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]
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]
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:
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
References
12Durant, John (24 July 1986). "From amateur naturalist to professional scientist", New Scientist, 41–44.
↑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.
