Programme

Instructions for Presenters

Information will follow soon!

Venue & Location

The Annual Meeting of the Ethological Society 2024 will be held at the University of Münster campus. The university is located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, and was founded in 1780. The city's attitude to life is clearly influenced by the university. The countless students populate the city's beer gardens and public spaces, especially when the weather is good. Of course, the bicycle as the main means of transport fits in particularly well with this relaxed lifestyle.

The behavioural sciences in Münster have a long tradition that has been shaped by names like Bernhard Rensch, Konrad Lorenz, Gerti Dücker, and Norbert Sachser. Today, research and teaching in this discipline are represented by Sylvia Kaiser, Helene Richter, and Melanie Dammhahn.

All events of the conference will be held in the Schloss Münster, officially called the “Fürstbischöfliches Schloss Münster”. It was built as the residence of the prince-bishop of Münster, modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was built between 1767 and 1787 in baroque style as a mansion for Maximilian Friedrich von Königsegg-Rothenfels. Since 1954 it has been the seat and landmark of the University of Münster. The castle is built from the typical Baumberger sandstone of Münster.

Today it is the administrative headquarters of the University of Münster. The Institute of Botany in the Department of Biology at the University of Münster, which was built at the end of the 19th century, is located in the castle garden. At the same time, the institute's botanical garden is located there, which is definitely worth a visit.

Things to do in Münster

Münster is a charming city with plenty of sightseeing and fun activities to offer. Here are some of the top things to do in the area:

1. Explore the Altstadt: Altstadt, or Old Town, is home to historic buildings and charming streets, perfect for a leisurely stroll or shopping.
2. Take a walk in the Botanical Garden: The Botanical Garden is perfect for a relaxing walk and is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife.
3. Visit the Allwetter Zoo: The zoo features many different species and a small aquarium.
4. Check out the numerous museums: There are many interesting museums in the city, such as the LWL Museum of Natural History (with a Planetarium), Geomuseum of the University of Münster, Friedenssaal (Hall of Peace), City Museum of Münster and LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur.
5. Visit St Lambert's Church: The church is an impressive example of Westphalian late Gothic architecture and lies on the north side of the Prinzipalmarkt (main market square) in the city centre.
6. Stroll along the Aasee: The lake is a popular recreation destination near the city centre and the university.
7. Visit the Rieselfelder: The Rieselfelder are an EU Special Protection Area. It is part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas and offers refuge for many endangered bird species. It is located north of the Coerde district.

Travel within Münster

By foot, the schloss lies roughly 2km (30 min) from the train station. There are several busses (e.g., lines 11, 12) that go from the train station to the Schloss. Just find the bus stop closest to your accommodation and type it in Goggle Maps or the Deutsche Bahn Navigator App and it will give you the best route and departure times.

Map of Münster showing the train station and the conference venue.

Hotels

Click here to see a list of possible hotels.

FAQ

Will childcare be provided?

For parents, we will provide professional childcare. Please inform us during the registration or as soon as possible afterwards if you would like to bring your child/children to the conference together with his/her/their age and we will try our best to make this conference a lively experience for everyone.

For breastfeeding mothers, we will provide a calm and comfortable room in which you can use a breast pump or feed your baby undisturbed.

I have a para-ability or other special need, will you be able to accommodate this?

We can offer support during the conference through technical devices such as an inductive listening system and will assist in finding a suitable sign language interpreter. Furthermore, we want to ensure unlimited mobility during the conference regardless of personal limitations in movability. If you require any other assistance, please let us know during registration or soon thereafter.

Can I cancel my registration, and if so, is there a cancelation fee?

Cancellation with 80% refunding is possible until January 31 2024. Thereafter, we cannot refund payments of the registration fee.

How can I report unacceptable behaviour?

If you experience any instance of discrimination, assault, unwanted sexual attention, inappropriate comments, or any other unacceptable behaviours, please reach out to us by going to the Information Desk, contacting one of us through email (kaisesy@uni-muenster.de or rrimbach@uni-muenster.de) or by approaching one of our team members at the venue. 

Can I bring my children to the conference dinner?

Yes, that is possible. Please inform us if you plan to bring your child/children to the dinner so we can organize a sufficient number of highchairs, if required.

COVID-19 information

There are no COVID-19 related restrictions in Germany. There are no more mandatory medical masks in public transport.