Why ISWE is Important
The survival of a species is dependent on maintaining the health and well-being of individuals and populations. The production of hormones is the foundation of species survival by regulating reproduction and facilitating the maintenance of homeostasis. Researchers have been evaluating and monitoring gonadal, pituitary and adrenal hormones for decades, and yet our understanding of these physiological mechanisms is limited to only a small percent (2-3%) of wildlife species. The International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE) was initiated in 2010 out of a desire by wildlife endocrinologists to further knowledge and expand resources in this field of study.
ISWE presents an opportunity for developing and applying non-invasive endocrine monitoring techniques much more broadly and systematically to help solve a variety of management problems for many zoo-held species. These tools can also be used to monitor, better understand and manage the health and well-being of wildlife.
ISWE By-Laws
Read the ISWE By-Laws, which were updated by the Board and approved by the membership in 2021. The By-Laws include a Code of Ethics and Professionalism for ISWE members.
ISWE Board
| Chair | Katie Edwards | UK | Chester Zoo |
| Chair-Elect | – | – | – |
| Vice Chair of Membership & Fundraising | Ratna Ghosal | India | Ahmedabad University |
| Vice Chair of Ethics & Special Initiatives | Kerry Fanson | Australia | La Trobe University |
| Treasurer | Tina Chiarelli | USA | University of Central Florida |
| Secretary | Kathleen Hunt | USA | George Mason University |
| Communications Chair | Tamara Keeley | Australia | University of Queensland |
| Conference Chair | Jella Wauters | Germany | Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research |
| Trainee Representative to the Board | Allie Case | USA | George Mason University |
| Emeritus Board Member | Mandi Schook | USA | Disney’s Wild Animal Kingdom |
| Emeritus Board Member | Nadja Wielebnowski | USA | Oregon Zoo |
| Emeritus Board Member | Janine Brown | USA | Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute |
| Emeritus Board Member | Linda Penfold | USA | SEZARC |
| Emeritus Board Member | Karen Goodrowe | USA | Point Defiance Zoo |
ISWE History
2017
The 6th ISWE Conference is held in Orlando, Florida at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The keynote speakers for this conference are Tyrone B. Hayes and James Gelsleichter.
2015
The 5th ISWE Conference is held in Berlin at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research. The keynote speakers for this conference are Gabriela Mastromonaco, André Ganswindt and Lee Koren.
2013
The 4th ISWE Conference is held in Chicago at Lincoln Park Zoo. The keynote speakers for this conference are Sam Wasser and Neena Schwartz.
2012
ISWE holds its 3rd annual conference at Vetmeduni Vienna, Austria. The conference focuses on “Non-invasive Monitoring of Hormones”. The keynote speakers are Janine Brown, Michael Heistermann, Erich Möstl, Tobias Deschner, Nadja Wielebnowski, Chadi Touma, Martin Dehnhard, Tim Ellis and Katharina Hirschenhauser.
2011
ISWE holds its 2nd annual conference at the Toronto Zoo. The conference offers four sessions: 1) Method Development 2) Innovative Endocrinology 3) Recent Advances in Basic Endocrinology as Applied to Adrenal Function 4) Recent Advances in Basic Endocrinology as Applied to Reproduction. The keynote address is by Glen Van Der Kraak and Rudy Boonstra.
2010
ISWE holds its 1st annual conference at the Cincinnati Zoo. The conference offers three sessions: 1) Methods Development 2) Innovative Endocrinology 3) Recent Advances in Basic Endocrinology. The keynote address is by Rupert Palme.
2010
International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE) is established. ISWE’s inaugural mission is “to advance the field of wildlife endocrinology by promoting stronger inter-disciplinary collaboration among wildlife and conservation biologists to optimize animal health, reproduction, and welfare in support of global conservation efforts” and vision is “to provide an international forum that facilitates the exchange of information and development of collaborative wildlife endocrine studies and to help advance the use of non-invasive and minimally invasive sampling technologies and assist in the standardization of methods and analyses for the scientific study of wildlife physiology both in situ and ex situ”.
2008
Two wildlife endocrinology workshops were held in 2008 and 2009 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (Front Royal, VA). It was recognized that wildlife endocrinologists have not had a setting for sharing methods, resources and knowledge about their research except for scientific publications. The majority of projects never make it to publication, because many are analyzing samples for clinical reasons (i.e., health and reproduction of one or two animals located at their facility/zoo). The information that they have gathered is extremely important. Additionally, there are a lack of resources for scientists who want to begin using these non-invasive methods.
ISWE Publishing Productivity
