The 23rd European Congress of Herpetology and Ordinary General Meeting of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica will take place at Bonn, Germany from 8th to 12th September 2025. The SEH congress is the premier herpetological event for researchers and enthusiasts in Europe. The congress brings together experts to discuss the latest advancements in herpetology, share research findings, and collaborate on the conservation and study of amphibians and reptiles. Bonn is looking forward to hosting this congress for the third time. The upcoming meeting will be at the Gustav-Stresemann-Institut—only the opening reception will be hosted at the Museum Koenig.
About the congress
What to expect at the SEH congress?
Cutting-edge research presentations
Expect a wide range of talks and poster presentations on various topics within herpetology: from ethology and ecology to conservation strategies, biogeography, evolution, systematics, and many more. Leading scientists and emerging researchers will present their most recent findings and explore the future directions of herpetological research.
Interactive workshops and symposia
Engage in hands-on workshops and symposia with a focus on specific topics of herpetology that will offer in-depth discussions and practical learning experiences.
Networking and collaboration
The SEH congress brings together like-minded people from across Europe and beyond. Researchers, conservationists, and enthusiasts will discuss new ideas and share their expertise. Whether you’re a seasoned herpetologist or a young student, use the opportunity to form lasting professional relationships during coffee breaks and social events.
Conference programme and abstracts
Preliminary schedule
| Monday 8 Sept. | Tuesday 9 Sept. | Wednesday 10 Sept. | Thursday 11 Sept. | Friday 12 Sept. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Museum Koenig |  Gustav-Stresemann-Institut | ||||
| 09:00 | Registration | Registration | Registration | Registration | |
| 10:00 | Plenary talk | Plenary talk | Plenary talk | Plenary talk | |
| 11:00 | Scientific programme | Scientific programme | Scientific programme | Scientific programme | |
| 16:00 | Registration | Poster session | Poster session | Scientific programme | Conference closing |
| 18:00 | Opening & Icebreaker | Gala dinner | |||
Plenary speakers
Morphology
topic to be announced
Angele Martins
Universidade de Brasília
websiteEvolution
topic to be announced
Mark Scherz
Natural History Museum Copenhagen
websiteEthology
topic to be announced
Lisa Schulte
Goethe University Frankfurt
websiteEcology
topic to be announced
David Tarkhnishvili
Ilia State University
website
Symposia and workshops
We welcome proposals for symposia and workshops. Please send your proposal no later than 15 May 2025 to Stefan Lötters on behalf of the scientific committee. We reserved time blocks for half-day symposia. Please include the following information in your proposal submission:
- Title
- Organiser(s)/chair(s)
- Topic abstract (no more than 250 words)
- Five or more names of potential speakers
Please note that talks are usually 15+5 minutes, so that a symposium from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. might have up to 10 talks when a 30-minute break is considered. Scheduling is preliminary and may be adjusted. Unfortunately, due to limited budget resources, we are unable to cover the costs for registration, accommodation and travel for symposium speakers.
Social events
Icebreaker
The icebreaker will take place on Monday evening, 8 September 2025 directly after the opening ceremony in the “Festsaal” of the Museum Koenig. Meet other participants in an informal setting and enjoy the catering.
Gala dinner
The gala dinner will take place on Thursday evening, 11 September 2025 in the festive rooms of the Gustav-Stresemann-Institut. It is not included in the registration fees, however, it can be booked for an additional fee when registering for the conference.
Pre- and post-conference activities
Museum tour
Bonn’s herpetology veteran Wolfgang Böhme will give a guided tour through the exhibition, its history, and behind the scenes and collections of the Museum Koenig. Please note that the number of participants is limited and the tour may not be available for late registrations. The tour will take place before the opening ceremony on Monday afternoon, 8 September 2025 and last 1–1.5 hours.
Excursion
We are still evaluating different options for the field trip on Saturday, 13 September 2025. Most likely, the field trip will be a hike through the nearby Siebengebirge or a visit to a renaturalised gravel pit. More information will follow soon.