🎓 Education 

Dr. Kit Prendergast earned her Ph.D. in 2021 from Curtin University’s School of Science and Engineering, focusing on native bee communities and the impact of honeybees in urban plant-pollinator networks. She completed her Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Zoology and Conservation Biology from the University of Western Australia in 2014, with a thesis on equine cognitive abilities. Prior to that, she also earned a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English and Cultural Studies, from the same university in 2013, achieving high distinctions across all units. She distinguished herself early, graduating from Methodist Ladies College with a TER of 99.4 and multiple academic excellence awards in biology and media studies. Dr. Prendergast has also been recognized through competitive scholarships such as the Forrest Research Foundation Scholarship, enabling her interdisciplinary pursuit of science, communication, and conservation. 🎓

💼 Experience 

Dr. Kit Prendergast has held diverse roles across academia, government, NGOs, and consultancy. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at University of Southern Queensland (2024–2026), she has conducted extensive native bee surveys and ecological assessments for organizations including WA Parks and Wildlife, Transport NSW, and Greening Australia. Her portfolio includes science communication, academic tutoring, ecological consulting, writing, and education, with key contributions like the “Powerful Pollinator Planting Guides.” She has authored reports, articles, and books while contributing to high-profile journals and platforms. Kit’s innovative work bridges science and community engagement, evidenced by projects like bee hotels for bushfire recovery and biodiversity surveys across WA, QLD, and Melbourne. Additionally, she has held multiple roles as a content creator, tutor, circus coach, and ambassador, showcasing a rare blend of ecological expertise and creative outreach.

🏆 Awards and Honors 

Dr. Prendergast has received over 40 prestigious awards, including the 2024 Curtin University Young Achievement Alumni Award and multiple research grants such as the Transport NSW “Save Our Bees” Grant ($30,000) and the Federal Bushfire Recovery Grant ($120,030). She won the Box Office Award at the Anywhere Festival 2024 for her scicomm circus comedy “The Birds & the Bees” and was Highly Commended in the ESA’s 2023 Ecological Impact Awards. Other accolades include the Ivan Beatty Award (2024), Herman Slade Grant (2021–23), multiple top-cited journal recognitions, and early-career travel grants. Her impactful outreach earned her the OEH/ESA Award for Outstanding Outreach and a featured billboard campaign with Liquor Barons in WA. Kit’s work consistently bridges research excellence with creative science communication, garnering national and international recognition.

🔬 Research Focus 

Dr. Kit Prendergast’s research centers on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of native bees, especially within urbanized and fire-affected environments in Australia. Her Ph.D. investigated urban bee assemblages and the impact of European honeybees on native plant-pollinator networks in biodiversity hotspots. She has pioneered methods for native bee sampling, advocated for urban pollinator habitats, and published over 70 scholarly works on topics such as bee-hotel use, floral resource preferences, and social behaviors of cavity-nesting bees. Kit’s multidisciplinary approach integrates field ecology, molecular identification, citizen science, and spatial analysis. Her work also addresses the threats posed by introduced species, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. From conducting national biodiversity surveys to developing practical guides for conservation, Kit’s research contributes to science-based policy and public awareness, making her a leader in native pollinator science and applied environmental management.