Dear MarMamers Here we are happy to announce the workshop “The Diving Brain – Adaptations for Extreme Environments” at the World Marine Mammal Conference on Saturday, December 7th 2019 in Barcelona (Spain). Registration for the workshop can be completed at the WMMC website. Further information including a preliminary program are given below. We are looking forward to seeing you in Barcelona, Stefan Huggenberger and Bruno Cozzi (workshop organizers) Workshop description: During the last two centuries, anatomical and physiological studies have been the fundamental background and footing of advanced research on marine mammals. The aims of the workshop are (1st) to give an overview of actual research on the nervous system of diving mammals, its nourishment and blood supply through seminars given by leading experts; and (2nd) to stimulate the discussions between experts and graduate and PhD students. This workshop aims at promoting and supporting basic morphological and physiological research of brain function of marine mammals. This research is unquestionably international, so that we will have speakers from many countries around the world. We want to encourage long-term exchange and research activities on the structure and function of marine mammals as a solid basis for molecular disciplines. The goal and ambition of this workshop is to stimulate and coordinate future research and educational projects. Preliminary workshop program, Saturday 7. December 2019: 09:00 Luciano Fadiga (University of Ferrara, Italy) – Of men and whales: diving physiology. 09:30 Sam H. Ridgway (San Diego, U.S.A.) – Cortex and Cerebellum - long and short divers. 10:00 Hannsjörg Schröder (University of Cologne, Germany) – Comparing big brains: a brainstem view. 10:30 Coffee break 11:00 Short presentations from participants - tba - tba - tba [Stefan Huggenberger & Bruno Cozzi (University of Cologne, Germany, and University of Padova, Italy) – Uncharted territories in the brains of marine mammals]. 12:00 Round table: Future directions and discussion for summarizing main scientific problems (“hot topics”) to encourage joint future activities. 12:40 Conclusion and future venues 13:00 Lunch 14:30 Two parallel afternoon sessions with practical work using modern teaching equipment such as virtual microscopy and open source tools for tomography data (participants can move from one session to the other and back) 1. Navigating through the brain: macro slide series and MRI scans of dolphin brains (90’ to 120’) 2. Neuro-histology and routine histological slides from other organs (90’ to 120’) -- Dr. Stefan Huggenberger Department II of Anatomy (Neuroanatomy) University of Cologne 50924 Cologne, Germany Fon: +49-221-478-87848 Fax: +49-221-478-1427477 Email: st.huggenberger@uni-koeln.de www.anatomie.uni-koeln.de/21596.html