ABACLive Webinar with Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez

Presented through the ABACLive Cambridge Center Series. Helping those who help others, one live webinar at a time.

CCBS Advisor Eduardo J. Fernandez, PhD, presents “The Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) Model: A New Framework for Ethical Animal Training Practices”

Thursday, July 10, 2025
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Eastern/NY)
Recordings available until 07/25/25

This event is FREE for the general public. Or available for a discounted price with:

This Program is Approved for the Following CE Credit Types:

• 0.2 IACET CEUs
• 2.0 BACB CEUs: Ethics
• 2.0 IBAO CEUs: Ethics
  See brochure for relevant Accreditation and ACE Provider/Sponsor statements

Please link to the Event on ABAC for detailed Applicable CE provider/sponsor statements.

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Abstract

The ethics of animal training procedures have seen dramatic changes in the last few decades, with a movement toward reward-based training methods. These reward-based training practices have also been directly impacted by the behavioral and animal welfare sciences. In the last couple of decades, the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) model has been used to describe reward-based animal training methods. However, a number of problems were built into the creation of LIMA, including (a) a lack of clarity in terminology, (b) ambiguity in desired training approaches, and (c) a history of justifying aversive training methods. An alternative approach, the Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) approach is therefore proposed, which specifies (1) increasing choices by inhibiting less, (2) the importance of function, and (3) defining success as more than simply being effective. LIFE is discussed in terms of its ability to promote optimal training methods and welfare.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this event, participants should be able to:

• Identify some of the major events in the history of both animal ethics and animal training procedures.
• Identify the core tenets of the Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) model and some of the problems with this approach.
• Identify the core tenets of the Least Inhibitive Functionally Effective (LIFE) model and how this helps advance ethical animal training approaches.

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Eduardo J. Fernandez

Eduardo J. Fernandez is a Senior Lecturer of Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare and Director of the Animal Behaviour Program in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). He received his Ph.D. in Psychology (minors in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) from Indiana University, where he worked with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Zoo. He received his M.S. in Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas, where he founded the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA). Most of his past and current work involves behavioral research applied to the welfare and training of zoo, aquarium, and companion animals. He is a past Postdoctoral Fellow with the National Science Foundation and Research Fellow with University of Washington, where he ran the Behavioral Enrichment Animal Research (BEAR) group, which conducted welfare research with many of the species and exhibits located throughout Woodland Park Zoo. He currently runs the Exotic Enrichment and Learning (EEL) lab, which is dedicated to welfare research to improve the lives of zoo animals. Many of Eduardo’s past publications, research projects, and presentations can be found on his ResearchGate profile:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo_Fernandez18

*This event is FREE for the general public. For those that want a certificate of completion for continuing education credits please purchase the discounted CEs. Register on ABAC Website – FREE (NO CEs)

This event is being offered at the discounted ABACLive Cambridge Center Series price for CEUs (Learning). Behavior Analysts may earn continuing education for viewing the live event or recording. Behavior Analysts: 2 CEUs (Learning) Register on ABAC Website to Earn Continuing Education

The ABACLive Cambridge Center Series of webinars are presented by Board of Directors, Trustees, Advisors, Senior Fellows of the prestigious Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.

The ABACLive Cambridge Center Series is the result of a collaboration between The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies (CCBS) and The Applied Behavior Analysis Center, Inc (ABAC) designed to make behavioral health education accessible to the global community of professionals working to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Register on ABAC Website – FREE (NO CEs)

Register on ABAC Website to Earn Continuing Education

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