Dear Members,
The Board of Governors and I reaffirm the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s unwavering commitment to advancing marine mammal science and maximizing its impact on education, conservation, and management, while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our field is strengthened by the diversity of individuals who contribute to it—across all ages, career stages, nationalities, cultures, genders, identities, and abilities. As an international community, we are united by a shared dedication to understanding and protecting marine mammals and their ecosystems.
Recent global events, including reductions in government support for science, environmental protections and institutional programs in the USA, have had profound and distressing consequences on our community. We recognize the deep frustration, uncertainty, and pain of seeing programs, both within the USA and internationally, being dismantled and colleagues being dismissed. These actions not only affect our members but also threaten the species and ecosystems that we all work tirelessly to protect. The erosion of environmental policies and the divestment in scientific institutions and international grant programs put marine mammal research at risk and undermine the broader foundation of conservation and sustainable management efforts worldwide.
Despite these challenges, the Society remains steadfast in its mission. We are committed to supporting marine mammal research and advocating for the scientists in our community. Through our research grant programs, our dedication to diversity and inclusion, and our international collaborations, we will continue to provide opportunities for all of our membership and ensure that science remains central to conservation efforts.
The Board of Governors and I are working to identify practical solutions for us to share our concerns and unite as a community. We encourage open dialogue and welcome your thoughts as we navigate these challenges together. To do so, I invite you to contact me personally (president@marinemammalscience.org).
As we join with other scientific societies in urging continued public trust and support for science, our strength is our community.
Sincerely,
Simon Goldsworthy
President, Society for Marine Mammalogy
