PUBLIC OUTREACH AT THE BALTIMORE MEETING
Photo credit: Natalie van Breukelen
The 2025 ABS Outreach Fair was hosted at the Maryland Science Center on July 12th. The event showcased research from 12 different labs in the field of animal behavior, engaging with the public through games and interactive stations. In addition, two Baltimore community organizations joined the event. Nearly 300 kids and their families enjoyed completing a puzzle about the different presenters as they played games and interacted with students and faculty. This event was supported by Pete Yancone from the Maryland Science Center, who donated the space to host the Outreach Fair and by the Biology Department at Loyola University Maryland, who generously donated the printed materials, and the ABS Education Committee.
Interested in getting involved next year for ABS 2026 in Cincinnati? Email Matt LeFauve ([email protected]) or Natalie van Breukelen ([email protected]) for more information.
FOSTERING COLLABORATIVE FIELDWORK PRACTICES FOR ANIMAL BEHAVIOR RESEARCH IN LATIN AMERICA
At the 2025 ABS annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, a symposium and a workshop were offered to promote an important conversation on the role that international collaborations have had in breakthrough discoveries of animal behavior. By focusing on Latin America, these two events provided a unique and insightful perspective. The workshop provided tools and discussed the challenges confronted by scientists based in Latin America versus those from the Global North when developing ethical and effective collaborations. In the two-day symposium, twelve speakers presented talks that highlighted excellence in research performed in Latin America. Overall, the talks shared top-notch research while also providing valuable lessons about international collaborations. In a closing session, participants from both events discussed actionable items that could be implemented at the individual and societal levels to facilitate international collaborations.
The Latin American Affairs Committee (LAAC) hopes that together, these events will serve as the foundation for continuing conversations about how to foster and maintain meaningful, productive, and ethical international collaborations in the field of Animal Behavior. The LAAC is grateful for the support from ABS and Erica Westerman, Program Officer of ABS 2026, which provided financial support and opportunities to develop and implement these events.
BUILDING NEW CONNECTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING
By: Sekhar M.A.
What do you get when you put a room full of early-career ecologists together after a long day of talks? At ABS2025 we found out: honest advice, new collaborations, and at least one heated debate about the best field snacks. The first dedicated Early Career Researcher social brought dozens of ECRs together in a relaxed, welcoming setting to swap stories, share CV hacks, and practice the fine art of asking for feedback without fainting. The mission of the Early Career Researcher Committee is practical and hopeful: to create inclusive, career building moments that actually work for people. This was only the beginning: expect more events, more ideas, and yes, more snacks next year. Thanks to everyone who made it lively and memorable. If you are interested in getting involved with the ECR-Committee, reach out! ([email protected])
Photo credit: Sekhar M.A.