Sheila R. Colla, professor in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change and York Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Conservation Science, died July 6 at the age of 43.
A pioneering force in conservation science, Colla was known for her work on pollinator health, urban ecosystems and environmental justice. Her research centred on wild bee species – most notably the rusty-patched bumblebee – helping to raise both scientific and public awareness of their endangerment. She was one of the first scientists in North America to document wild bee population loss, and her findings contributed to the rusty-patched bumblebee being federally listed as endangered in both Canada and the United States.
Colla joined York University in 2015 as a faculty member in the then-Faculty of Environmental Studies. She held a Tier II York Research Chair from 2020-25 and led the Colla Conservation Science Lab, where she supervised graduate and undergraduate students conducting interdisciplinary research on species decline, habitat loss, climate change and conservation policy. She was also a founding member of Bee Ecology, Evolution & Conservation, York’s bee research network.
“Dr. Colla represents the best of scientific research and engagement in Canada,” said Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change Dean Alice Hovorka about Colla when she won the prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Award for Science Promotion. “She serves as a role model to others advocating for biodiversity, including the next generation of scientists training under her supervision at York University. Dr. Colla's impactful, collaborative approach to bee research reaffirms that championing environmental sustainability is a collective effort.”
Colla was a leader in public science communication, engaging communities through nature walks, school presentations, media interviews and books. In 2011, she co-founded BumbleBeeWatch.org, a citizen science initiative that has engaged the public in tracking over 172,000 bumblebee sightings across the continent. It remains a widely used tool for public engagement and pollinator data collection.
Colla’s interdisciplinary work extended into projects like Finding Flowers, which integrated ecology, art and pedagogy to explore biocultural and community-based conservation approaches. Her scholarly impact was significant, with her research cited more than 5,500 times in academic literature. She served as the North American co-ordinator for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Bumblebee Specialist Group, collaborating with government agencies and non-governmental organizations on pollinator conservation strategies.
She was the recipient of numerous honours, including the 2024 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Award for Science Promotion, the Ontario Nature Education Award, the York University President’s Research Impact Award, the Entomological Society of Canada’s C. Gordon Hewitt Award, the American Library Association’s Outstanding Reference Source Award and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Colla co-authored The Bumblebees of North America: An Identification Guide, a best-selling field guide that has sold more than 20,000 copies and become a key reference for wildlife identification. She also co-wrote the national bestseller A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators, a practical and accessible resource for encouraging pollinator protection.
Colla earned a BSc from the University of Toronto and a PhD in biology from York University in 2012. She often used the rusty-patched bumblebee’s decline as a case study to teach broader lessons about biodiversity, conservation and community responsibility.
She is remembered for her leadership in interdisciplinary research, her mentorship of emerging scientists and her unwavering dedication to both scientific excellence and environmental advocacy.
Colla's family has requested that those wishing to honour her legacy plant a native flower or tree, upload a bumblebee sighting to BumbleBeeWatch.org, write to government officials in support of pollinator protection plans.
Read more about the impact of Colla's research.