Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) is a British organization founded in 1936 to promote ethology and the study of animal behaviour. ASAB holds conferences,"Upcoming conferences", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. offers grants,"Grants & Awards Overview", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. and publishes a peer-reviewed journal, Animal Behaviour, first published in 1953."Animal Behaviour", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.Slater, P. J. B. (2005). "Fifty Years of Bird Song Research", in Jeffrey R Lucas, Leigh W. Simmons (eds.) Essays in Animal Behaviour: Celebrating 50 Years of Animal Behaviour. Butterworth-Heinemann, 301. The journal is published in collaboration with the Animal Behavior Society. The CCAB accreditation formerly run through ASAB is now managed by a new separate company, CCAB Certification Ltd.

ASAB recognises excellence in teaching and research with awards including the ASAB Medal and Christopher Barnard Award. The annual Tinbergen Lecturer is invited by ASAB Council, and gives an invited presentation at the ASAB Winter Meeting held in London each year.

ASAB was founded in London on 13 March 1936 as the Institute for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Julian Huxley was the first president and Solly Zuckerman the first editor of its earlier publication, Bulletin of Animal Behaviour, which began publishing in October 1938.Durant, John (24 July 1986). "From amateur naturalist to professional scientist", New Scientist, 41–44."Bulletin of animal behaviour", WorldCat. Other past presidents include Geoffrey Matthews (1971–1974),"Geoffrey Matthews, The Daily Telegraph, 30 January 2013. Christopher J. Barnard (2004–2007) Jane Hurst (2010-2012) and Pat Monaghan (2017-2019) ."Preface", in H. Jane Brockmann, et al. (2011). Advances in the Study of Behavior, Volume 38, San Diego: Academic Press, xi.

Melissa Bateson, Professor in Ethology at the Newcastle University, is President of the ASAB Council as of January 2024."About ASAB", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Conferences ASAB organises 3 conferences a year, the Winter and Spring conferences are typically held in the UK, the ASAB summer meeting in even-numbered years is a joint meeting with the European Conference on Behavioural Biology (ECBB), and in odd-numbered years is a joint meeting with Behaviour.

Meeting Year LocationSummer2002Münster, GermanyWinter2002London, EnglandSpring2003Leeds, EnglandSummer2003Grünau, GermanyWinter2003London, EnglandSpring2004Sussex, EnglandSummer2004Groningen, NetherlandsWinter2004London, EnglandSpring2005Norwich, EnglandSummer2005Lancaster, EnglandWinter2005London, EnglandSpring2006Nottingham, EnglandSummer2006Belfast, Northern IrelandWinter2006London, EnglandSpring2007Falmouth, EnglandSummer2007Newcastle, EnglandWinter2007London, EnglandSpring2008Edinburgh, ScotlandSummer2008Dijon, FranceWinter2008London, EnglandSpring2009Cardiff, EnglandSummer2009Oxford, EnglandWinter2009London, EnglandSpring2010Exeter, EnglandSummer2010Ferrara, ItalyWinter2010London, EnglandSpring2011Cambridge, EnglandSummer2011St. Andrews, ScotlandWinter2011London, EnglandSpring2012Aberystwyth, WalesSummer2012Essen, GermanyWinter2012London, EnglandSpring2013Lincoln, EnglandSummer2013Newcastle/Gateshead, EnglandWinter2013London, EnglandSpring2014 Sheffield, EnglandSummer2014Prague, Czech RepublicWinter2014London, EnglandSpring2015Durham, EnglandSummer2015Lincoln, EnglandWinter2015London, EnglandSpring2016Aberystwyth, WalesSummer2016Vienna, AustriaWinter2016London, EnglandSpring2017Liverpool, EnglandSummer2017Estoril, PortugalWinter2017London, EnglandSpring2018Plymouth, EnglandSummer2018Liverpool, EnglandWinter2018London, EnglandSpring2019York, EnglandSummer2019Konstanz, GermanyWinter2019London, EnglandSpring2020Cancelled due to COVID-19Summer2020VirtualWinter2020VirtualSpring2021Virtual, Bristol, EnglandSummer2021Belfast, Northern IrelandWinter2021VirtualSpring2022Newcastle, EnglandSummer2022Groningen, NetherlandsWinter2022Edinburgh, ScotlandSpring2023Bangor, WalesSummer2023Bielefeld, GermanyWinter2023Edinburgh, ScotlandSpring2024Exeter, EnglandSummer2024Zurich, SwitzerlandWinter2024Edinburgh, ScotlandSpring2025Liverpool, EnglandSummer2025Kolkata, IndiaWinter2025Edinburgh, ScotlandSpring2026Bristol, EnglandSummer2026Cambridge, EnglandWinter2026Edinburgh, Scotland

