Bats take centre stage at the International Society for Behavioral Ecology conference 2026

This July, the BATMAN team travelled to Turin, northern Italy, to attend the International Society for Behavioural Ecology (ISBE) Conference at the Lingotto Conference Centre. Bringing together hundreds of researchers from around the world, the five-day conference celebrated the latest advances in animal behaviour through inspiring plenary lectures, parallel scientific sessions, poster presentations, workshops and networking events.

The programme showcased the incredible diversity of behavioural ecology, with research spanning birds, amphibians, insects, fish, reptiles and mammals, including, of course, bats!

Dr Chrissy Stanley presented preliminary results investigating how artificial light at night influences the in-roost behaviour and emergence timing of lesser horseshoe bats.

Dr Camilla Soravia shared early findings on how anthropogenic noise affects the behaviour of lesser horseshoe bats.

Topics ranged from animal communication, social behaviour and parental care to migration, conservation, anthropogenic impacts, cognition, sexual selection and climate change, highlighting the breadth and innovation of behavioural ecology research worldwide. 

The conference provided a fantastic opportunity for the BATMAN team to share our latest findings with an international audience, whilst providing valuable opportunities to exchange ideas with behavioural ecologists from across the globe.

Of course, ISBE isn't just about science! Alongside a packed programme of world-class talks, the week offered plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow researchers through mentor–mentee sessions, social events, karaoke and even dragon boat racing! It was an inspiring and enjoyable week, leaving the BATMAN team full of new ideas, collaborations and plenty of enthusiasm!

Lucy Morison presented a poster exploring the physiological effects of light and noise exposure at maternity roosts.

BATMAN Team at the 9th International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology Conference

Bringing you up to speed, members of our BATMAN team attended the 9^th International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE) Conference, held at the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri, USA, from the 3^rd to 6^th of November 2025. The conference brought together leading researchers and practitioners from around the world, working at the intersection of wildlife endocrinology, animal welfare, reproductive biology, stress physiology and conservation.

As part of the programme, Lucy Morison presented her research exploring the physiological responses of lesser horseshoe bats to anthropogenic disturbance, sharing findings with an international audience of experts in wildlife endocrinology. Lucy was supported by her supervisor, Professor Tessa Smith.

Beyond the opportunity to showcase our research, the conference provided an excellent platform for learning, collaboration and knowledge exchange. We explored innovative approaches to non-invasive hormone monitoring, reproductive biomarkers, physiological stress assessment and integrative measures of animal health. It was particularly inspiring to see how advances in wildlife endocrinology are helping researchers better understand animal responses to environmental pressures and, ultimately, contribute to improving wildlife health, welfare and conservation around the world.

top: Lucy Morison delivering a talk on how to reliably quantify cortisol from lesser horseshoe bats' faecal samples right: Tessa and Lucy at the conference venue

Sharing BATMAN research with the bat community

Tessa, Chrissy and Lucy at the Irish Bat Conference

Closer to home, Dr Chrissy Stanley represented the BATMAN team as a plenary speaker at the Irish Bat Conference at Queen’s University Belfast in March 2026. Chrissy opened the conference with an overview of the BATMAN project and shared some exciting preliminary findings on how the predictability of noise pollution can affect bat behaviour inside the roost. Chrissy was supported by colleagues Professor Tessa Smith and Lucy Morison, who were incredibly proud to see her deliver such a fantastic talk and showcase the exciting work of the BATMAN team. 

The conference was incredibly informative, welcoming and well organised, providing a fantastic opportunity to share our research with an audience of bat experts from across the community. However, it wasn’t just about presenting our research. We were also delighted to discuss the importance of wild bat welfare and involve the conference audience in our research. Their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm provided valuable perspectives that will help us continue to shape our work. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversations, and to seeing where the next bat adventure takes us!

From bat kites to conservation: inspiring the next generation of bat champions

Our bat public engagement events are about so much more than sharing facts about bats; they’re about sparking curiosity, changing perceptions and inspiring people to become the next generation of bat conservationists.

Dr Camilla Soravia and Dr Chrissy Stanley recently took our educational stand to the BioNet Nature Day at Nantclwyd Y Dre in Ruthin, where visitors (including Mr. Badger) could discover more about bats, an often misunderstood animal.

One of the highlights was our fantastic interactive board, which showcased the impact our outreach work is having on the public’s perceptions of bats and their willingness to support bat conservation.

Visitors were able to explore simple, practical ways they can make their own gardens more bat-friendly, from creating suitable habitats to thinking about how their outdoor spaces can better support local wildlife. Most importantly, the stand encouraged people to ask questions, learn more and see bats in a new light. This is extremely important for bat conservation, as people who understand bats and are interested in bats are much more likely to care about them, want to support their protection and make positive changes for wildlife in their own communities.

Seeing children engage in our activities, ask lots of questions and leave our stand excited to learn more is a fantastic reminder of why we do what we do.

This is not all! Professor Tessa Smith and PhD student Lucy Morison held a bat engagement event at Tarvin Woodland for a fantastic nature day on the 27th of September 2025. While the children were creative making their very own wonderful bat kites, our BATMAN team had the opportunity to chat with parents about our research project, answer any questions people had and talk about the vital role conservation plays in protecting our wild bat populations. Not only are these events lots of fun, but behind every conversation and homemade bat kite there is an opportunity to make a difference. We can challenge common misconceptions about bats, build appreciation for these incredible animals and show people that everyone can play a part in protecting them!

Stay tuned to our Instagram, @batman_research_lab🦇

Make sure post notifications are switched ON so you don’t miss where we’ll be popping up next with our BATMAN stand…come say hello, get involved, and be part of the BATMAN experience!