Dear BERGers, This is a reminder that this Wednesday (4pm) we have a seminar with Dr Léo Perrier (University of Neuchatel) giving a talk entitled "Studying animal signal evolution: a data-driven approach to vocal communication". Please see the abstract below. The meeting will be held online (link below). Abstract: In recent years, the study of animal vocal signals has become increasingly common. And for good reasons: vocal communication plays a crucial role in social life, by regulating interactions, alarming from predators or carrying group and individual identity. However, analyses of vocalizations are not straightforward: they can be conducted at different, often complementary levels, and integrating them into a biological perspective can be challenging, especially due to the apparition of emerging, data-driven methods. From treating acoustic signals as simple behavioral traits to employing complex call classifications and generative AI, these methods can provide valuable insights into the evolution of animal communication. However, they only gain their full meaning when interpreted within an ecological and evolutionary framework. Link to the meeting: BERG research seminars | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3816460052135?p=xsEIefROgXSXlZHxc0> BERG seminar schedule (Fall 2025) Date Speaker Affiliation Talk title Chair Format 1-Oct-25 Léo Perrier University of Neuchâtel Dynamics of vocal communication: a meta-analytic approach to language diversification Pawel Online 8-Oct-25 Berta Roura-Torres Georg-August University Göttingen Early life adversity predicts physical development in young Pawel Online 15-Oct-25 Luke Townrow John Hopkins University tbc: great apes cognition Alex tbc 22-Oct-25 Julia Chase University of Stirling tbc: human-carrion crow interactions Pawel F2F 29-Oct-25 MID SEMESTER BREAK 5-Nov-25 IMPACT meeting Pawel F2F 12-Nov-25 Mélissa Berthet University of Rennes tbc: vocal behaviour in bonobos Pawel Online 19-Nov-25 Eleonore Rolland Eleonore Rolland tbc: mother-infant attachment in wild chimpanzees Pawel Online 26-Nov-25 3-Dec-25 Floriane Fournier Université Jean Monnet "tbc: The role of nonlinear phenomena in vocal emotional expression and perception in bonobos " Pawel Online 10-Dec-25 tbc ________________________________ Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159