Category Archives: Society News

2017: A Marine Mammal Odyssey, Eh!

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We are pleased to announce on December 5th, 2016 the opening of registration, abstract submission, and workshop proposals for the 22nd Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.

The 22nd Biennial will be hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 22nd-27th 2017, with workshops to be held October 28th-29th. Halifax is one of Canada’s foremost marine sciences, technological and conservation hubs and offers an exciting venue for the first Biennial to come to Canada’s east coast.

Reflecting on the journey that marine mammals and the people who study them have taken together over the years and the voyage that remains ahead for us (with a little Canadian flair), the theme for our conference is: 2017: A Marine Mammal Odyssey, Eh!

We have brought together a dynamic international team to prepare the very best conference experience for you. The program we are developing includes not only thought-provoking science, but also fun events including a welcoming reception with traditional Nova Scotia music on the waterfront and a masquerade ball themed closing celebration. This year we will also offer an exciting new presentation format – video presentations! This new format allows you to combine your science and creative talents, providing a bridge between science and art. Instructions and examples can be found on the conference website and we encourage you to try it.

We are happy to accept abstract submissions and workshop proposals until noon on March 29th 2017 (ADT). Submissions will not be accepted beyond this date. Visit the conference website for the abstract submission and workshop proposal guidelines, registration instructions, information about the conference and important dates: http://www.smmconference.org/. Be sure to check back regularly and join our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1060310684008883/ to keep up-to-date on all the conference happenings!

We look forward to seeing everyone in 2017 in Canada’s Ocean Playground!

Sincerely,

Your conference and scientific program co-chairs,

 Tonya Wimmers & Hilary Moors-Murphy and Sofie Van Parijs & Damian Lidgard

conference@marinemammalscience.org

SMM 2017 Biennial Conference Abstracts and Registration Open

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We are pleased to announce on December 5th, 2016 the opening of registration, abstract submission, and workshop proposals for the 22nd Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.

The 22nd Biennial will be hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 22nd-27th 2017, with workshops to be held October 28th-29th. Halifax is one of Canada’s foremost marine sciences, technological and conservation hubs and offers an exciting venue for the first Biennial to come to Canada’s east coast.

Reflecting on the journey that marine mammals and the people who study them have taken together over the years and the voyage that remains ahead for us (with a little Canadian flair), the theme for our conference is: 2017: A Marine Mammal Odyssey, Eh!

We have brought together a dynamic international team to prepare the very best conference experience for you. The program we are developing includes not only thought-provoking science, but also fun events including a welcoming reception with traditional Nova Scotia music on the waterfront and a masquerade ball themed closing celebration. This year we will also offer an exciting new presentation format – video presentations! This new format allows you to combine your science and creative talents, providing a bridge between science and art. Instructions and examples can be found on the conference website and we encourage you to try it.

We are happy to accept abstract submissions and workshop proposals until noon on March 29th 2017 (ADT). Submissions will not be accepted beyond this date. Visit the conference website for the abstract submission and workshop proposal guidelines, registration instructions, information about the conference and important dates: http://www.smmconference.org/. Be sure to check back regularly and join our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1060310684008883/ to keep up-to-date on all the conference happenings!

We look forward to seeing everyone in 2017 in Canada’s Ocean Playground!

Sincerely,

Your conference and scientific program co-chairs

Tonya & Hilary and Sofie & Damian

conference@marinemammalscience.org

SMM President, Jay Barlow, at Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biology Diversity

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Your president, Jay Barlow, is currently representing the SMM at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-CBD) in Cancun, Mexico. The Society was invited to participate by Mexico’s environmental minister, Rafael Pachiano Alaman, who was one of the recipients of the SMM Conservation Merit Award at the last biennial. The theme of this year’s meeting (COP13) is the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation. In this context, “mainstreaming” means spreading the responsibility for biodiversity conservation from the environmental ministries to other sectors of government, including fisheries, forestry, and agriculture.  Barlow issued a position statement from the SMM pleading for additional help in preventing the extinction of the vaquita:  https://www.cbd.int/cop/cop-13/hls/statements/statement-society-for-marine-mammalogy-en.pdf.

John Heyning Award Winner 2016

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The John E. Heyning Award is for the best proposal received from an established researcher to investigate any area of cetacean integrative biology that relates to diverse aspects of biology within an evolutionary context. Many thanks to the review committee who assessed the five applicants submitted in 2016.

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The winner is  Rachel. A. Racicot 

Predicting hearing sensibilities of beaked whales using inner ear morphology

EBS Award Winners 2016

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The Emily B. Shane Award (EBS) supports conservation-oriented, non-harmful field research on free-ranging Odontocetes and Sirenians. The award honours Emily B. Shane (1924-1995), a fine amateur naturalist and dedicated conservationist. There were more than 30 eligible applicants for the 2016 awards and many thanks to the two review teams who assessed the proposals.

