ASAB Media & Policy Committee

The Media & Policy Committee is a Sub-Committee of ASAB Council, to which it reports.

Its broad aims are:

1. Media relations

Aim: To promote and inform on research and research related issues in animal behaviour through the media by:

• Forging links with relevant journalists and researchers in the media
• Issuing press releases on society activities/publications, and position statements on appropriate public policy consultations
• Publishing short articles from selected papers in Animal Behaviour (based on lay summaries)
• Coordinating media interviews and consultations
• Inviting media coverage of our ASAB/ECBB conferences

2. Media Education

Aim: To improve the communication skills of young scientists for media and policy related work through:

• Media training session for postgraduate students at ASAB Easter workshops
• Offering advice to researchers on dealing with the media through the ASAB web site
• Promoting science communication among researchers via the creation of science communication prizes

3. Public Policy

Aim: To promote and address concerns related to animal behaviour research at policy level by:

• Representing ASAB’s interests at the Biosciences Federation by attendance at their Animal Science’s group, Member’s meetings and AGMs
• Coordinating and producing responses on ASAB’s behalf to policy consultations by the Biosciences Federation
• Responding on behalf of ASAB to E.U., government and other public policy consultations/initiatives (sometimes in parallel with contributing to a collective Biosciences Federation response)
• Issuing policy statements and writing commentaries for media publication

4. Society Publicity

Aim : To inform people about the work of the Society by:

• Publicizing ASAB’s activities and membership benefits to the research community in academic departments, at conferences and via the ASAB web site and Newsletter.

Composition of Committee

• Chair: ASAB President
• Secretary: Secretary of the ASAB Media & Policy Committee
• European Executive Editor of Animal Behaviour
• Newsletter Editor
• European Secretary
• Council Representative to the Biosciences Federation
• ASAB Press Officer
• A representative from the Broadcast Media
• A representative from the Print Media

Contact