Dear colleagues and friends, It is with great enthusiasm that I invite you to the XXI edition of the Portuguese Ethological Society (SPE) Congress, which will take place in Lisbon on December 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2024, at the Luso-American Foundation (FLAD). This event is organized in partnership with MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. We kindly ask you to share this invitation widely within your institutions and networks. The congress is designed to foster dialogue across multiple disciplines, with a particular focus on how ethology, behavioural ecology and how it intersects with evolutionary biology. Topics such as behavioural ecology, social learning, and cultural evolution are central themes of the event. These areas are key subfields of evolutionary biology, which is reflected in the structure of the congress and the selection of our plenary speakers. We are pleased to announce an outstanding panel of speakers, two of whom will directly address evolutionary concepts: - Prof. Kevin Laland (University of St Andrews, Scotland) will discuss themes from his upcoming book, "Evolution Evolving: The Developmental Origins of Adaptation and Biodiversity" - Dr. Sally Keith (Lancaster University, England) will introduce the concept of "Macrobehaviour: Behavioural Variation Across Space, Time, and Taxa", exploring evolutionary implications of large-scale behavioural patterns. The event will also include contributions from Dr. Megan Carey (Champalimaud Research, Portugal) and Dr. João Saraiva (CCMAR - University of Algarve, Portugal), bringing valuable insights from neuroscience and animal welfare, respectively. These talks, combined with workshops, poster sessions, and oral presentations, aim to enrich our understanding of animal behaviour. A highlight of this edition will be a debate on the impact of April 25th on science and scientific societies in Portugal, marking the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in the country's history. The discussion will focus on how this event shaped the evolution of research, education, and the scientific community. We encourage your participation through oral or poster presentations, with the submission deadline extended to October 18th (NEW DATE). Additionally, we welcome workshop proposals for activities on December 7th at the Guia Maritime Laboratory in Cascais. For more details about the congress, including submission guidelines and the full program, please visit our official website (www.etologia.pt/congress2024) and follow us on social media. We look forward to your participation in making this congress a success and advancing discussions on ethology and evolutionary biology. Kind regards, José Ricardo Paula, PhD President, Portuguese Ethological Society (SPE) ISPA - Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal www.etologia.pt geral@etologia.pt José Ricardo Paula, PhD Presidente Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia ISPA - Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal www.etologia.pt geral@etologia.pt José Ricardo Paula (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)