Michael Greenfield | Animal Communication | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof. Michael Greenfield | Animal Communication | Lifetime achievement Award

Michael D. Greenfield is an acclaimed evolutionary and behavioral biologist 🐞, renowned for pioneering research on animal communication, sexual selection, and sensory ecology 🌍; his distinguished academic path spans UCLA, University of Kansas 🇺🇸, Université de Tours 🇫🇷, and CNRS, shaping minds and advancing knowledge in evolutionary biology through fieldwork across continents 🌿; naturalized French citizen 🇫🇷 and US native 🇺🇸, Dr. Greenfield’s global scientific contributions blend research, teaching, and leadership, inspiring generations in bioacoustics and evolutionary ecology 🎓🔬.

Profile

Education 🎓

Michael D. Greenfield earned his Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison 🎓, focusing on evolutionary and behavioral biology, following a B.A. from New York University in 1973 🏙️; his education laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of animal communication, acoustic signaling 📡, and sexual selection, fostering bilingual scientific excellence in both English and French 🇺🇸🇫🇷, with academic roots inspiring worldwide field research and collaborations in behavior, ecology, and evolutionary genetics 🔍🦋.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Greenfield’s career spans decades of teaching and research: UCLA Assistant-Professor (1981–87) & Associate-Professor (1987–93) 🎓, Kansas Professor (1991–2007) 🌾, Université de Tours Professeur Classe Exceptionnelle (2005–2018) 🇫🇷, and CNRS researcher 🔬; additionally, he held roles as NSF Program Director (2002–2004) 🏛️, Entomology Chair at Kansas (1995–1999) 🪲, and remains Adjunct Professor at KU and Professeur Invité in France, with vast international fieldwork in Costa Rica, France, Africa, and the U.S., enriching behavioral ecology globally 🌍🧪.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Michael D. Greenfield’s scientific excellence earned him Fellow status with the Animal Behavior Society in 2002 🐝, a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship (1978–79) 📜, and memberships in Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta, and Gamma Sigma Delta 🎖️; he secured numerous NSF, EPA, and ANR grants for cutting-edge research on insect acoustic signals 🎶, reproductive behavior 🦗, and evolutionary ecology, highlighting his global influence through invited symposia, mentorship, and contributions to international ethology and neuroethology communities 🧠🌟.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Greenfield’s research probes the evolutionary genetics of sexual selection and animal signaling 🎧, especially acoustic and chemical communication in moths 🦋, grasshoppers 🦗, frogs 🐸, and fireflies ✨; he dissects mating systems, lekking behavior, bioluminescence, signal evolution, sensory ecology 🌿, and alternative reproductive tactics, blending empirical fieldwork with experimental neuroethology 🧠, creating insights into biodiversity, adaptation, and communication systems, and bridging entomology with broader evolutionary theory across global ecosystems 🌍🔍.

Publications 

Joshua Coste | Movement Ecology | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Joshua Coste | Movement Ecology | Young Scientist Award

Joshua Coste is a marine biologist and ecologist specializing in movement ecology, navigation behavior, and population genetics. He completed his BEST-ALI master’s program at the University of La Réunion and has conducted research at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (University of Exeter). His work focuses on seabird homing navigation and population connectivity, integrating tracking and genetic techniques. He has been involved in international fieldwork, collaborating with the ENTROPIE lab, SEOR, and the UK Chagos Archipelago research team. His latest research, published in Animal Behaviour, highlights the adaptive navigation of red-footed boobies. He has presented at international conferences, including the 16th International Seabird Group Conference.

Profile

Education 🎓

Joshua earned his Master’s in Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution from the University of La Réunion, specializing in tropical, aquatic, coastal, and island ecosystems (2022–2024). His bachelor’s degree in Biology-Ecology was from Nantes University, France (2019–2022). He also holds a scientific high school diploma with honors, specializing in Engineering Sciences. His academic training includes practical work in marine biology, genetic analysis, and ecological modeling. His education has equipped him with expertise in spatial analysis, seabird tracking, and conservation genetics.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Joshua has completed multiple research internships worldwide. At the University of Exeter, he studied the homing navigation of red-footed boobies using GPS data. At the University of La Réunion, he analyzed the genetic structure of Barau’s Petrel colonies. His internship at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, involved studying coral competition. At IFREMER Bretagne, he worked on archaea cultures in extreme environments. He also supported students with disabilities at Handisup, Nantes. His voluntary experience includes seabird monitoring with ENTROPIE, coral reef assessments, and conservation work with BESTRUN.

Research Interests 🔬

Joshua specializes in movement ecology, behavioral ecology, and population genetics. His research explores seabird navigation, homing efficiency, and environmental adaptation. His study on red-footed boobies demonstrated how seabirds adjust flight paths based on daylight constraints. He has worked on connectivity between seabird colonies, philopatry’s influence on genetic diversity, and coral reef ecosystem dynamics. His interdisciplinary approach combines fieldwork, genetic analysis, and computational modeling.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Joshua was nominated for the Young Scientist Award by the International Cognitive Scientist Awards. His research on seabird navigation was recognized at the 16th International Seabird Group Conference. His Animal Behaviour publication has gained academic recognition. He actively contributes to international collaborations in marine biology and conservation.

Publications 📚

  • Homing navigation is optimized to diurnal constraints in a tropical seabird, the red-footed booby

    Animal Behaviour
    2025-04 | Journal article
    CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Coste; Stephen C. Votier; Ruth E. Dunn; Robin Freeman; Malcolm A. Nicoll; Peter Carr; Hannah Wood; Alice M. Trevail