The 2016 winners are:
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Shambhu Paudel
Understanding the effects of artisanal fishing on the ecology of Ganges River dolphin in Nepal

 

 

 

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Federico Secunza
Filling a Conservation Gap: Bycatch estimates of the Franciscana dolphin in southern Brazil

2016 Small Grants-in-Aid of Research Recipients

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Forty-eight applications from 15 countries were received for the 2016 SMM Small Grants-in-Aid of Research program. The Society was able to fund 12 of the applications. All applicants received valued feedback on their proposals from the members of the Committee of Scientific Advisors who evaluated the applications. The award recipients will be conducting a range of research on marine mammal science and conservation as indicated by the following list of applicants and projects funded.

See the list of 2016 Small Grants-in-Aid Research Recipients here.

UK and Ireland Regional Student Chapter Conference 18-20 January 2017

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The UK and Ireland Regional Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy is pleased to announce its annual student conference. This will take place between 18th – 20th of January 2017 at the Marine Station, Plymouth University, England. Abstract deadline is 4th of January, 2017. For full details and to register, visit http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/ukrsc/2017-conference-plymouth-england/ukirsc-poster-2017-2-709x1024

SMM President, Jay Barlow, to attend Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 13) in December 2016

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Jay Barlow, Society for Marine Mammalogy President, has been invited to attend the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 13).

The purpose of this meeting is to set the scene and provide the necessary impetus to make progress on specific issues in conservation and to discuss challenges and opportunities. During COP 13, about ten thousand participants, including representatives of the countries parties, observer countries, international organizations and others interested will meet in Cancun to negotiate agreements and commitments that give impulse to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as well as the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi goals.

Jay’s presence at the meeting will help to promote the goals of the SMM’s conservation committee in the worldwide conservation of marine mammals in being the go-to source for governments and NGOs to obtain facts and unbiased reviews. 

The meeting will take place in Cancun, Mexico on December 1-2, 2016. To find out more about the meeting, visit: http://cop13.mx/en/science-for-biodiversity-forum/

Third annual student conference for the California Student Chapter of SMM

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We are excited to announce the third annual student conference for the California Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy at Moss Landing Marine Labs. All undergraduates, graduate, and recently graduated students are welcome to attend and are invited to submit an abstract.

Please register here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6KGQKW2) as soon as possible if you plan on attending. We are asking for $15 per registration to cover food and drinks (this will be collected later). Lunch will be provided and everyone is welcome to join us for a BBQ and drinks following the talks (5:30pm-7:30pm).

Abstracts need to be submitted here by September 15, 2016. Email us at californiastudentsmm@gmail.com if you have any questions, and check out our website for more updates.

We look forward to seeing everyone in October,

Rachel Holser and Liz McHuron
California Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy

ANZ Student Chapter Meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy

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Dear ANZSCSMM members,

We are delighted to announce the third ANZ Student Chapter Meeting of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. The conference will take place on November 24th and 25th, 2016, starting at 9 am at Flinders University (South Australia).

Last year’s conference was a great success and students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share their research, improve their presentation skills, and to network with fellow peers and professionals in the marine mammal field.

We would like to invite all university students (undergraduates to postdocs) from Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia to join us in South Australia, and encourage attendees to give an oral presentation (15 min.) or to present a poster about their current work on marine mammals.

To facilitate logistical planning and the allocation of funds for the event, we request all students wanting to participate to express their interest by:

–        Sending an e-mail as soon as possible to anzscsmm@gmail.com<mailto:anzscsmm@gmail.com> (CC: j.patino-perez@massey.ac.nz<mailto:j.patino-perez@massey.ac.nz>) with the subject “ANZSCSMM Meeting”, your name, affiliation, the state/country you’ll be traveling from, and any dietary requirements;

–        Or, if you haven’t already done so, by completing the membership form (https://www.marinemammalscience.org/for-students/chapters/australianew-zealand-smm-student-chapter/) and returning it with the information requested above (NOTE: membership to the chapter is free!).

Participants wishing to present must also submit an abstract (max. 300 words) by October 15th, 2016. Participation in the meeting is free for all ANZSCSMM members. All meals will be covered for the two-day meeting. Additional funds are being sought for the provision of accommodation for all attendees from outside of Adelaide. Further details will be available shortly.

Looking forward to meeting you all,

ANZ Student Chapter Heads

P.S. We are looking for volunteers to assist with logistics during the conference. If interested in becoming involved, please include that in your email.

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If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Kate Indeck

Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, University of Queensland

Cecilia Passadore

Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, Flinders University

Jessica Patío Pérez

Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation Group, Massey University