June 26th 2025 - 12:30 pm @Católica Medical School Multicare auditorium
Keynote speaker: Susana Varela
hosted by Paulo Bettencourt
Susana Varela is an Assistant Professor at the Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde e Enfermagem (FCSE) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) and an External Researcher at the Integrative Behavioural Biology Group (IBBG) of the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). Her research focuses on social behaviour through two primary lenses: Behavioural Ecology, examining the ecological conditions that shape adaptive social behaviours and the role of social information in their evolution; and Behavioural Neurobiology, exploring the cognitive mechanisms by which animals acquire, process, and use social information.
In addition, she pursues interdisciplinary interests in Sociocultural Evolution, particularly how the transmission of social information influences the development of culture, communication, and language; Conservation Behaviour and Psychology, addressing both the role of social information in conservation-relevant behaviours and the psychological factors that influence human engagement in conservation; and Research Ethics.
Deeply committed to teaching, science education, communication, and outreach, Susana is passionate about fostering scientific literacy and public engagement with science.
A lunchbox will be available during the seminar for all participants. To ensure your meal is reserved, please register in advance on the CAC website. Registration is required to guarantee your lunchbox:
