Online workshop: Practical design and simulation to optimise distance sampling surveys, 28-31 August 2023 Registration deadline: 14 August 2023 The workshop is organized by the Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) at the University of St Andrews. Instructors are Laura Marshall and Len Thomas, CREEM, University of St Andrews. Distance sampling surveys, particularly shipboard or aerial line transects, are widely used to estimate the population size of marine mammals. Good survey design is critical for obtaining reliable results in such surveys. This workshop expands on the basic theory provided in our introductory workshops to demonstrate how our latest software can be used to generate optimal survey designs while respecting budgetary and logistical constraints. We will demonstrate survey design using our R package dssd, and investigate design optimisation and the implications of deviations from our design assumptions using our latest simulation package dsims. We will also demonstrate the use of QGIS to obtain requisite input information. Further information and how to register can be found at: https://workshops.distancesampling.org/design-aug-2023 Any questions, please do get in touch! Questions can be directed to Laura via lhm@st-andrews.ac.uk