SOCIETY FOR MARINE MAMMALOGY 18th BIENNIAL CONFERENCE, 12-16 October 2009 in quebec city, Canada

The conference webpage is now open to abstract submission and registration. Early-bird preferred registration rates will be offered until 20 July 2009. Abstract submissions will be accepted until 30 April 2009, at Midnight. The conference webpage will serve as the primary resource for all of the deadlines and information related to the conference. To learn more, go to the Society for Marine Mammalogy website (http://marinemammalogy.org/conference). We encourage you to visit the conference webpage regularly to find out about new additions to the program, including social events, tours, souvenirs, pre-conference workshops or symposia. The organization committee is working hard to offer you an outstanding scientific program but also, exciting social events during the week, such as circus and magician performances during the icebreaker. Preferred rates have also been negotiated for an evening dinner cruise on the St Lawrence River during the conference, as well as for pre- and post-conference whale-watching tours and other exciting activities to conduct in the vicinity of Quebec City.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION Experient has negotiated room rates for Biennial participants at the Hilton and Delta hotels. Both hotels are right beside the conference centre and a block away from the walls of the Old City and its restaurants, pubs, etc. (http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=227&Itemid=211). We strongly urge you to stay at one of these hotels as these preferred rates were negotiated based on filling a minimum number of rooms. If we do not achieve the minimums, then the society will have to pay a penalty. If we exceed the block booking, then the conference is able to collect free rooms that it can then make available for third world participants.

STUDENT AND NON-STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS The Society for Marine Mammalogy encourages student participation in the 18th Biennial Conference and has committed funds in the form of Student Travel Grants to help defray travel expenses. Students must be members of the Society and have an abstract that has been reviewed and accepted (either oral or poster) for the meeting to be considered for a travel grant. More information on applying for these grants is available on the conference web site (http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=216&Itemid=216). Deadline for application is 17 July, 2009.

Similarly, the Society has a programme of conference grants to a limited number of colleagues in developing and soft-currency countries. The purpose is to promote international scientific participation in the biennial conferences. More information on applying for these grants is available on the conference web site (http://www.marinemammalscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view= article&id=244&Itemid=243). Deadline for application is 31 May 2009.

We are looking very much forward to see you in the Old City of Quebec for a conference to be remembered!!!

Mike Hammill Conference chair

congres_smm2009@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Veronique Lesage, Ph.D. NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: Veronique.Lesage@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Chercheur, Cetaces/Cetacean research scientist Biologie et conservation des mammiferes marins/Marine mammal biology and conservation Peches et Oceans Canada/Fisheries and Oceans Canada Institut Maurice-Lamontagne/Maurice Lamontagne Institute C.P. 1000/P.O. Box 1000 850 Route de la Mer Mont-Joli, QC G5H 3Z4 http://www.qc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/iml/en/sci/LesageV http://www.osl.gc.ca/mm/en/index.html TEL (418) 775-0739 FAX (418) 775-0740 Email: Veronique.Lesage@dfo-mpo.gc.ca