The animal behaviour collective: building confidence and breaking barriers through community

Despite increasing efforts to diversify the field of animal behaviour, systemic barriers continue to limit access and inclusion for researchers from historically underrepresented and underfunded backgrounds. These persistent inequities result in unequal opportunities for participation and advancement. The Animal Behaviour Collective (ABC) is a volunteer-led initiative that works to address the financial and structural barriers faced by students and early-career researchers in the discipline. Since its inception in 2020, ABC has distributed £23 261 in microgrants to 126 recipients to cover essential expenses often overlooked by traditional funding sources and has offered mentorship to 121 students and researchers across the globe. By prioritizing people over projects, ABC fosters inclusive participation and strives for lasting structural change within the field of animal behaviour. In this paper, we outline the motivations behind ABC's founding, chart its development and share key resources and insights gained along the way. In doing so, we hope this paper and these resources can serve as both a practical guide and a source of inspiration for others working to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in science.