Congress 2026 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia

Key dates

Abstract submission: Closed
Early bird price: Closed
Late Registration: Until 2 December
Conference: 9 - 11 December

Keynote speakers

Michael Reichert

Michael Reichert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Oklahoma State University. He received his PhD in 2011 from the University of Missouri and worked as a postdoc at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and University College Cork. He is spending Autumn 2026 as a Fulbright Fellow at CIBIO. His research focuses on integrative studies of animal communication, with the main study system being acoustic communication in treefrogs. He has also worked on acoustic communication in insects, cognition and social behavior in birds, and ecological modeling of threatened amphibians.

Anna Olsson

Anna Olsson is a researcher at i3S – University of Porto where she coordinates the research group Laboratory Animal Science. She has a background in animal science and has dedicated her career to animal welfare research, working with farm, laboratory and companion animals. Her main research interests are animal behaviour and welfare and ethics of the use of animals in research and biotechnology. She leads the 3R Knowledge Center (3RKC) established in 2023 and based at i3S. Her main engagement in learned societies are International Society for Applied Ethology (former council member, presently regional secretary) and Science for Animal Welfare (former Trustee, presently member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee).

Raquel Vasconcelos

Raquel Vasconcelos is a researcher at MARE-UL with research expertise in behavioural ecology, neurophysiology, and bioacoustics. Her work investigates the physiological mechanisms underlying auditory sensitivity and how environmental changes, particularly noise pollution, affect the detection of biologically relevant signals, behaviour, and physiological adaptation. Using marine and freshwater fish as model species, she explores how animals perceive and respond to changing acoustic environments.

Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar

Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar is a Principal Investigator at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology in Coimbra. He is an evolutionary ecologist and meta-researcher whose work focuses on evidence synthesis, open science, and research practices in ecology and evolution. His research combines large-scale evidence synthesis with studies of reproducibility and the credibility of scientific claims. He develops practical tools and approaches to improve research reliability and transparency and is actively involved in international training, mentorship, and initiatives promoting open and collaborative science.

Invited speakers

Gunilla Rosenqvist

Gunilla Rosenqvist is a researcher, project leader, and professor affiliated with Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, Sweden. Her research spans behavioral ecology, marine biology, and the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems, with a particular focus on pipefish (Syngnathidae), sexual selection, and marine and brackish-water environments in the Baltic Sea. She earned her PhD in Biology from Uppsala University in 1990, focusing on behavioral ecology and sex-role reversal in pipefish, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has also held academic positions at other institutions, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

- Talk part of the EUROSYNG project

Gisela Dionísio

Gisela Dionísio is a researcher at MARE and ARNET, President of the Atlantic Naturalist Association, and Scientific Coordinator of Naturalist – Science and Tourism. With a PhD in Biology and Climate Change from the University of Aveiro, her research focuses on climate change impacts on marine organisms. She coordinates research and citizen science projects, including EUROSYNG, and promotes “Tourism as a Platform for Research Studies,” integrating tourism, science, and marine conservation.

- Talk part of the EUROSYNG project

Workshops

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence applied to Ecology and Behavioural studies

This workshop aims to familiarize participants with the concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a specific focus on deep learning, and how it can be used to tackle relevant questions in ecology and behavioral studies.

Facilitators: Dr. André Ferreira (University of Zurich) & Liliana Silva (BIOPOLIS)

Attendees will receive a concise overview of the fundamental principles of deep learning and its broad applications. Additionally, the workshop will briefly guide participants through the process of employing deep learning models, from collecting training datasets to model training and performance evaluation when addressing real-world challenges faced by researchers working with large animal based datasets. This is an introductory workshop designed for students and researchers who have not yet applied deep learning methods to their data.

The workshop is organized within the DEEPWEAVER project (“Deep Learning meets Behavioural Ecology in the wild: methodological applications using the sociable weaver – 101183160”), part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Staff Exchanges programme funded by the European Union.

Duration: 3 hours (in-person)
Max.: participants: 20
Info and Requirements: Basic knowledge of R coding, Python or other programming language is desired. Attendants need to bring their own laptops.

BIO: André Ferreira is an evolutionary biologist and a postdoc researcher at the University of Zurich, and Liliana Silva is a research technician at BIOPOLIS. Their research primarily focuses on using artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, to automate the collection of behavioural data in the wild, with a particular emphasis on birds.

Introduction to Animal Welfare and Ethics

This workshop introduces the principles of responsible animal research, including animal biology, handling, care, and housing. It covers study design, animal welfare, legislation, and ethics to ensure reliable data while minimizing harm.

Facilitators: Dr. Anna Olsson&Dr. Ana Maria Valentim(I3S, Porto)

Studying animal behaviour means doing research with animals, often in ways that may impact their welfare. Responsible research involving animals requires appropriate knowledge not only of animal biology but also about handling for sample collection, animal care and housing, study design, animal welfare, legislation and ethics. This workshop is intended for students and early career researchers and will provide an introduction to how to do research with animals responsibly.

The workshop does not replace formal training required to obtain a personal license to perform procedures with animals, but it will help you to understand what is needed to carry out your research project in a way that generates reliable data while minimizing animal harm.

Duration: 3 hours (in-person)
Max.: participants: 20
Info and Requirements: Participants should either have previous research experience with animals or a concrete plan for a future research study. Participants are asked to provide a brief summary of this research and the procedures to be carried out on animals.

