Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
| Abbreviation | ASAB |
|---|---|
| Formation | January 1, 1936 |
| Location |
|
Key people | Pat Monaghan Jane Hurst Julian Huxley Geoffrey Matthews Christopher J. Barnard |
| Website | asab |
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.[1] ASAB holds conferences,[2] offers grants,[3] and publishes a peer-reviewed journal, Animal Behaviour, first published in 1953.[4][5] The journal is published in collaboration with the Animal Behavior Society.[6] The CCAB accreditation formerly run through ASAB is now managed by a new separate company, CCAB Certification Ltd.[7]
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.[1][8] Other past presidents include Geoffrey Matthews (1971–1974)[9], Christopher J. Barnard (2004–2007) Jane Hurst (2010-2012) and Pat Monaghan (2017-2019) .[10]
Melissa Bateson, Professor in Ethology at the Newcastle University, is President of the ASAB Council as of January 2024.[11]
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.[12]
| Meeting | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2002 | Münster, Germany |
| Winter | 2002 | London, England |
| Spring | 2003 | Leeds, England |
| Summer | 2003 | Grünau, Germany |
| Winter | 2003 | London, England |
| Spring | 2004 | Sussex, England |
| Summer | 2004 | Groningen, Netherlands |
| Winter | 2004 | London, England |
| Spring | 2005 | Norwich, England |
| Summer | 2005 | Lancaster, England |
| Winter | 2005 | London, England |
| Spring | 2006 | Nottingham, England |
| Summer | 2006 | Belfast, Northern Island |
| Winter | 2006 | London, England |
| Spring | 2007 | Falmouth, England |
| Summer | 2007 | Newcastle, England |
| Winter | 2007 | London, England |
| Spring | 2008 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Summer | 2008 | Dijon, France |
| Winter | 2008 | London, England |
| Spring | 2009 | Cardiff, England |
| Summer | 2009 | Oxford, England |
| Winter | 2009 | London, England |
| Spring | 2010 | Exeter, England |
| Summer | 2010 | Ferrara, Italy |
| Winter | 2010 | London, England |
| Spring | 2011 | Cambridge, England |
| Summer | 2011 | St. Andrews, Scotland |
| Winter | 2011 | London, England |
| Spring | 2012 | Aberystwyth, Wales |
| Summer | 2012 | Essen, Germany |
| Winter | 2012 | London, England |
| Spring | 2013 | Lincoln, England |
| Summer | 2013 | Newcastle/Gateshead, England |
| Winter | 2013 | London, England |
| Spring | 2014 | Sheffield, England |
| Summer | 2014 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Winter | 2014 | London, England |
| Spring | 2015 | Durham, England |
| Summer | 2015 | Lincoln, England |
| Winter | 2015 | London, England |
| Spring | 2016 | Aberystwyth, Wales |
| Summer | 2016 | Vienna, Austria |
| Winter | 2016 | London, England |
| Spring | 2017 | Liverpool, England |
| Summer | 2017 | Estoril, Portugal |
| Winter | 2017 | London, England |
| Spring | 2018 | Plymouth, England |
| Summer | 2018 | Liverpool, England |
| Winter | 2018 | London, England |
| Spring | 2019 | York, England |
| Summer | 2019 | Konstanz, Germany |
| Winter | 2019 | London, England |
| Spring | 2020 | Swansea, Wales |
| Summer | 2020 | Virtual |
| Winter | 2020 | Virtual |
| Spring | 2021 | Virtual |
| Summer | 2021 | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Winter | 2021 | Virtual |
| Spring | 2022 | Newcastle, England |
| Summer | 2022 | Groningen, Netherlands |
| Winter | 2022 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spring | 2023 | Bangor, Wales |
| Summer | 2023 | Bielefeld, Germany |
| Winter | 2023 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spring | 2024 | Exeter, England |
| Summer | 2024 | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Winter | 2024 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spring | 2025 | Liverpool, England |
| Summer | 2025 | Kolkata, India |
| Winter | 2025 | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spring | 2026 | Bristol, England |
| Summer | 2026 | Cambridge, England |
| Winter | 2026 | Edinburgh, 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. [13]
- 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.[14]
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.[15]
Recipients of the Award:
- 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
References
- ^ a b Durant, John (24 July 1986). "From amateur naturalist to professional scientist", New Scientist, 41–44.
- ^ "Upcoming conferences", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
- ^ "Grants & Awards Overview", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Journal". ASAB. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "CCAB Accreditation". ASAB. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "Bulletin of animal behaviour", WorldCat.
- ^ "Geoffrey Matthews, The Daily Telegraph, 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Preface", in H. Jane Brockmann, et al. (2011). Advances in the Study of Behavior, Volume 38, San Diego: Academic Press, xi.
- ^ "About ASAB", Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
- ^ "Previous Conferences".
- ^ "Tinbergen Lecturer". ASAB. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ "ASAB Medal". ASAB. Retrieved 2026-03-15.
- ^ "Christopher Barnard Award". ASAB. Retrieved 2026-03-15.