The Committee of UK and Ireland Student Chapter (UKIRSC) of the Society for Marine Mammalogy are pleased to announce that the 2017 Conference in Plymouth will open with an Ice Breaker event at the National Marine Aquarium on the evening of the 18th of January. Our key note speakers this year on the 19th and 20th of January are Dr. Iain Staniland, a marine mammal ecologist from the British Antarctic Survey, Abby Crosby, the Marine Conservation Officer from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and Dr. Kimberely Bennett, a marine mammal physiologist and lecturer in biomedical science at Abertay University. In addition, Paul Cox, the Managing Director of the Shark Trust and a science communication specialist, will be hosting an interactive workshop on the importance of good science communication for conservation. Abstract deadline is 4th of January and registration deadline is the 11th of January. For more info and to register, go to: http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/…/2017-conference-plymouth…/ <http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/ukrsc/2017-conference-plymouth-england/> N.B This conference is completely FREE -- Leticiaa Legat, PhD Candidate Centre for Wildlife Conservation University of Cumbria, Lake District Campus Nook Lane, Ambleside Cumbria - UK LA22 9BB