Dr. Susan Alberts is a Professor of Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University and one of the most influential primatologists of her generation. She co-directs the long-running Amboseli Baboon Research Project, which has been a cornerstone for understanding primate behavior, life history, and social evolution. Her research delves into the relationships between sociality, health, and fitness, exploring how social bonds impact longevity and reproductive success in nonhuman primates. Dr. Alberts uses innovative techniques to study the genetic and environmental factors underlying complex social behaviours. Her work spans various disciplines, including behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and population dynamics, and she has contributed significantly to our understanding of primate societies as models for human evolution. She has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and has received prestigious awards like the Distinguished Animal Behaviorist Award from the Animal Behavior Society. Dr. Alberts is also a champion for interdisciplinary research and mentorship, fostering collaboration between scientists from diverse fields to tackle big questions in behavioral ecology and conservation.

Dr. Gene E. Robinson is a globally renowned behavioral genomics expert and the Director of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His pioneering research on honeybees has revolutionized our understanding of the molecular basis of social behavior. Dr. Robinson has elucidated how genes and neural mechanisms influence behaviours such as foraging, aggression, and division of labour within colonies. His work has advanced the field of sociogenomics, demonstrating how environmental and social cues regulate gene expression to drive complex behaviour. A member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, he has received numerous accolades, including the Wolf Prize in Agriculture, for his groundbreaking contributions. Dr. Robinson's interdisciplinary approach integrates genomics, neuroscience, and ecology, offering profound insights into the mechanisms underlying sociality in animals. He is also an advocate for science communication and education, promoting the study of behavioral biology to address global challenges.

Dr. Toshitaka Suzuki is an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo and a pioneer in the field of animal linguistics, leading the world's first dedicated laboratory on this subject. His research integrates animal behavior, linguistics, and cognitive science to understand how animals, particularly social species like birds and mammals, use communication in survival and reproduction. Dr. Suzuki's groundbreaking work on Japanese tits revealed that their vocalizations are referential and compositional, akin to human language, and can evoke mental images in listeners. His studies on interspecies eavesdropping and alarm calls have been widely recognized. Through his career, he has contributed significantly to our understanding of the cognitive and evolutionary foundations of animal communication, with implications for fields like AI, conservation, and animal welfare.

Prof. Rohini Balakrishnan is a Professor at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and a leading authority in the fields of bioacoustics and animal behavior. Her research focuses on acoustic communication in animals, with a special emphasis on insects and vertebrates in tropical forests. She has extensively studied the ecology and evolution of acoustic signals, examining how environmental noise, predation pressure, and ecological constraints influence the design and function of animal communication systems. Dr. Balakrishnan has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding how crickets and katydids use acoustic signals for mate attraction and predator avoidance. Her interdisciplinary work integrates behavioral ecology, sensory biology, and evolutionary biology, and her findings have shed light on the challenges faced by animals in noisy and dynamic habitats. A Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, she has received numerous accolades, including the Indian National Science Academy Medal for Young Scientists. Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Balakrishnan is also recognized as a mentor and advocate for ecological research in India, inspiring a new generation of scientists to explore the complex interactions between animals and their environments.

Dr. Patricia Izar is a Professor at the Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, and a prominent researcher in primate behavior and cognitive ecology. Her work focuses on the cultural transmission of behavior, tool use, and social structures in New World monkeys, especially capuchins. Through extensive field studies in Brazil, she has demonstrated how these monkeys adapt their behaviours to environmental challenges, offering insights into the cognitive flexibility and problem-solving abilities of primates. Dr. Izar's research also investigates the social dynamics of capuchin groups, including dominance hierarchies, alliances, and maternal investment strategies. A pioneer in the study of behavioral traditions, her work has highlighted the parallels between human and nonhuman primate cultures. She has contributed to advancing the understanding of how ecology and social interaction drive behavioral evolution. As a mentor, she has inspired and trained many young scientists in Latin America, furthering the study of primate cognition and conservation in the region.

Sam Ellis is a behavioral ecologist who specializes in understanding the complexities of animal social systems and their evolutionary implications. His research spans diverse taxa, including killer whales, ants, and primates, to investigate how social connections shape individual fitness, survival, and reproduction. Ellis uses advanced social network analysis to explore patterns of cooperation and kinship in resident killer whales, with particular focus on age-related changes in relatedness and the evolution of menopause, a rare phenomenon observed in toothed whales. His interests extend to comparative social evolution, aiming to uncover universal principles underlying sociality across species.

Beyond aquatic mammals, Ellis also explores polydomy in ants, examining how distributed nests impact colony functioning and ecological adaptation. His work combines field studies, statistical modeling, and theoretical approaches to address questions about the evolution of social behavior. Through his interdisciplinary research, Ellis contributes to a broader understanding of the interplay between ecology, kinship, and social structure in shaping the lives of animals.

Dr. Mewa Singh is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Mysore and a pioneering figure in behavioral ecology and primate conservation in India. With decades of research on bonnet macaques, lion-tailed macaques, and other Indian primates, Dr. Singh has made seminal contributions to understanding primate social behavior, foraging ecology, and habitat use. His work has been instrumental in addressing human-wildlife conflict, particularly in urban and agricultural landscapes. Dr. Singh has also studied the behavioral adaptability of primates in degraded habitats, providing valuable insights for conservation strategies. A Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, he has received numerous accolades, including the Primate Society of India's Lifetime Achievement Award. Beyond primates, his research spans urban ecology and the behavior of diverse Indian wildlife, bridging conservation science and human dimensions. As an educator and conservation advocate, Dr. Singh has inspired generations of researchers to study and protect India's rich biodiversity.