BIO: Anna Olsson is a researcher at i3S – University of Porto where she coordinates the research group Laboratory Animal Science. Her main research interests are animal behaviour and welfare and ethics of the use of animals in research and biotechnology. She has coordinated several EU projects addressing the 3Rs and ethics and is responsible for an internationally accredited training course for researchers using animals. She leads the 3R Knowledge Center (3RKC) established in 2023 and based at i3S. Ana Maria Valentim is a researcher in Laboratory Animal Science specializing in anaesthesia, analgesia, welfare, and behaviour in laboratory animals, particularly zebrafish. Her research focuses on refining animal care and procedures to improve welfare and minimize harm. She is also a trainer in Laboratory Animal Science courses and a board member of the Zebrafish Husbandry Association.

Awards

Vitor Almada award

Best oral presentation

The Vítor Almada Award, conferred by the Portuguese Ethological Society, is presented to the top student oral presentation at each National Congress. It includes support for the student's participation in an international ethology conference.

This award pays tribute to one of Portugal's most eminent ethologists, renowned for his substantial contributions to the advancement of Ethology in the country. Vítor Almada, a founding member of the SPE and its President for several years, acted as the guiding scientific influence for a generation of animal behavior researchers, and his passion and expertise in the field were truly inspiring.

Springer award

Best poster communication

Springer award for outstanding poster.

Springer is a publishing company specializing in books, e-books, and peer-reviewed journals across various fields, including science, humanities, technical, and medical publishing. They are the publisher of the society's journal, acta ethologica.

Abstract Submission and Registration

Become a SPE member

Consider joining SPE and have access to reduced congress registration fee. To join SPE, complete the membership form and pay the membership fee for the current year.

Apply for membership

(opens in a new tab)

Abstract submission

Deadline for submissions: 15 October. NEW: EXTENDED UNTIL OCTOBER 23. All abstracts must be submitted online (link bellow).

Notification of acceptance: The notification of acceptance will be sent to the presenting author’s e-mail address mid November.

Abstract submission

(opens in a new tab)

Registration

Fee includes: access to all talks and posters, scheduled coffee & lunch breaks (10 & 11 December), access to workshops (9 December - Limited to the number of available spots), non-ticketed program events, electronic access to abstracts.

Additional fees (optional): Conference dinner (price to be announced) and merchandising

(opens in a new tab)

Prices

Type of Registration	~~Early Bird~~	Late Registration
Students
Undergraduate Student	~~€20~~	€30
SPE Associate Member / BIOPOLIS student - Graduate student (Master or PhD student)	~~€30~~	€40
Non-member student	~~€60~~	€70
Researchers / Other participants
SPE Effective Member (professional) / BIOPOLIS staff member	~~€60~~	€70
Other researchers / Participants	~~€110~~	€120

Informations

Venue: Auditorium at CIBIO headquarters

Address: R. do Crasto 765, 4485-684 Vairão, Vila do Conde

Shuttle bus from Vila do Conde to the Venue and return

We are organizing a daily bus to take the participants from Vila do Conde to the Venue. More information soon.

How to get to Vila do Conde/Venue

By plane:
Check flights to Porto (Oporto) international airport here. Porto airport is served by low cost airlines. There is a Metro station at the airport: take line E to "Verdes" and then change to Line B to "Mindelo" (direction: "Póvoa de Varzim").

By car:
See map and use "get directions" option in google maps.

By metro:
Leaving every half an hour from Porto (direction: "Póvoa de Varzim") to "Mindelo", which is approximately 5Km from Vairão. Check "Metro do Porto" timetables and system map here. Every working day, there is a shuttle service running from Mindelo Metro Station to Vairão Campus and back (to check the schedule click here).
There are also two bus lines (3525 and 3533) that stop near the "Mindelo" and "Varziela" metro stations and can also be used to get to the Vairão Campus (to check the schedule click here).

We’ve partnered with several local accommodations in Vila do Conde to offer you convenient and affordable options during the congress:

Hotel Brazão
Special Room Rates (price per night): Single Room (one single bed): €44; Double Room (single occupancy): €52; Double Room (one double bed): €60; Twin Room (two single beds): €60.
Tourist Tax: €1 per person, per night.
Included: Breakfast
Book via their website and just mention you’re attending the SPE Congress.

Hotel Santana
Special Room Rates (price per night): Single Room: €60 ; Twin Room: €75
Included: Buffet breakfast (7:00–10:30 AM), Wellness SPA: indoor pool (swim cap required), jacuzzi, Turkish bath, and sauna; Private outdoor parking (subject to availability); Free Wi-Fi.
Payment: Pay directly at check-in.
Book via phone or email: +351 252 640 460 /recepcao@santanahotel.pt and just mention you’re attending the SPE Congress.

Social dinner

Information will be available soon.

Scientific committee

Clara Amorim (MARE/FCUL)
Catherine Sheppard (MARE/FCUL)
Joana Castro (AIMM)
João Saraiva (CCMAR)
José Ricardo Paula (MARE/FCUL)
Marta Soares (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Manuel Eduardo dos Santos (MARE/ISPA)
Miguel Carretero (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Nuno Monteiro (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Nuno Queiroz (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Paulo Gama Mota (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Rita Covas (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS)
Susana Varela (UCP & GIMM)

Organising commmittee

Ana Leitão
Beatriz Saldanha
Gonçalo Cardoso
João Pacheco
Marta Marmelo
Sandra Trigo

Partners & Sponsors

(opens in a new tab)

Organization