N.C. A&T’s Cybersecurity Research Center Hosts Fulbright Visiting Scholar for Bee Research

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Feb. 10, 2025) – The Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Research, Education and Outreach (CREO) has welcomed Fulbright Visiting Scholar Mahsa McCauley, Ph.D., an expert in artificial intelligence (AI), to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. McCauley will conduct research as a team member on the Bee Doctor project in connection with the university’s Farm Security Operations Center.

The Bee Doctor is an international project that allows researchers to listen to the buzzes of bees by putting a microphone inside the beehive. The types of buzzes they hear can determine what types of diseases the bees have. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), factors affecting the health of pollinators like honeybees include poor nutrition, bee management practices, lack of genetic diversity, introduction of pests, pathogens and viruses. 

Following a sudden disappearance of adult honey bees in the U.S. in 2006, scientists from various federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA, formed the “Colony Collapse Disorder” Steering Committee as a federal response. 

“Dr. Mahsa McCauley, has been given a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to explore the integration of AI into beekeeping by engaging in our Bee Doctor project, which aims to help advance the multi-billion-dollar industry globally,” said University Distinguished Professor Hossein Sarrafzadeh, Ph.D., CREO director. “She is a national icon for women in AI and technology in New Zealand and we are very fortunate to have her at North Carolina A&T.”

More specifically, the Bee Doctor initiative uses machine learning and mathematical modeling to analyze acoustic signals from within beehives, and aims to diagnose bee diseases and explore additional environmental applications. “Transforming Bee Welfare with Secure AI-Enhanced Precision Apiculture” focuses on developing an innovative system to monitor the health of beehives using AI-powered analysis of bioacoustic signals. 

The system will utilize a network of smart sensors, including microphones and cameras, to capture real-time data from beehives. By employing advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques, the collected audio and video data will be analyzed to detect health issues, environmental stressors, and other hive-related anomalies. The data will be processed within a secure, cloud-based platform, allowing for seamless integration and communication between multiple beehives. 

This approach enables early detection of problems such as diseases, hive disturbances, or abnormal environmental conditions, leading to prompt intervention and better management of hives. With its potential to create innovative, patented technologies, this project represents a breakthrough in smart beekeeping by providing a comprehensive and scalable solution for hive health monitoring, ultimately supporting sustainable agriculture and improving hive management practices.

McCauley, a computer engineering expert, is an associate professor at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. She founded “She Sharp” in 2014 as a “networking and learning group for high school girls, female tertiary students and industry professionals.”

McCauley serves as a lead guest editor for Emerald Publishing’s special issue of Quality Assurance in Education titled, “Investigating the Effects and Consequences of Artificial Intelligence and Education Quality.” 

“This year’s cohort of NZ Scholars represent a wonderfully diverse range of research topics and backgrounds. I know they will all make excellent ambassadors of New Zealand scholarship and culture during their time in the United States,” said Penelope Borland, executive director of the Fulbright New Zealand program.

During her first week at A&T, McCauley presented her research, visited A&T’s University Farm and connected with faculty colleagues and Ph.D. students. Additionally, she engaged with research collaborators at Appalachian State University and presented on the role of AI in education to their students and faculty.

In addition to the Bee Doctor project, A&T’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is home to the Integrated Pest Management program, which “studies the control and management of pests with chemical pesticides and involves research on pollinators such as bees, butterflies and other animals or insects that impact plant production.”

Last fall, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs recognized A&T as a 2024 Fulbright Historically Black College and University Institutional Leader.

-Dr. Hossein Sarrafzadeh contributed to this story.