Default header image

Researchers Convene at Guelph for 2025 ISAE Regional Meeting on Animal Welfare Science

University of Guelph hosts 15th annual North American event focused on applied ethology

The 15th North American Regional Meeting of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) took place last month at the University of Guelph, bringing together 190 registered participants from 51 institutions across North America. The event, hosted by the Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW), featured scientific presentations, keynote lectures, and networking opportunities aimed at advancing research in animal behaviour and welfare.

Held at the Arboretum Centre, the conference drew 152 in-person attendees, including 103 students and postdoctoral researchers and 49 professionals. Twelve Canadian universities from eight provinces were represented, along with 16 U.S. universities spanning 12 states.

Keynotes Challenge Assumptions in Animal Welfare

University student discusses his poster with interested attendee.

The meeting opened with a keynote address by Prof. Cassandra Tucker of the University of California, Davis, titled “Invisible harm: how our blind spots reveal unanswered questions in animal welfare.” Tucker outlined four areas where cognitive bias and ingrained assumptions—such as “barn blindness”—obscure meaningful improvements in animal care. Her presentation underscored the need for greater scientific rigour and introspection in both research and industry practices.

The second day featured a keynote by Prof. Daniel S. Mills of the University of Lincoln, UK, on the topic “Animal faces: Beyond the rational.” Mills presented findings from over ten years of research on canine and feline facial expressions, emphasizing the complexity of interpreting animal emotions and warning against anthropomorphic bias.

Student Research Highlighted

Student participation was a major focus of the meeting. Graduate students presented oral and poster sessions, with submissions judged for scientific quality and communication. Award recipients were recognized as being Michelle Gygax (University of Bern) and Emiline Sundman (Iowa State University) for presentations and Rituparna Sonowal (Texas Tech University) and Xiaowen Ma (Michigan State University) for posters.

Students show love to a German Shepherd dog during an afternoon break.

In addition to formal presentations, graduate students attended lunch sessions with the keynote speakers, providing a forum for mentorship and informal dialogue on research and career development. And for fun, a dog ‘dance’ team performed at one afternoon break, while the banquet featured a 4-H youth square dance set with a ‘learn-to-square dance’ hour afterwards.

ISAE and the Role of Regional Meetings

Founded to promote the study of applied animal behavior, the ISAE hosts international and regional meetings to support scientific collaboration and education. Regional meetings, such as the North American event, are designed to provide accessible opportunities for emerging scholars and local networks to exchange ideas and share findings in the field.

The 2025 meeting at Guelph reinforced ISAE’s commitment to scientific integrity, critical inquiry, and the advancement of evidence-based animal welfare practices. With presentations ranging from theoretical critiques to applied case studies, the event served as both a professional development platform and a barometer for current trends in ethology.

Organizers reported high engagement throughout the event, noting that the blend of early-career and established researchers continues to be a strength of the regional meeting model.