Hello students and post-docs, We are pleased to announce the formation of the new District of Columbia Student Chapter (DCSC) of the Society for Marine Mammalogy! Our professional sponsors are Chris Parsons, Ph.D. (George Mason University) and Dee Allen (U.S. Marine Mammal Commission; Smithsonian Institution). The DCSC aims to capitalize on the niche of students currently working towards degrees in this geographic region and those that may be based elsewhere for academic/research purposes but are currently working professionals within or near the DC metro area (e.g., science-policy arena). Chapter membership is open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as prospective graduate students and recent graduates/post-docs in marine mammal-related studies that are primarily located within the Washington D.C. region, though members are also welcome from the greater mid-Atlantic region. However, the vast majority of chapter activities will be held within the DC metro area. We strongly encourage chapter members to be members of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, however it is not required. It is our intent to utilize the unique location within the United States’ capital to foster professional collaborations between students, scientists, managers and policy makers within the marine mammal field. Chapter activities will vary based on membership interests, but will likely involve field trips/behind-the-scenes tours to local marine mammal facilities (e.g., National Aquarium) and museum collections (e.g., Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History); coordinated participation/attendance of relevant Congressional hearings and/or briefings; guest lectures/brown-bag seminars; an annual symposium for student research; and other networking opportunities. If you are student interested in joining our chapter, please contact the DCSC representatives Elly Roland (George Mason University) at ( aroland@masonlive.gmu.edu), or Courtney Smith (University of Southern Mississippi; NMFS) at (Courtney.e.smith@eagles.usm.edu). Likewise, you can also find us via our Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/SMM.DCSC/). DCSC chapter representatives will be attending the 21st SMM Biennial Conference in San Francisco next week and will be present at the Student Affairs Workshop. Please join us in helping foster this new student network! Cheers, Courtney --- *Courtney E. Smith* Ph.D. Student Marine Mammal Behavior & Cognition Lab Brain & Behavior Research Program Department of Psychology University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Dr. #5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406