NEWSLETTER
  Animal Behavior Society

Please join us July 14-18, 2026 (workshops on opening day, July 14) for the 2026 ABS Annual Meeting at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, in Cincinnati, Ohio, with local hosts from University of Cincinnati!

We are very excited to announce the plenary speakers for ABS 2026 (to date):

• Patricia Brennan, Mount Holyoke College, keynote speaker
• Elizabeth Hobson, University of Cincinnati
• Neil Losin and Nate Dappen, Day's Edge Production
• Lien Luong, University of Alberta
• Beth Jakob, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, presidential lecture
• Eileen Lacey, University of California, Berkeley, president-elect lecture

We will have three integrative and timely symposia at ABS 2026:

• Past-presidential symposium: "What AI Reveals About Animal Behavior: Conceptual Advances from Machine Learning," organized by Emily Duval
• "Cultural Evolution of Vocal Communication: Behavioral Mechanisms and Outcomes," organized by David Lahti and Heather Williams
• "Predator, Prey, and Pet: Domestic Cats in Our Society," organized by Hee Jin Chung, Melinda Weaver, and Madeleine Zuercher

We will also have two special sessions at ABS. The first is "The Legacy and Impact of Zuleyma Tang-Martinez's 50 Years of Contributions to the Animal Behavior Society," coordinated by Debbie Boege Tobin, Danielle Lee, and Beth Congdon. The second is "Gadgets, Inventos, and Gambiarras: Creative, Budget-friendly DIY Research Methods in Animal Behavior," coordinated by the Latin American Affairs Committee, and anyone can submit a lightning talk to participate (in addition to a regular talk or poster). More details on how to submit an abstract for this session are forthcoming!

Cincinnati, nicknamed the “Queen City,” hosts historic Art Deco architecture, unique local dining, the Cincinnati Zoo, and a vibrant arts scene - all close to the conference hotel. Conference activities will take place in the conference hotel to facilitate ease of movement between rooms and conference activities. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport, CVG, has international and national service, with direct flights from a number of countries as well as US states, and Amtrak also has train service to the city. More information about the conference will be available soon.

All non-USA citizens will need a valid passport (and in some cases, a travel visa) to travel to the USA. Additional information for visas will be available soon.

Organizing Committee:
Michele Johnson, Trinity University, Program Officer
Kasey Fowler-Finn, Saint Louis University, Program Officer-Elect
Erica Westerman, University of Arkansas, Past Program Officer
Nathan Morehouse, University of Cincinnati, Local Host
Michal Polak, University of Cincinnati, Local Host
We look forward to seeing you in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA later this year!
 

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The Warder Clyde Allee Symposium for Best Student Paper is a perennial highlight of the conference, showcasing exceptional graduate student research and culminating in an award for the best paper and presentation. This session honors Dr. Warder Clyde Allee (1885–1955), a pioneering figure in animal behavior whose work profoundly shaped the field. Dr. Allee earned his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1912 and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1951. He is recognized as one of the leading ecologists of the twentieth century, particularly for his influential contributions to behavioral and animal ecology. The 2026 Warder Clyde Allee Competition for Best Student Paper will be held during the annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, which will take place July 14-18 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Allee Competition is a great opportunity for graduate students (and new postdocs) to present their graduate research to a large and supportive audience.

Participation includes submission of an extended written abstract and an oral presentation at the annual meeting.

Applications, including the extended abstract, are due by the meeting’s abstract submission deadline, March 20, 2026.

More information, including eligibility requirements and application instructions, can be found here