Applied Animal Behavior

By Laura Perkins, Erica Feuerbacher, and Kimberly Truong

The mission of the Applied Animal Behavior SIG is to promote applied animal behavior analytic research, set high standards in methods and techniques of animal training, support those in the applied animal behavior field, and promote the well-being of animals in applied settings wherever they are found.
Throughout 2021, the SIG worked to provide some new opportunities for members.

We offered our first CEU event; a virtual panel discussion on how to get started in the field of applied animal behavior. The event was recorded and will serve as a resource for members going forward.
Throughout the year we also hosted several virtual chats, open to members and non-members, to connect with each other and exchange ideas.

We are developing a new experts directory for members. This directory will serve to connect members who are new to applied animal behavior or new to a specialty within AAB with experts in that specialty.
Each year the SIG offers an annual student research award in honor of Marian Breland Bailey. This year (2022) we added a Diversity Award as well. Both of these awards were presented at the SIG meeting at ABAI Boston.

The 2022 winners for the Marian Breland Bailey award were Megan McKellar (Graduate Student Recipient) and Jackie Oh (Undergraduate Student Recipient).

Our B. F. Skinner Lecture Series invited speaker was Paul McGreevy with the paper session “Equitation Science and the 5-4-3-2-1 Framework for Ethical Animal Training” (#194).

The Invited Paper Session speakers were Katie Kalafut and Alexandra Protopopova. Katie Kalafut’s paper session was “Using Technology to Extend the Collection and Use of Behavioral Data in Applied Settings” (#106). Alexandra Protopopova’s paper session was “Feeding Two Birds With One Scone: Connecting Animal Welfare Concepts With Behaviour Analysis” (#292).

While in Boston, SIG members took a field trip to tour the MSPCA with SIG member Terri Bright as our guide and hostess.

We look forward to continuing to serve our members and pursue our mission through the 2022-2023 year.