Dear colleagues: There was an impressive spirit of constructive dialogue displayed at the Southern Resident Killer Whale Symposium held last month in Seattle, Washington (April 3-5, 2006). In an effort to continue (and broaden) such dialogue and facilitate recovery of the endangered orca, a virtual collaborative space called the Orcasphere ( http://orcasphere.net ) has been launched. I invite you to explore this site devoted to the southern residents and to use the tools it provides for blogging, threaded discussion, photo display, and file exchange. I think MarMam readers will enjoy one of the first Orcasphere blog entries that describes a "greeting ceremony" of the southern residents. The ceremony was observed on October 4, 2005, by Beam Reach students (amongst others) which coincided with the last time a matriarch (L32) was seen. The blog provides links to video, underwater sound, and still photos: http://www.orcasphere.net/blog/2006/5/15/ceremony.html Beam Reach, a marine science and sustainability school, sponsors Orcasphere in an effort to provide a collaborative space for our students and the community of researchers, policy makers, and citizens dedicated to the recovery of orcas and their ecosystem. There is still space available during our fall 2006 class that will focus on the acoustic study of the orcas and their environment. Application instructions can be found at: http://beamreach.org/apply.html Best regards, Dr. Scott Veirs, scott@beamreach.org | (206) 251-5554 Note: The Beam Reach research opportunity is part of an academic study-away program. Participation requires application, acceptance, and tuition payment. Financial aid is available. Beam Reach is affiliated with the Colorado College orca vocalization and localization (OVAL) project [conference presentations/pre-prints available upon request]. Beam Reach courses are approved for credit by the University of Washington.