Leibniz-IZW-Seminars

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research regularly organizes scientific seminars on various topics, in which invited speakers or IZW scientists present their work in the form of a lecture. The free lectures take place in the lecture hall of the IZW and are also broadcast live via video.
Interested persons are cordially invited to attend the Leibniz-IZW-Seminars in person or online. You are welcome to sign up for our newsletter at izwseminar@izw-berlin.de. The lectures will be held mostly in English.

Upcoming events

08.07.26, 13 Uhr
Dr. Marina Papadopoulou (Max Planck Institute for Human Development)
Disentangling the self-organization of animal collectives across the tree of life
From the daily movement of primate troops to the mesmerizing murmurations of starling flocks in the sky, the dynamics of animal groups on the move fascinate us with the mystery of their underlying social interactions. Identifying common principles and different traits across systems is necessary to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape their diversity, as well as resolve human-wildlife conflicts. In this talk, I will showcase how we combine empirical data, biomimetic robots, and agent-based simulations to approach this goal. Using examples of fish schools, pigeon flocks, and baboon troops, I will emphasize on the role of within-group heterogeneity (in terms of personality composition or dominance hierarchies) in social foraging, collective movement, and collective escape. Our methods and results provide the starting ground for future research on collective movement under a more unifying and ecologically relevant framework, as well as advanced practices for wildlife conservation.

26th August 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Rodrigo Serra & Marta Cabaça (CNRLI Iberian Lynx Breeding Centre)
Title & Abstract follows

30th September 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Joseph Durant (Netherlands Institute of Ecology)
Title & Abstract follows

14th October 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Smadar Tal (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
From Dam to Neonate: Microbial, Metabolic, and Functional Pathways Shaping Early-Life Development in Dogs
Abstrakt folgt

18th November 2026, 1 p.m.
Marlène Gamelon (French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS))
Title & Abstract follows

16th December 2026, 1 p.m.
Prof. Maria-Jesús Sánchez Calabuig (Complutense University of Madrid)
Title & Abstract follows

Contact
Organization
Constanze Wiechert
Tel: +49(0) 30 5168-336
E-Mail: wiechert@izw-berlin.de, izwseminar@izw-berlin.de

Technical support
Dorina Meneghini
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-340
E-Mail: meneghini@izw-berlin.de

Christine Reusch
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-123
E-Mail: reusch@izw-berlin.de

Accounting
Stefanie Lenz
Tel: +49(0)30 5168-459
E-Mail: lenz@izw-berlin.de


Last Update: 1th July 2026