Society presidents List of former presidents of the society

2024–present Prof Melissa Bateson 2020-2023 Prof David Hosken 2016-2019 Prof Pat Monaghan, FRS 2013-2015 Prof Tim Birkhead, FRS 2010-2012 Prof Jane Hurst, OBE FRSB 2007-2009 Prof Innes Cuthill 2004-2006 Prof Christopher Barnard 2001-2003 Prof Felicity Huntingford, FRSE 1998-2000 Prof Robert Elwood, MRIA 1995-1997 Prof Linda Partridge, CBE FRS FRSE 1993-1994 Prof John Krebs, FRS 1989-1992 Sir Neil Chalmers 1986-1988 Prof Peter Slater, FRSE 1983-1985 Prof Aubrey Manning, OBE FRSE 1977-1980 Prof Sir P. Patrick Bateson, FRS 1971-1974 Prof Geoffrey Matthews, OBE 1936- Prof Julian Huxley, FRS

Tinbergen Lecture The annual Tinbergen Lecturer is invited by ASAB Council, and gives an invited presentation at the ASAB Winter Meeting.

2025 - T Suzuki 2024 - Cancelled 2023 - G Valortigara 2022 - N Clayton 2021 - D Biro 2020 - L Chittka 2019 - R Kilner 2018 - B Kempenaers 2017 - C Nicol 2016 - A Kacelnik 2015 - N Wedell 2014 - I Cuthill 2013 - M Zuk 2012 - A Cockburn 2011 - Cancelled 2010 - L Keller 2009 - K Lessells 2008 - P Slater 2007 M Kirkpatrick 2006 P Monaghan 2005 PK McGregor 2004 T Birkhead 2003 T Clutton-Brock 2002 - M Dawkins 2001 - FA Huntingford 2000 - R Dawkins 1999 - B Hölldobler 1998 - M Land 1997 - NB Davies 1996 - S Daan 1995 - GA Parker 1994 - F Nottebohm 1993 - L Partridge 1992 - E Curio 1991 - JR Krebs 1990 - JD Delius 1989 - PPG Bateson 1988 - ST Emlen 1987 - A Manning 1986 - J Aschoff 1985 - P Marler 1984 - FA Beach 1983 - JP Ewert 1982 - H Kummer 1981 - SJ Gould 1980 - WD Hamilton 1979 - J Bowlby 1978 - RA Hinde 1977 - F Huber 1976 - J Maynard-Smith 1975 - JP Baerends 1974 - WH Thorpe

ASAB Medal The ASAB Medal is awarded annually for contributions to the science of animal behaviour - through teaching, writing, broadcasting, research, or for work on behalf of the association. There is no limit on the age or career stage of the recipient. The medal is usually awarded at the ASAB Winter Meeting. The medal itself is cast in bronze and was designed by Jonathan Kingdon.

List of ASAB Medallists:

2025 - H Kokko 2024 - R Kilner 2023 - B Hatchwell 2022 - N Clayton 2021 - A Magurran 2020 - L Simmons 2019 - A Kacelnik 2018 - I Cuthill 2017 - J Hurst 2016 - K Lessells 2015 - P Monaghan 2014 - T Clutton-Brock 2013 - A Houston & J McNamara 2012 - T Birkhead 2011 - A Grafen 2010 - M Dockery 2009 - M Stamp Dawkins 2008 - C Barnard 2007 - R Elwood 2006 - F Huntingford 2005 - L Partridge 2004 - J Alcock 2003 - J Wingfield 2002 - GA Parker 2001 - PPG Bateson 2000 - JR Krebs 1999 - PJB Slater 1998 - AWG Manning 1997 - RA Hinde 1996 - NB Davies 1995 - J Maynard Smith

Christopher Barnard Award The Christopher Barnard Award for outstanding contributions by a new investigator is given each year to acknowledge and reward the achievements of such researchers. Recipients of the award give an invited presentation at the ASAB Spring Meeting, which is traditionally a postgraduate and early-career researcher focussed conference.

Recipients of the Award:

2026 - P Kennedy 2025 - L Samuni 2024 - N Mizumoto 2023 - D Fisher 2022 - L Aplin 2021 - N Boogert 2020 - H Mumby 2019 - E Ringler 2018 - D Farine 2017 - L Kelley 2016 - L Brent 2015 - J Perry 2014 - M Wolf 2013 - C Ioannou 2012 - J Skelhorn 2011 - S Pryke 2010 - A Gardner 2009 - T Uller 2008 - H Brumm 2007 - J Evans 2006 - V Lummaa 2005 - T Pizzari 2004 - O Krüger 2003 - R Brooks 2002 - T Tregenza 2001 - R Kilner 2000 - H Kokko 1999 - J Swaddle 1998 - B Sheldon 1997 - R Johnstone

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