5th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals
Caitlin Harris
University of the Highlands and Islands
I am incredibly grateful to have received the Challenger Bursary Award, which allowed me to attend the 5th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Perth, Western Australia.
I arrived in Australia on Friday evening and jumped straight into conference activities on Saturday morning with a workshop titled “Wind and Whales: Using PAM for Monitoring and Mitigating Risk to Whales During Offshore Wind Energy Development”, hosted by Sofie Van Parijs and Genevieve Davis. This workshop was fascinating and offered an excellent opportunity to meet researchers using similar methods to my own, as well as reconnect with existing contacts. After an exciting first day, I explored the city that evening and visited a small island to see kangaroos up close—a surreal and unforgettable experience. However, by the next morning, I realised jet lag had finally caught up with me!
On Sunday, I attended a second workshop titled “Marine Mammals & Offshore wind; sharing experience across regions”, hosted by Paul Thompson and Douglas Nowacek. This session was equally stimulating, sparking insightful discussions and further networking opportunities. That evening, the conference officially began with a beautiful and moving opening ceremony on Whadjuk Country. The Traditional Owners welcomed us with a smoking ceremony and a didgeridoo performance, accompanied by stories and music that set the tone for the week ahead. Walking through the smoke, I felt energised and ready for the incredible talks and discussions to come.
Over the five days of the conference, I was continually inspired by the keynote speakers and the breadth of research presented. Keynote topics ranged from Aboriginal connections to dolphins and whales, species losses and recoveries, and the transmission of complex songs, to cooperative fishing between humans and dolphins. In addition, the range of talks presented were diverse and thought-provoking, with many sparking new ideas for my own research. I also explored sessions outside my immediate field, broadening my understanding of marine science.
On Tuesday evening, I presented my PhD research during the poster session on “Conservation & Management”. My poster summarised the first chapter of my PhD, which investigates harbour porpoise presence and foraging at two floating offshore wind farms in the UK in relation to environmental drivers and wind farm operations. The session was a fantastic opportunity to engage with a wide range of attendees, exchange ideas, and receive valuable feedback on my work. All in all, making an extremely enjoyable and successful presentation evening.
The final evening of the conference was a fitting conclusion to an incredible week. The farewell BBQ and closing ceremony were held at Fraser’s Restaurant in King’s Park, a stunning location overlooking the city and the river. As the sun set, we enjoyed delicious food and drinks while reflecting on the week’s highlights and sharing our favourite moments. It was a spectacular and memorable way to end the event.
Beyond the conference itself, I also took the opportunity to experience Australia’s unique wildlife, spotting colourful parrots, koalas, and even humpback whales. Overall, the conference was an invaluable experience. It broadened my knowledge, inspired new ideas for my research, and provided opportunities to discuss methodologies and analytical techniques with peers. I greatly expanded my network, shared my work with experts, reconnected with colleagues, and was inspired by a wide range of innovative and impactful talks. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of such an enriching event and would like to thank the Challenger Society for making it possible.
Visiting the kangaroos on Heirisson Island after the first day of workshops.
Profile:
I am a third-year PhD student with the SUPER DTP program at the University of the Highlands and Islands. My research explores how floating offshore wind infrastructure influences the presence and behaviour of marine mammals, using passive acoustic monitoring. Focusing on noise impacts and maintenance operations, my work highlights species such as harbour porpoises and minke whales, aiming to inform sustainable practices in renewable energy development.
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Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset
The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) and OceanWise are delighted to invite you to attend our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 19th – 23rd of May 2025.
Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
REGISTER HERE
Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.
Challenger Society Council Position Vacancy
The Challenger Society for Marine Science (CSMS) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of ocean scientists and innovators. CSMS are looking for a new Council member to fill the Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones Portfolio. The successful applicant will administer the travel and research grants available for Early Career Researchers.
The role involves:
- Receiving applications for the two schemes and responding to applicant inquiries
- Soliciting and compiling input from the rest of the Council for assessing the applications
- Communicating with successful and unsuccessful applicants for the two schemes
- Working with the Honorary Treasurer on allocating funds to successful applicants
- Following up with award winners on their reporting requirements
- Attending Council meetings four times a year (in person or online) and contributing to discussions and decision making for CSMS
The usual term for Council members is three years.
For more information about the CSMS Council, please follow this link: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/The_Council
For more information about our Early Career Researcher grants and awards, please follow this link:
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Stepping_Stones
and
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Travel_awards
If you are interested in applying or have any questions regarding the role, please contact kathen@bas.ac.uk