PhD Francisco Garcia Bulle Bueno is the Director of Research and Conservation at Butterfly Pavilion, the only stand-alone invertebrate-focused zoo in the U.S. A stingless bee specialist, his PhD research advanced understanding of queen development, colony dynamics, and pollination, resulting in over five peer-reviewed publications that are shaping meliponiculture (stingless bee keeping) and pollinator conservation. He leads national and international projects, from native bee and firefly monitoring in Colorado to honeybee-based elephant deterrents in Tanzania, stingless bee management and conservation in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and butterfly conservation in Mongolia.

Passionate about science communication, Francisco has extensive experience designing environmental education programs that foster community engagement. He excels at building strong, cross-cultural collaborations with international teams—including Indigenous groups, researchers, and conservation partners—and has a strong track record of securing grants and funding. His ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals ensures that projects are impactful, inclusive, and sustainable.