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We are pleased to announce that the 36th annual European Cetacean Society Conference will be taking place in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal), in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean!
The conference theme is
Navigating Waters of Change
We are living in unprecedented times. Human pressures are crossing planetary boundaries into areas of increasing risk of systemic planetary change. The oceans help buffering the global warming caused by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and radiative forcing but at the cost of increasing ocean acidification and shifting oceanographic and biodiversity patterns. Consequently, these changes affect the biology and ecology of cetacean populations, increasing health issues, reducing prey availability, and disrupting migratory patterns. Azoreans, as oceanic islanders settled at this hotspot for cetaceans in the mid-Atlantic and a crossroad for marine megafauna migrations, are first-degree witnesses of the undeniable changes in our ocean and its inhabitants. Worldwide, the scientific community has become increasingly aware of the importance of comparative studies and long-term data series to identify and showcase these shifts.
Within this context, a variety of new opportunities to study marine mammals and their habitats is rising. This includes advanced technology to provide innovative solutions to science and conservation (e.g. underwater systems, aerial systems, telemetry, passive acoustics or acoustic recording tags); but also opportunistic sources of information to provide data which would otherwise likely be unavailable (e.g. whale-watching, shipping, fisheries observers programs, cruising, etc.). All this has complemented existing research and opened up new possibilities, leading to a better understanding of these highly mobile species that face challenges beyond national frontiers and in a global system.
Our motto “Navigating Waters of Change” aims to reflect the multifaceted nature of current marine mammal research, exploring and showcasing its challenges and opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
The 36th ECS Conference will be conducted only in the traditional in-person format. All the speakers and posters presenters will be required to attend the meeting in person.
The Conference agenda includes 2 days of workshops (12th and 13th May) and 3 days of plenary sessions (14th, 15th, and 16th of May).
Check out the latest information about the Venues and Social Events here.
Student members of the ECS can volunteer at the conference and benefit from free registration.
More information about volunteering and requests for support can be found here (coming soon).
Registration
Registration will open on the 1st of March 2025. Some info (prices, etc.) are already available here.
Abstracts
Abstract submission is now CLOSED. Thank you for submitting an abstract ! Notifications will be sent on the 17th of March, keep an eye on your inbox.
Workshops
Workshops are currently being reviewed by the Scientific and Local Organising Committee, organisers will be contacted soon.
Workshops will be hosted in several locations throughout Ponta Delgada city center.
For more information, click here.
Social events
During the 36th ECS Conference, several social events will take place, aiming at acquainting participants with the unique Azores region — its natural wonders, cultural heritage, and typical gastronomic in and around São Miguel Island.
Further details about the icebreaker (13th May), student party (14th May), movie night (15th May), banquet and dancing (16th May), and additional local events are (or will be) accessible on the Venues & Social Events page.
We are striving to minimize waste production during the conference.
To help us achieve a successful low-waste event, we kindly encourage you
to bring your own water bottle or cup.
Local Organizing Committee
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is composed of different members of the Azorean community. An initial multidisciplinary team has been established, accounting for members of the university, researchers, students, science outreach centre, support from local whale-watching companies, and administration representatives, that founded Semana Venerável - Associação to organize this conference. This team brings together a large experience organizing a myriad of events in the Region, with scientific, governmental, leisure or outreach nature; and establishes the main group of people in charge of organizing this amazing conference.
Chair: Laura González García
(Futurismo Azores Adventures; Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores)
Margarida Rolim (Futurismo Azores Adventures; Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores)
José Azevedo (Institute of Marine Sciences - OKEANOS, University of the Azores)
Rita Patarra (Expolab - Centro Ciência Viva)
Marc Tolosa (Picos de Aventura)
Catarina Gonçalves (Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia)
Afonso Prestes (Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia)
Rui Rodrigues (Futurismo Azores Adventures)
Ana Cristina Costa (University of the Azores - CIBIO)
Andrea Zita Botelho (University of the Azores - CIBIO)
Luz Paramio (Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia)
Contacts
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