ABS 2025 Workshops

Workshop 1: Collaborative fieldwork practices for Animal Behavior research in Latin America

Tuesday, July 8
Organizers: Ximena Bernal, Kristen Hobbs, and Alex Trillo
Location: TBD

You can register for this workshop on the conference registration form.

A large portion of Animal Behavior research published in the Global North is conducted in Latin America. As such, the field itself is affected by an ongoing history of parachute science. Parachute science (also known as helicopter research) occurs when scientists from higher-income countries conduct research in another, typically lower-income country, while having little to no meaningful involvement with researchers and communities from the host nation. Because they do not communicate with local stakeholders, their science fails to address local research needs, creates dependency on external expertise, and can obstruct local conservation efforts. In these situations, research is often driven by the outsiders’ worldviews or personal motives, leading to problematic power imbalances between those from outside and those who live there. While the last 10 years have brought much discussion about parachute science to several areas of biology, formal discussions in Animal Behavior have been limited. We will explore: (1)important issues with parachute science in Latin America, and (2)best practices to promote ethical and fulfilling international collaborations, with the goal of diminishing parachute science in animal behavior. We will have a presentation by Valeria Ramirez Castañeda, an expert on collaborative fieldwork practices, will facilitate the workshop followed by a panel with researchers from the symposium: International Collaborations in Animal Behavior. Finally, we will work in groups to generate guidelines to diminish parachute science in animal behavior research in the Global South. This workshop compliments the “International Collaborations in Animal Behavior” symposium, representing a synergistic problem-and-solution approach to advocate for equitable field-work and collaborative research for Animal Behavior across the Americas

---

Workshop 2: Revitalizing Teaching and Learning: Strategies for Inclusivity and Active Learning

Tuesday, July 8 - 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Co-Organizers: Clara Voorhees, Deborah Boege Tobin and Sue Margulis
Location: TBD

This workshop, organized by the Animal Behavior Society's Education Committee, will focus on reshaping traditional teaching approaches to make courses more inclusive, interactive, and engaging. Presentations, demonstrations, and discussions will explore methods that move towards integrating student-centered and inclusive approaches to teaching and learning. Key approaches include reducing lecture time, eliminating traditional textbooks and exams, and encouraging active learning. In this workshop, educators who use these methods will provide hands-on demonstrations of active learning techniques and technologies, along with time for discussions. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and meaningful student engagement, whether in a small or large classroom setting. This session is designed specifically for educators seeking to rethink course design, grading, and student involvement. ABS members will be invited to submit proposals for presentations at this workshop. The co-organizers will choose ones that best support the goals of the workshop.

---

Workshop 3: Weaving the Future of Animal Behavior (WFAB): A professional-development workshop for pre-tenure faculty and postdoctoral researchers in animal behavior

Tuesday, July 8 (Part 2 - in-person)
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Co-Organizers: Gail Patricelli & Karan Odom
Location: TBD

The future of Animal Behavior research depends on the next generation of scientists and leaders. The goal of the Weaving the Future of Animal Behavior (WFAB) initiative is to advance the future of animal behavior science and foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive scientific community, by providing support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for early-career researchers navigating the critical transition to permanent research and teaching positions.

The WFAB workshop series will include panel and group discussions and activities for pre-tenure faculty and postdocs that facilitate:

· Connecting with multiple mentors
· Forging new collaborations
· Achieving success in research, teaching, and service
· Forming and maintaining long-term peer-mentoring circles

The 2025 WFAB workshop series will have three parts. Part I is online (July 1, 2025), Part II is in-person before the ABS meeting (July 8, 8:30AM – 5PM), and Part III is online (July 22). Part III is focused on peer-mentoring circles, which many participants describe as one of the best parts of joining the WFAB community. We ask that workshop participants attend all three parts. You can learn more about WFAB and see workshop details at: https://www.weaving-the-future.net/

This workshop is limited to pre-tenure faculty and postdocs working in animal behavior science (for grad students interested in professional development and networking, we recommend the excellent SIGNAL workshop). We particularly encourage women and scientists from marginalized groups in the biological sciences to apply. If you try to register and the workshop is full, please email ([email protected]) as spaces often open up.