European Cetacean Society
2008 Conference, March 10-12, The Netherlands
WORKSHOPS
Speakers, timing and order may change in the coming weeks!
- Workshops are not organised by the ECS Conference Team but by the presenters of the workshop. Please contact them for more information (pricing, attendance, schema)
Saturday, 8 March 2008
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09.00-12.00 Cancelled! Genevieve Johnson and Christopher Johnson Bringing science to the public – techniques to capture, communicate and promote your research
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14.00-17.00 René Dekeling, Frans-Peter Lam and Ruben Huele A sound approach to underwaternoise (contact huele@naturalis.nnm.nl)
Format: introductions, exercises, discussion; involvement of the participants is expected.
Very recently, the journal Aquatic Mammals published a special issue on the subject of establishing acceptable sound levels to marine mammals. The publication is based on research by a group of leading scientists in the field of (marine) bio-acoustics and is expected to be a seminal publication. The subject is highly relevant for new European Marine Directive, but the technical and scientific questions are far from trivial. Taking the publication as starting point, the workshop will present an introduction of the various aspects and will ask the participants to contribute to the exploration of the implications. Contents:
- 1. Short review of sound as an environmental issue: why is it important?
- 2. Technical introduction into underwater acoustics: what are we speaking about?
- 3. Introduction of: the special issue of 'Aquatic Mammals' : what exactly do they say?
- 4. Exploration of the implications: what does it mean?
Brandon L. Southall, Ann E. Bowles, William T. Ellison, James J. Finneran, Roger L. Gentry, Charles R. Greene Jr., David Kastak, Darlene R. Ketten, James H. Miller, Paul E. Nachtigall, W. John Richardson, Jeanette A. Thomas, Peter L. Tyack, "Marine mammal noise exposure criteria: initial scientific recommendations," Aquatic Mammals 2007, 33-4.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
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9.00-13.00 Luca Mirimin, Simone Panigada, Peter Madsen, Thierry Jauniaux (not confirmed), Peter Evans Different research approaches applied in marine mammal science (student only workshop, contact kris-salzer@gmx.de)
Five scientists will give presentations on the following:
1. Genetics (Luca Mirimin)
2. Behavioural Studies (Simone Panigada)
3. Acoustic Field Techniques (Peter Madsen)
4. Pathology and Necropsy (Thierry Jauniaux?)
5. Photo ID (Peter Evans)
The workshop’s aim is to give you an overview over scientific research techniques that are applied in marine mammalogy. With this introductory seminar, you will get an insight into what techniques are relevant and which questions are important today. Moreover, you will get a clearer picture on which possibilities you have in your scientific career.
For those students who could not participate, a conclusion will be accessible on the ECS student webpage after the conference 2008. -
12.30-17.00 Marjan Addink, Graham Pierce, Joost Schokkenbroek Marine Mammals in the arts, social sciences and other disciplines (contact addink@naturalis.nnm.nl)
Within the ECS we are most familiar with studies on marine mammals in the context of the natural sciences, often biology, or via such practical studies as veterinary medicine. There are, however, many past and present academic studies of marine mammals in disciplines like history, anthropology, art, social sciences, culture studies and so on (as can be seen from numerous sources on the internet). We would like to propose a workshop entitled: "Marine mammals in the arts, social sciences and other disciplines". The aim is to cover academic studies about marine mammals that are outside the general scope of the ECS. Just a few varied examples are (1)the use of iconography to document historical strandings and to document and discuss the representation of whales through the ages, (2) an investigation into folk classification by fishers concerning cetaceans (this specific example is from a Brasilian paper), (3) the social geography of whalewatching, (4) integrating natural and social science in studies that involve both types of research: different philosophies which direct how research should be carried out.
The programme features Christina Brito, Chris Smeenk, Joost Schokkenbroek, Emily Lambert, Colin MacLeod, Colin Hunter, Graham Pierce, Francisco Zamorano Abramson & Jorge Gibbons, Daphna Feingold, Heidi Lyn.
We would like to invite anyone interested in attending the workshop to register with Marjan Addink <Addink@naturalis.nnm.nl>. If you would like to present a paper please contact her at the same address with details of your presentation. The cost per person will be around 15-20 Euro. The cost is to cover things like the rent for the workshop room and coffee, and will depend on the number of participants.
Marjan Addink (Biologist)
Graham Pierce (Biologist)
Joost Schokkenbroek (Historian) -
10.30-17.00 Sarah Dolman, Katie Pugliares, Paul Jepson, Rob Deaville and Thierry Jauniaux Necropsy workshop: protocols and interpretation of necropsy data (contact sarah.dolman@wdcs.org)
The aim of the workshop is to bring researchers together with the objective of documenting current cetacean necropsy procedures and examining how pathological and other data derived from cetacean necropsies is interpreted to ascribe a cause of death. Although standardised necropsy procedures exist in European and non-European countries, few workshops have examined how the necropsy data generated is actually interpreted or assessed whether this is applied in a consistent manner across different geographic regions or strandings networks. A detailed comparison of how historical, current and future pathological data from stranded cetaceans is interpreted is essential if data is to be integrated across different geographic regions in future years.
Discussion time will be available between presentations to talk about the various pathological criteria used to ascribe different causes of death as this might be done differently in different regions and it should be standardised as much as possible across Europe. How we might move towards a standardised protocol throughout Europe will also be discussed.
It is proposed that the presentations will be available after the workshop. Please come ready to start the Workshop at 10.30am. For further information or to register attendance, please contact: sarah.dolman@wdcs.org. If you wish to present a paper or give a presentation, please also contact Sarah Dolman, at this email address.
There will be a charge of 15 Euros for attending the workshop. -
13.00-17.00 L. Goodwin and M. Dodds Protection and management of sociable, solitary cetaceans (contact margaux@marineconnection.org)
The number of apparent solitary odontocetes which regularly engage in sociable interactions with people appear to be increasing within the UK, Europe and across the world. In the past a number of these animals have been the focus of scientific study, whilst the existence of others has been kept quiet, due to the often overwhelming response by members of the public when such an animal frequents a coastal region. Whilst these interactions appear to be sought out by the individual, on occasion management plans have to be considered for both the wellbeing of the cetacean and the human individuals involved in the interaction. Whilst relatively little information has been published on these individuals, even less protection is offered through statutory legislation. -
As such, when sociable, solitary cetaceans do occur and their welfare of safety is considered to be threatened, stakeholders often have to resort to innovative means of management, where specific protective legislation is often lacking. This workshop will bring together researchers, stakeholders and managers to share knowledge, information and experience of sociable, solitary cetaceans. It will also provide a discussion forum for evaluating current protective mechanisms and make recommendations for how future sociable, solitary individuals should be protected and, where necessary situations surrounding them managed to ensure their welfare.
Please note there will be a small charge for attending the workshop.
If you wish to present a paper or give a presentation, please send a short abstract (no more than 300 words) to margaux@marineconnection.org
Liz Sandeman
Director of Operations
www.marineconnection.org
Prizes and sizes
The three rooms, now available, are capable of holding up to over a hundred persons each. They will be fitted with chairs and tables, projectors and screens. Internet is available for the presentation. Workshop rooms can be used for half a day or a whole day. If you want coffee, thee or water in the workshop rooms, this will be charged for separately.The workshops will be charged fully by the workshop organisor, therefore attendents will be charged a small sum for taking part. Because the workshops are not part of the ECS Conference, the workshop organisor is responsible for its success, both financially and scientifically.
