Stephen Leatherwood was a vocal advocate for and a strong supporter of regionally driven research in the Asia. In 1994, Stephen facilitated the establishment of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCFHK), which provides funds to conservation-based research projects within Asia, with a particular emphasis on marine mammals. As a result of this support, our knowledge of Asian marine mammals has improved tremendously. The Stephen Leatherwood Travel Award is announced prior to the Biennial Conferences on the Biology of Marine Mammals so that outstanding Asian researchers might be able to present their work at the conference.  OPCFHK fund this travel award.

2017 Winners:
Divya Panicker
Title: Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) estuary use patterns in Kochi Harbour, India (View poster.)

Long Vu
Title: Potential of using pinger as cetacean by-catch mitigation in Vietnam: What meta-analysis can tell us? (View poster.)