Fiona Highet is an

Entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

based in Scotland. She is an expert in

bees Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamil ...

and is Entomology Manager at SASA (formerly Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture).

Education and career

Highet was awarded a BSc in

Zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

in 1997, in 1999 she started working at SASA as a diagnostician in virology and zoology, subsequently working her way up to Entomology Manager and Senior Entomologist. Her work looks at insects of agricultural importance including aphids, in particular Highet works on the health of bees, she has been involved in research into the

metagenomics Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental or clinical samples by a method called sequencing. The broad field may also be referred to as environmental genomics, ecogenomics, community genomics or microb ...

of honeybees in Scotland and she works as part of the Scottish Bee Health Team. Highet has also been involved in outreach working with school groups to investigate bee

parasites Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted structurally to this way of lif ...

Honours and awards

In June 2018 Highet was awarded the

Member of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the Queen's birthday honours for services to bee health.

References

External links

SASA profile
Living people Year of birth missing (living people) British ecologists Women ecologists British entomologists Women entomologists Alumni of the University of Glasgow 21st-century British scientists 21st-century British women scientists {{Scotland-biologist-stub