Joint Conference of the Australian Mammal Society and Australasian Bat Society

Registrations for the in-person conference, symposiums and associated events have now closed (10/6/2026)

Registrations for the Online option has now also closed (5/7/2026)

A special joint conference of The Australian Mammal Society (AMS) and The Australasian Bat Society (ABS) will be held from 6th – 9th July 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the research and conservation efforts being undertaken on all mammals, both flying and non-flying. The conference will be held at The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome in Canberra, ACT.

The theme of the conference is ‘Science is not finished until it is communicated’. To explore this topic in more detail we are holding a science communications panel discussion on Monday evening, which will set the scene for the conference perfectly.   

The conference will feature an engaging program of talks and posters covering the full breadth of mammal research and conservation. Presentations will be delivered by scientists, practitioners, and mammal (non-flying and flying) enthusiasts from across the Australasian region.

In addition to the three-day conference, there will be a special day of concurrent symposiums – one focusing on Dasyurids of the Past, Present and Future and the other on Bats and Wind Farms: Research to Inform Risk Reduction.

The formal program, combined with a dynamic mix of social events, field sessions, and informal discussions, promises to inform and inspire delegates.

Below is a summary of the events planned. Please see the Australian Mammal Society website Conference 2026 | The Australian Mammal Society Inc. or the Australasian Bat Society website 2026 ABS Conference - Ausbats for full details of each event.

• Sunday (day) 5th July – Early Career Researcher workshop at Mulligans Flat, focusing on mental health and wellbeing, career advice and Mulligans Flat conservation work

• Sunday (evening) 5th July – Welcome function informal get-together and registration at Smith’s Alternative Bookshop and Cafe

• Monday (day) 6th July – Concurrent symposia on Daysurids and Bats and Wind Farms

• Monday (evening) 6th July – Science communication panel discussion with fantastic panel members and great discussions

• Tuesday – Thursday (day) 7th to 9th July – Joint Conference AMS & ABS full of great presentations and informal discussions

• Tuesday (evening) 7th July – Informal gatherings for dinner (optional)

• Wednesday (late afternoon) 8th July – AMS and ABS AGMs

• Wednesday (evening) 8th July – Conference dinner at Old Parliament House, with the costs subsidised to encourage everyone to attend, to join in the fun and camaraderie.  

• Thursday (evening) 9th July – Field trip to Mulligans Flat (optional)

• Friday (day) 10th July – Workshops and tours (optional) – additional opportunities.

We welcome everyone with an interest in mammals from across all of Australasia to join us at this conference. We look forward to seeing you in person in Canberra, but if that is not possible, we welcome you to join online to listen to the presentations. 

There are multiple registration rates based on a discount for students, a cheaper rate for members of either society (to encourage non-members to join!), and a cheaper rate for the Earlybird period to encourage you to register early to assist us with the planning and logistics. The three-day conference and one-day symposium are itemised separately. If you want to attend all four days, register for both the conference and the symposium. 

The substantial discount on the registration fee for members who are students is due to the wonderful generosity of our conference sponsors. If there are members of the AMS or ABS who are unemployed or retired for which the full rate would cause financial difficulties, please contact us to discuss the possibility of being considered for the student rate.

In addition, there are travel awards being offered by the AMS and ABS – see the conference website links above for further details.

Please fill out a separate registration form for each delegate.

Key registration dates:  

Abstracts due – 20th April 2026

Early bird registration closes – 4th May 2026

Standard registration closes – 8th June 2026

If after referring to the websites with the full details: Conference 2026 | The Australian Mammal Society Inc. or 2026 ABS Conference - Ausbats you have any further queries, please contact the organising committee at amsabs26@gmail.com