Auburn University Relocation: Hives Alive Brings Honeybee Science to Life
Auburn University relocation is about discovering more than homes and neighborhoods. It’s also about getting to know the university community, including the fascinating research, creativity, and educational experiences happening right here in Auburn, Alabama.
One particularly interesting example is Auburn University’s Hives Alive exhibit, which transforms honeybee research into an extraordinary combination of art and science.
I photographed this educational display explaining how honeybees organize their nests and how Auburn researchers studied the remarkable patterns inside a colony.
It’s fascinating to think about how much organization exists inside something as seemingly simple as a beehive!
What Is Auburn University’s Hives Alive Exhibit?
Hives Alive is an art-and-science installation inspired by honeybee research conducted at Auburn University’s Smith Bee Lab.
The project explores how honeybees construct their nests, organize their colonies, and arrange the different materials needed for survival.
Rather than presenting the research only through scientific papers and diagrams, researchers helped transform their findings into a visual art experience.
According to Auburn University, the installation includes thousands of illuminated spheres representing the individual cells of a honeybee nest.
Different colors represent what researchers discovered inside those cells.
The result is a remarkable illustration of the organization taking place within a honeybee colony.
You can learn more in Auburn University’s official article about Hives Alive.
What Does the Hives Alive Display Show?
The photograph I took features an educational panel titled “The Gradient Colony.”
The display explains how honeybees build their homes from wax and organize individual cells within their combs.
Those cells serve different purposes.
Some contain honey.
Others contain nectar or pollen.
Still others contain eggs, larvae, or pupae.
And some cells remain empty.
The exhibit explains how researchers followed these patterns over time to understand how the colony develops.
What I found especially interesting is that the artwork represents actual scientific observations.
It isn’t simply someone’s imagination of what a beehive might look like.
It’s based on research.
How Auburn Researchers Studied Honeybee Colonies
The Smith Bee Lab at Auburn University investigates how honeybee colonies function and organize themselves.
Researchers studied the development of honeybee nests over an entire growing season.
They photographed the combs repeatedly and used image-processing methods to identify what was contained inside individual cells.
That information helped researchers create a detailed picture of how a colony changes over time.
The Hives Alive installation translates those scientific observations into something people can see and appreciate.
It’s a wonderful example of research being shared beyond the laboratory.
The Science Behind the Honeybee Nest
Honeybees are remarkable little creatures.
A colony must organize food storage, reproduction, and the development of young bees within a relatively compact space.
The Hives Alive display identifies several important components.
Honey
Honey provides an important food source for the colony.
Nectar
Nectar collected from flowers is processed by bees and can eventually become honey.
Pollen
Pollen supplies nutrients needed by developing bees.
Eggs
The queen lays eggs in individual cells.
Larvae and Pupae
These represent stages in the development of young honeybees.
Empty Cells
Not every cell is occupied at the same time.
The organization of these different materials changes as the colony grows.
And Auburn researchers have found a creative way to help people visualize those changes.
Where Art and Science Meet at Auburn University
One of the most interesting aspects of Hives Alive is the collaboration between scientific research and artistic expression.
The project draws on the work of Auburn University’s Smith Bee Lab, including researcher and artist Peter R. Marting.
Instead of keeping the findings inside a scientific publication, the team created an installation that helps people visualize the structure of a honeybee nest.
Auburn University’s published description explains that the larger installation uses illuminated globes suspended among trees.
The colors correspond to the contents of individual honeybee cells.
It’s a creative way to communicate complicated scientific information.
And it’s another example of the interesting work happening at Auburn University.
Why Auburn University Research Matters to the Community
When people think about Auburn University, football is often one of the first things that comes to mind.
And Auburn football certainly plays an important role in our community.
But there’s so much more happening at the university.
Auburn is also home to researchers, scientists, educators, students, and professionals working in many different disciplines.
Projects like Hives Alive demonstrate how university research can become an educational experience for the broader community.
That’s one of the things I appreciate about living in a university town.
