Animal Behavior Society Web Polls and Surveys

1. ABS Public Outreach Survey
   
2. ABS Meeting Program Survey 1999
   
3. Future Directions Survey - May 2000
   
4. Interest in attending in-depth workshop(s) on obtaining funding for animal behavior from NSF, NIH, EPA, etc.
   

1. Results of the ABS Public Outreach Survey

   • HELP ABS ASSESS THE OUTREACH EFFORTS OF OUR COMMUNITY!

     Animal behavior is an important gateway for students to become interested in the sciences, as behavior is often particularly accessible and appealing to non-scientists. Many of you participate in diverse voluntary outreach activities which enhance interest in science by students and the general public. The Animal Behavior Society is making a concerted effort to assess and increase recognition of the outreach efforts of its members. Please help us compile quantitative data by completing the (quick and painless!)

     The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and will require signing in with the ABS ID & password available to members in the latest newsletter. We are interested in hearing from EVERYONE in the Animal Behavior Society who voluntarily shares and communicates science with members of the public. Whether you have an extensive program to bringanimal behavior (or related science) a large community, or only go into a couple classrooms or the local Nature Center to talk about your animals, or judge science fairs we want to hear from YOU! This survey will only be of value if a large portion of the society provides information on their efforts.

     The goal is to use the Outreach information we obtain to increase recognition of the Animal Behavior Society by funding agencies, particularly the National Science Foundation which is currently enhancing levels of funding for both behavioral research and outreach activities. The results will be published in a future newsletter, on the ABS website, and on AbSnet.

     Thank you for your contribution!

     Linda S. Rayor & Todd Blackledge, and the ABS Public Affairs Committee

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2. ABS Meeting Program Survey 1999 Results
   • Over the last few years, we have made some changes in the annual meeting program. Before we make any more changes, we'd really like to get some input from you on how to balance the number and type of talks, number of competing sessions, and overall length of the meeting. Please take a few moments to respond to the following survey. We need the results soon if we are to implement any changes at the 2000 meetings at Morehouse College in Atlanta, so please respond no later than JULY 23 1999.
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3. Thank you for your input. The results/summary will be posted shortly
   Future Directions and Priorities - Your Ideas?

   We seek your ideas and advice on the future of the study of animal behavior.

   A small group of ABS past and present executive committee members, and NSF Animal Behavior program directors will get together on May 13-14 to discuss the ABS' priorities and possible actions for moving the study of animal behavior forward in the coming years. Issues that we will discuss include:
   

   1. What are the most exciting future directions and interdisciplinary connections for the study of animal behavior?
   2. What actions might help to enhance funding opportunities for animal behavior at NSF, as well as at other agencies such as NIH, EPA, USDA etc.?
   3. What actions might help to increase either the public's or the scientific community's awareness of the importance of the study of animal behavior?
   4. What are the top priorities for enhancing the teaching of animal behavior?
   5. What can we do to better prepare our graduate students and postdocs for careers in animal behavior?
   
   
   Obviously, these are big questions. Your thoughts on priorities and practical actions are appreciated.

   Andrew Sih
   President, ABS

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   Results of the Survey

   1. Interest in attending in-depth workshop(s) on obtaining funding for animal behavior from NSF, NIH, EPA, etc.

   As part of the ABS Summit 2000 project, I have been asked to survey the membership on its interest in attending an ABS-sponsored workshop, or series of workshops, on obtaining funding for animal behavior research from NSF, NIH, the EPA, and other (federal?) sources. These workshops would be separate from the annual meeting. The focus group for these workshops would be graduate students and junior faculty, a group which the ABS Executive Committee and the funding agencies feel should benefit most from a workshop on the hows and whys of submitting a fundable proposal.

   These workshops are currently envisioned to be more in-depth, (i.e., longer and more specific) than similar efforts that are made each year at the annual meeting (e.g. Meet the NSF Program Director). For instance, Program Directors and past Program Directors, or their equivalent, would attend and give presentations, along with researchers who have been successful at obtaining funding. We envision a format that would include formal presentations, as well as discussions and opportunities for informal interaction.

   The workshops might be repeated every year or more often, presumably in different parts of the country.

   My goal here is to assess the interest of the membership, and other interested researchers, in this concept. Nothing specific has been locked in stone yet. Of course, interest in attending will depend on many factors, including length of stay, cost, location, and date. Please help shape this idea into an action by responding to the following brief survey.

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