Klaus Immelmann founded the Department of Animal Behaviour at Bielefeld University and put the young university firmly on the international map of animal behaviour. Unique in Germany at its time, the new department focussed on the ontogeny of animal behaviour. His model animal was the zebra finch and the central research theme was sexual imprinting. He organized both the International Ethological Congress (1977) as well as a year-long research theme at the centre for interdisciplinary research (ZIF), both of which promoted Bielefeld as a centre for animal behaviour research nationally as well as internationally.
To honour the legacy of the first Professor of Animal Behaviour at Bielefeld University, Klaus Immelmann (1935-1987), the Immelmann-Lecture was created in 2001 with generous financial help of the Westfälisch-Lippische Universitätsgesellschaft. In November or December each year, a world-leading scientist is invited to deliver the lecture.
The 2023 Immelmann-Lecture will be delivered by Prof. Norbert Sachser, University of Münster, on the 3rd of November 2023 at 18:00 in lecture hall 12.
2020-2022: No lecture due to Corona pandemic
2019: Prof. Hanna Kokko, University of Zürich
2018: Prof. Iain Couzin, MPI für Ornithologie, Radolfzell
2017: Prof. Lloyd Peck, British Antarctic Survey
2016: Prof. Peter Kappeler, Universität Göttingen
2015: Prof. Judy Stamps, University of California at Davis
2014: Prof. Geoff Parker, University of Liverpool
2013: Dr. Jane Goodall, Jane Goodall Institute
2012: Prof. Mike Ryan, University of Texas at Austin
2011: Prof. Martin Wikelski, MPI für Ornithologie, Radolfzell
2010: Prof. Tim Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge
2009: Prof. Franjo Weissing, Universität Groningen
2008: Prof. Manfred Gahr, MPI für Ornithologie, Seewiesen
2007: Prof. Peter & Rosemary Grant, Princeton University
2006: Prof. Stephen Nowicki, Duke University
2005: Prof. Michael Tomasello, MPI für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Leipzig
2004: No lecture
2003: Prof. Nicola Clayton, University of Cambridge
2002: Prof. Eberhard Gwinner, MPI für Verhaltensphysiologie, Seewiesen
2001: Prof. Nick Davies, University of Cambridge