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, offers grants, and publishes a peer-reviewed journal, Animal Behaviour, first published in 1953. 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. Other past presidents include Geoffrey Matthews (1971–1974), Christopher J. Barnard (2004–2007) Jane Hurst (2010-2012) and Pat Monaghan (2017-2019) .

Melissa Bateson, Professor in Ethology at the Newcastle University, is President of the ASAB Council as of January 2024.

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.

MeetingYearLocation
Summer2002Münster, Germany
Winter2002London, England
Spring2003Leeds, England
Summer2003Grünau, Germany
Winter2003London, England
Spring2004Sussex, England
Summer2004Groningen, Netherlands
Winter2004London, England
Spring2005Norwich, England
Summer2005Lancaster, England
Winter2005London, England
Spring2006Nottingham, England
Summer2006Belfast, Northern Ireland
Winter2006London, England
Spring2007Falmouth, England
Summer2007Newcastle, England
Winter2007London, England
Spring2008Edinburgh, Scotland
Summer2008Dijon, France
Winter2008London, England
Spring2009Cardiff, England
Summer2009Oxford, England
Winter2009London, England
Spring2010Exeter, England
Summer2010Ferrara, Italy
Winter2010London, England
Spring2011Cambridge, England
Summer2011St. Andrews, Scotland
Winter2011London, England
Spring2012Aberystwyth, Wales
Summer2012Essen, Germany
Winter2012London, England
Spring2013Lincoln, England
Summer2013Newcastle/Gateshead, England
Winter2013London, England
Spring2014Sheffield, England
Summer2014Prague, Czech Republic
Winter2014London, England
Spring2015Durham, England
Summer2015Lincoln, England
Winter2015London, England
Spring2016Aberystwyth, Wales
Summer2016Vienna, Austria
Winter2016London, England
Spring2017Liverpool, England
Summer2017Estoril, Portugal
Winter2017London, England
Spring2018Plymouth, England
Summer2018Liverpool, England
Winter2018London, England
Spring2019York, England
Summer2019Konstanz, Germany
Winter2019London, England
Spring2020Cancelled due to COVID-19
Summer2020Virtual
Winter2020Virtual
Spring2021Virtual, Bristol, England
Summer2021Belfast, Northern Ireland
Winter2021Virtual
Spring2022Newcastle, England
Summer2022Groningen, Netherlands
Winter2022Edinburgh, Scotland
Spring2023Bangor, Wales
Summer2023Bielefeld, Germany
Winter2023Edinburgh, Scotland
Spring2024Exeter, England
Summer2024Zurich, Switzerland
Winter2024Edinburgh, Scotland
Spring2025Liverpool, England
Summer2025Kolkata, India
Winter2025Edinburgh, Scotland
Spring2026Bristol, England
Summer2026Cambridge, England
Winter2026Edinburgh, Scotland

Society presidents

List of former presidents of the society

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