Nicholas Dorian

Nick Dorian is an ecologist, educator, and naturalist. As a Ph.D. student in the Biology Department at Tufts University and a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow, Nick studies the ecology and conservation of insect pollinators. Three-quarters of top global crops require visits from insect pollinators—like bees, butterflies, and hover flies—to produce fruit, yet declines in pollinator populations threaten the sustainability of our food systems. Nick addresses this impending crisis through his research on the life cycles of native bees in New England. By studying the ways that bees cope with the environmental impacts of climate change, Nick fills gaps in our understanding of native bee biology and develops strategies for effective bee conservation.

Nick believes that successful pollinator conservation requires not only academic research but also a sustained commitment to public education. As the founder and co-president of the Tufts Pollinator Initiative (TPI, sites.tufts.edu/pollinators), an urban pollinator conservation and community outreach group, Nick galvanizes urban biodiversity conservation by reconnecting people with urban nature, teaching them how and why to support pollinators in their own yards, and providing equitable access to the resources needed to translate that knowledge into action. Through Nick’s leadership, TPI has engaged thousands of community members in the greater Boston area by leading guided nature walks, creating free plant and insect identification guides, hosting discount native plant sales, and teaching classes and workshops. Nick is also passionate public speaker, giving talks to community organizations throughout New England, including his recent spring 2022 TEDx talk at Tufts titled “We’re Saving the Wrong Bees.”

Nick received his B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Tufts University. In his spare time, he enjoys going on long runs, tending to his vegetable garden, and making tortillas.