The University of Tennessee hosted the inaugural Southeastern Conference for Animal Behavior on September 26–27, 2025, organized by Collaborative for Animal Behavior (CoLAB) with support from NIMBioS project manager Kristen Mecke. The event brought together 101 participants from 19 universities across 9 states, featuring 49 abstracts (34 posters, 25 talks) and 6 student travel grants.
The College of Arts and Sciences played a large role in supporting both the development of research centers like CoLAB and the success of the conference. We are grateful to Associate Dean for Research and Creative Activity Mike Blum for joining the networking social to connect with visiting faculty and students.
“I was struck by how excited people were to gather in person, share their work, and make new connections,” said Elizabeth Derryberry, Director of CoLAB. “The energy and sense of community were palpable, and many participants expressed how eager they are to return next year. It was a clear sign of the strength of animal behavior research in our region—and the role UT can play in leading it forward.”
Learn more: https://artsci.utk.edu/research-and-creative-activity/research-centers-and-institutes/colab/
