Dear MARMAMers, On behalf of LAJAM editors, we are pleased to announce the following information: YAQU PACHA, an organization that promotes aquatic mammal protection, conservation, and research in South America and sponsors LAJAM (Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals), has generously offered SOLAMAC (the Latin American Society of Specialists in Aquatic Mammals) two travel grants to assist students attending the 2nd World Marine Mammal Science Conference/23rd Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. The conference will take place at the International Convention Centre of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, on December 9-12th, 2019. This meeting will be hosted jointly by the Society for Marine Mammalogy and the European Cetacean Society, together with the active involvement of SOLAMAC, effectively bringing together experts in the field from every continent. The gathering of interdisciplinary scientists will enable discussion amongst the marine mammal research community and policy makers, and will facilitate collaboration and training of the next generation of scientists and practitioners. Travel grant eligibility To be eligible for one of the grants, an applicant must: - Submit a manuscript as first author to LAJAM by March 31, 2019. Late applications will not be accepted. The manuscript will have to be accepted to be considered for one of the grants. - Attach a certificate showing that he/she is enrolled as a student (graduate or undergraduate level) at the time of submission. - Indicate in the cover letter of the manuscript that he/she meet the above criteria and would like to be considered for the scholarship. What does the travel grant cover? Each grant will cover airfare, accommodation, and registration to the upcoming World Marine Mammal Conference for the student author of the best two manuscripts accepted for publication in LAJAM´s first issue of 2019. Evaluation An independent panel of experts will be appointed by LAJAM’s Editor-in-Chief to evaluate all manuscripts submitted by eligible students to LAJAM, and will deliver their results by the end of June 2019. The decision of the panel will be unappealable. Manuscripts will be judged by the originality of the research, the quality of manuscript, and the potential impact of the study on the conservation of aquatic mammals in Latin America. Questions regarding this travel grants should be directed to lajam.editors@gmail.com -- Dr. Carlos Olavarria Director Ejecutivo Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas - CEAZA Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile T: +56 51 2 204378 C: +56 9 5 6483157 E: carlos.olavarria@ceaza.cl, carlitos.olavarria@gmail.com www.ceaza.cl