There are always opportunities to learn something new.
Moving to Auburn, Alabama, for Auburn University?
If you’re considering relocating to Auburn for a faculty, research, or staff position, you’re probably thinking about much more than university activities.
You’re also considering where to live.
How long will your commute be?
Would you prefer an established neighborhood?
Are you interested in newer construction?
Would a condominium or townhome better fit your needs?
Should you consider Auburn or nearby Opelika?
These are important questions.
And the answers depend on your individual circumstances.
As an Auburn University alumna and former university employee, I understand how important it is to find a home that works with your professional responsibilities and everyday lifestyle.
I’ve lived in the Auburn area since 1988 and have been a REALTOR® for more than 20 years.
I specialize in helping Auburn University faculty and staff relocate to the area.
If you’re preparing for a move, my Auburn University Relocation Guide is a helpful place to begin.
Choosing an Auburn Neighborhood Near Your
Workplace
Not everyone working at Auburn University has the same commute.
Faculty members, researchers, administrators, and staff may work in different parts of campus or at other university facilities.
That’s why I encourage buyers to consider their actual workplace when evaluating neighborhoods.
A home that looks close to campus on a map may not necessarily provide the most convenient commute.
You may also want to consider parking, traffic patterns, property type, and your budget.
My Auburn University Relocation FAQ for Faculty and Staff addresses several common questions.
You can also explore established communities and newer developments through my Auburn Subdivisions Directory.
Auburn or Opelika: Which Is Right for You?
Some relocation buyers prefer to live in Auburn.
Others discover that Opelika offers housing options that better fit their needs.
The right choice depends on your commute, budget, property preferences, and lifestyle.
For example, someone who wants convenient access to university events may prioritize a location closer to campus.
Another buyer may prefer a larger home or lot.
Neither choice is automatically better.
The important thing is finding a property that fits your circumstances.
I’ve written more about this decision in Auburn University Relocation: Downtown Auburn or More Space in Opelika?.
What Makes Living in Auburn, Alabama, Special?
I’ve called the Auburn area home since 1988.
Over the decades, I’ve watched the university and surrounding community grow tremendously.
I’ve also enjoyed discovering interesting places, university traditions, and educational experiences throughout Auburn.
Hives Alive is another example of the creativity and research taking place here.
And that’s part of what I enjoy sharing with people considering moving to Auburn.
When you’re relocating, it’s helpful to understand more than the housing market.
You also want to learn about the community you’ll be joining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hives Alive at Auburn University?
Hives Alive is an art-and-science exhibit inspired by research into the organization and development of honeybee nests.
Who created the research behind Hives Alive?
The exhibit is based on research conducted by Auburn University’s Smith Bee Lab.
What does the exhibit represent?
The installation represents the organization of honeybee nests, including cells containing honey, nectar, pollen, eggs, larvae, and pupae.
Is Hives Alive a permanent installation?
Auburn University announced that the installation would remain on display through the end of 2026.
Does Auburn University conduct honeybee research?
Yes. The Smith Bee Lab studies honeybee behavior, colony organization, and nest development.
Can you help Auburn University employees find homes?
Absolutely. I specialize in Auburn University faculty and staff relocation and help buyers compare homes throughout Auburn and Opelika.
Should I live in Auburn or Opelika if I work at Auburn University?
That depends on your workplace, budget, housing preferences, and desired commute.
Thinking About Moving to Auburn, Alabama?
Auburn University offers much more than football Saturdays.
From scientific research to art, education, and community traditions, there’s always something interesting happening around Auburn.
And if you’re considering making Auburn your home, I’d love to help.
I’m Laura Sellers, an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn area since 1988.
I’ve been a REALTOR® for more than 20 years and am an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate — the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.
I specialize in Auburn University faculty and staff relocation and help buyers and sellers throughout Auburn and Opelika.
Call or text Laura Sellers: 334-332-7263
AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com
Homes, y’all!
War Eagle!
