CALL FOR SPEAKERS: EDUCATION WORKSHOP AT BIENNIAL CONFERENCE IN TAMPA, NOVEMBER 26, 2011 What are the major threats facing marine mammals? How do educators and naturalists present those threats to the public? And then, how do we evaluate those programs to see if they are making an impact? In organizing the all-day workshop Marine Mammal Education and Conservation: Facts, Tools and Assessing Impacts that is being held before the Society for Marine Mammalogy Biennial Conference on Saturday, November 26, we're looking for speakers addressing specific threats to marine mammals (i.e., factual information), information on educational programs (both shore-based and boat-based) that teach about those threats, and information on evaluation of those programs. We are looking for proposals for 15-30 minute talks and/or demonstrations that address the above issues. Speakers receive free attendance at the workshop. The goals of the workshop are to provide an opportunity for novice and expert educators and naturalists to learn about conservation issues facing marine mammals, and ask questions of experts in the field; to identify themes, messages, and best practices that could be used aboard various marine mammal-viewing platforms and education settings; to create a unified message related to conservation issues; and to discuss best practices for assessing the impacts of marine mammal education programs. Please e-mail an abstract of your proposed talk to <mailto:jen@blueoceansociety.org> jen@blueoceansociety.org by August 1, 2011. Selected speakers will be notified by August 15, 2011. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you! Jen Kennedy, Executive Director, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, <mailto:jen@blueoceansociety.org> jen@blueoceansociety.org, www.blueoceansociety.org Stefanie Hawks-Johnson, Executive Director, Marine Mammal Connection Society, <mailto:sahawks@uw.edu> sahawks@uw.edu, marinemammalconnection.org Cynde McInnis, Education Coordinator, Cape Ann Whale Watch, <mailto:cyndebierman@gmail.com> cyndebierman@gmail.com, <http://www.seethewhales.com> www.seethewhales.com Jen Kennedy Executive Director Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation 143 Pleasant Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 431-0260 <http://www.blueoceansociety.org/> www.blueoceansociety.org Become a fan on Facebook! <http://www.facebook.com/BlueOceanSociety> http://www.facebook.com/BlueOceanSociety Follow Us On Twitter: <http://www.twitter.com/BlueOceanSoc> http://www.twitter.com/BlueOceanSoc They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. - Andy Warhol