Greetings all! We are pleased to announce that we will be offering one day workshop on "Methods for Studying Communication and Social Cognition" at the 21st Biennial Conference of the Marine Mammal Society, on Saturday, December 12, at the Hilton San Francisco, Union Square. Please see description below. Methods for Studying Communication and Social Cognition in Cetaceans Workshop Organizers: Denise L. Herzing and Christine M. Johnson Research on social cognition in nonhuman animals includes studies of vocal and gestural communication, as well as tests of various social skills that play a role in learning and problem solving. Such research has been making great strides in recent years, both in the laboratory and the field. New experimental paradigms, observational techniques, technological advancements, and sophisticated analyses have allowed the development of a fascinating literature on how nonhumans negotiate their social lives. Given that cetaceans are reported to be among the most socially complex and cognitively sophisticated species, there is a great opportunity here for us to advance this field, not only to learn more about cetaceans themselves, but as a basis for comparative analyses with other animals, including humans. To that end, there is much to be gained from both sharing the lessons researchers have learned from their past attempts, as well as strategizing over the best approaches to future research. This will be a full day workshop with speakers who have done innovative work in these areas using both experimental and observational techniques, and operating both in the wild and in captivity. In addition, a significant portion of the day will be devoted to questions and discussion by the attendees. The goal of the day will be to disseminate information on practical solutions to problems in methodological design and implementation, and to engender discussion of the range of issues, and appropriate means for addressing those questions, in this field. For further details, and to watch for updates on specific speakers and topics, see the Marine Mammal Society Conference website at: https://www.marinemammalscience.org/conference/workshops/ Date: Saturday, Dec 12, 2015 8:30-5:30 Cost: $80 (Early Bird); $90 (After September 15, 2015) Please feel free to forward this announcement to researchers or others interested in communication and social cognition in nonhumans, including non-marine mammal species! Hope to see you there! Chris & Denise Christine M. Johnson, PhD Department of Cognitive Science University of California, San Diego Ph: 858-534-9854 FAX 858-534-1128