Tuesday Workshops
Several workshops are organised on Tuesday, 5 August, from 16:45 – 18:15. You can register for these workshops when you register for ISAE 2025 or by logging back into your registration (in-person attendance only).
Please keep in mind that some workshops have a minimum and/or maximum number of participants.
Observer reliability in animal behavior research: a workshop
We have built a website that outlines our approach to observer reliability (https://www.animalbehaviorreliability.com/). In this workshop, led by all five of the website authors, we will examine factors and considerations that affect the repeatability of the dependent variables commonly used in ethology. Workshop participants will gain concrete, specific skills to apply in their own behavioral research.
Organisers: Cassandra B. Tucker, Sarah J.J. Adcock, Jennifer M.C. Van Os, Carly Moody, and Blair C. Downey
Where do you draw the line? A conversation about how we use animals in our research as applied ethologists and welfare scientists
Have you ever experienced conflicted feelings about working with animals in your research? Perhaps you have questioned the use of certain methods or felt uneasy about some aspects of animal management. In this interactive workshop, we will explore inner conflicts that animal welfare and behaviour researchers experience when working with animals. Through hypothetical scenarios and guided group discussions, we will examine the complexities of using animals in research and collaboratively explore strategies to navigate these challenges. The workshop is open to all career stages, and attendees will have the option to participate in a research study on this topic.
Organisers: Katy Proudfoot, Bianca Vandresen, Caroline Ritter, Beth Ventura
From Debate to Dialogue – improving collaboration between animal welfare and genetics
As interest in behavioural phenotyping grows, this workshop invites participants to actively explore how animal behaviour and welfare is defined and integrated in selective breeding. Through interactive activities, including individual reflection and group discussions and exercises, participants will consider their own perspectives on welfare in animal breeding strategies and compare them with insights from prior interdisciplinary workshops. The session offers a collaborative space to navigate complex cross-disciplinary issues and contribute to a shared roadmap for future collaboration. Participants will gain hands-on experience with interdisciplinary dialogue and help shape the direction of future research and stakeholder engagement.
Bridging AI and animals – Are we In?
In this interactive workshop, we will explore the role and impact of generative AI tools in assessing animal behaviour and welfare. First, we will explore multiple Large Multimodal Model-based tools and evaluate how they interpret different animal behaviours and scenarios in farm and companion animals. Then, we will discuss the practical and ethical implications of using these tools for animal care and assessment. In the end, we will examine current trends in AI development and regulation and highlight how applied ethologists can contribute to its design, validation, and responsible implementation. Please bring your laptop or tablet.
Animal welfare progress: co-creating effective solutions to improve animals’ lives
Though animal welfare science is a productive field of study as measured by increasing numbers of publications and degrees conferred, some research findings are not feasible, others are not useful, and others may take decades to become common practice. What causes these mismatches between science and application? The aims of this workshop are to a) discuss why animal welfare research findings might be poorly implemented, and b) identify potential solutions to more effectively improve animal welfare in practice worldwide.
A Hands-on Approach to Bioacoustics in Applied Ethology
This interactive workshop explores the fascinating world of animal vocalizations and their role in behavior and welfare research. In the first part, participants will be introduced to key concepts, types of vocalizations, and methods used to analyze acoustic data. Following the presentation, the group will divide into smaller breakout sessions to discuss specific topics, share insights, and reflect on practical applications. The workshop will conclude with a joint session where participants can exchange ideas, raise questions, and synthesize what they have learned.
Providing a good life to all animals: the importance of recognising, understanding and managing individual differences
Animal personalities influence how individuals perceive, react to, and interact with their environment. This workshop aims to provide an opportunity for you to critically reflect on the importance of individual differences when providing positive welfare for animals, and how this can be applied to improving animal management. The workshop will consist of discussions and activities related to the role that personality plays in animal experiences; ways in which personality can be measured, and the impacts of those measurements on behavioural profiles, along with challenges and opportunities for providing ‘a good life’ for multiple personality types within one group.
Activism in animal welfare – yay or a no-go?
Should activism factor into the work of animal welfare scientists? A group of leading researchers with differing opinions on this question will kick us off with lightning presentations, sharing their views and drawing on their experiences. Building on their arguments and reasoning, we will continue the discussion in small working groups. These discussions will explore our role as knowledge producers, how we interpret our societal mandate, and our relationships with stakeholders.
Confirmed speakers: Christine Nicol, Frank Tuyttens and Per Jensen.
Exploring the impact of early experiences on canine and feline behavior
This interactive workshop explores how early experiences influence the behaviour of puppies and kittens. We focus on the critical role of socialisation during the first weeks and months of life, and how it shapes temperament, emotional regulation, and the ability to cope with stress. Through group discussions and real-life examples, participants will reflect on best practices and share their own experiences/knowledge. The goal is to increase understanding of how early positive experiences support long-term welfare and prevent future behavioural problems. Participants will have an active role and will be divided in smaller groups to create a good learning environment.
CSRD reporting on Animal Health and Welfare in Dairy cows
As part of the European Green Deal, the CSRD requires companies to report on sustainability, including animal welfare. Lely, a leader in dairy automation, is intrinsically motivated to improve animal health, one of its five impact areas. It adopts Professor Mellor’s animal welfare model, focusing on four measurable domains: nutrition, environment, health, and behavior. These domains offer opportunities for farmers and innovation for Lely. Using data from milking robots, neckbands, and feeding systems, Lely aims to quantify welfare indicators. During the workshop, participants are invited to help translate this model into a practical reporting tool for Lely farmers worldwide.