Addressing pollinator conservation and distribution in a changing world requires not only new data, but new ways of doing science. In line with contemporary strategies for studying pollinator systems, we highlight the importance of bridging research and practice through interdisciplinary collaboration. We present a case study developed with the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, where we investigate how bumble bee communities respond to urbanization and land management across urban and natural spaces. This partnership integrates ecological research with municipal decision-making, generating insights that are both scientifically rigorous and locally actionable. By working directly with planners and managers, researchers can co-produce knowledge that informs on-the-ground conservation while advancing our understanding of pollinator ecology. We argue that the frontier of bee science lies in these collaborative, place-based approaches that connect data, decisions, and communities to build resilient pollinator landscapes.
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