commercialisation
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BeeBox Business: I secured design rights for this 3D-printed bumblebee nestbox, which is meticulously optimised to maintain ideal microclimates and support in-nest behavioural monitoring.
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BeeBox was featured in Methods in Ecology & Evolution and now underpins live-stream research initiatives, citizen-science workshops, and an LU-based start-up with a commercial spin-out planned for 2026.
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Advanced Behavioural Analytics: I developed automated video-capture and machine-vision algorithms that record and analyse bee social interactions and environmental responses, dramatically increasing data throughput and precision.
Research Platforms & Outputs
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LU Research Hives (2024): I established this interdisciplinary facility to unite ecology, computer science, engineering, and biomedical science for comprehensive studies of honeybee health under controlled and field conditions.
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Publication Record: I have authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers, including high-impact studies on cumulative social learning in bumblebees, landscape-driven bee nutrition (Oecologia, 2017), and One-Health models for reversing honeybee decline (Veterinary Sciences, 2020).
Policy, Outreach & Mentorship
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Parliamentary Academic Fellowship (2021): I authored a flagship POSTbrief on sustainable land management that informed a House of Lords Special Inquiry, delivered N8 workshops, and catalysed national policy debate.
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BES Policy Report Lead Author (2024): I co-led the British Ecological Society’s report on Regenerative Agriculture, providing evidence-based recommendations to transform UK farming practices for long-term ecosystem resilience.
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Public Engagement: I live-streamed wild bumblebee nest activity via BeeBox, organised “paint-and-take” nestbox workshops, and collaborated on a touring science–art glass sculpture exhibit to engage diverse audiences in pollinator conservation.
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Mentorship & Collaboration: I supervise PhD, MSc, and undergraduate researchers—three of whom have co-authored papers with me—and secured Santander funding to place former students as interns in SMEs, fostering the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists.
Leadership & Service
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Leadership & Service: I serve on the editorial boards of Ecology & Evolution and Frontiers in Bee Science, sit on Lancaster University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity board, and have secured over £150,000 in funding from ESRC, EPSRC, the British Beekeepers Association, and the Waitrose Research Fund to ensure my research delivers tangible benefits for pollinators, people, and policy.
Mechanisms of gut brain axis involvement in ectotherm thermotolerance: "how the gut brain axis helps animals weather the heat?"
17/03/2025 → 16/09/2028
Research
IAA: BEEBOX v2:
16/09/2022 → 30/06/2024
Research
IAA: BEEBOX v2:
16/09/2022 → 31/12/2025
Research
BEEBOX v2: Acoustic and environmental sensors to maximise lifespan and utility of commercial pollinators.
01/09/2022 → 31/12/2026
Research
IAA - AHRC Impact Acceleration Account
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2027
Research
The Inner Life of Wild Bees: A Filmable Artificial Nest for Bumblebees
02/03/2021 → 01/03/2022
Research
EPSRC IAA Funded Parliamentary Academic Fellow
01/08/2019 → 31/12/2021
Research
Honey Bee Municipal Pesticide Exposure
01/08/2019 → 31/12/2020
Research
BeeBox Painting
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
BeeBox Painting
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Insect Week
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Windemere Science Festival
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
The Secret Life of Bumblebees
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
FST Celebration of Science
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Listening to the bees: bioacoustics studies to reveal hidden behaviour responses to environmental disturbances
Oral presentation
Light Up Lancaster 2024
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Explore Week (Light Up Lancaster)
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Spotlights on Science
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
Ormskirk Beekeepers invited talk
Invited talk
Library Festival, an evening of music and conversation
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
BEEBOX: Exploring the secret lives of bumblebees
Invited talk
Bright Club
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Lancaster Bright Club
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Ecology and Evolution (Journal)
Editorial activity
- Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science
- Ecology and Conservation