ABSTRACT REVIEWERS
Abstract reviewer signup opens Wednesday, December 3, 2025 and closes Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Atlantic Time (GMT-4).
Abstract reviewers play a vital role in supporting The Society of Marine Mammalogy and elevating the quality of science presented at our conferences; however, other benefits include supporting the activities of your area of interest and helping your career development by placing this important duty on your CV.
The abstract reviewer sign-up for SMM2026 will be open from Wednesday, December 3, 2025, until Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Our conference team will review all applicants’ information and qualifications. Once approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly after the abstract submission deadline, with instructions on how to access the review platform.
INFORMATION FOR REVIEWERS
AT-A-GLANCE: HOW TO SIGN UP
1) Sign-up to be an abstract reviewer for SMM2026 opens Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
2) You must login to the conference system via the SMM website. Click HERE to get started.
3) Once on the conference software profile home, choose “Abstract Reviewer Sign-Up” on the home page.
4) Complete the short application. Remember that in order to participate as an abstract reviewer, you must hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree in your discipline or, at a minimum, an undergraduate degree plus either five years of experience in your field or be a candidate currently pursuing a doctoral degree.
5) After submitting the form, you will receive an email confirmation of your application.
6) The abstract reviewer sign-up deadline is Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon) Atlantic Time (GMT-4).
7) Our team will review your information, and once approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email after the abstract submission deadline with instructions to access the review platform.
8) All assigned abstract reviews must be completed before Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
REQUIREMENTS
We are seeking abstract reviewers for the presentations and posters submitted to this year’s biennial conference. To participate as an abstract reviewer, you must hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree in your discipline or, at a minimum, an undergraduate degree plus either five years of experience in your field or be a candidate currently pursuing a doctoral degree.
Reviewers are required to evaluate a minimum of 10 abstracts. If you are willing to review more, we would greatly appreciate it — please indicate this on the sign-up form.
REVIEW PROCESS
Each submitted abstract will be peer reviewed and scored by a minimum of two independent reviewers who have expertise in the specific subject area. The abstract review process will be conducted blind, i.e. all authors’ names will be removed before the abstract is reviewed.
Reviewers apply the following four criteria to evaluate abstract submissions:
- Originality (1 to 5)
Abstracts containing significant new findings or presenting new approaches will be given higher scores than those that describe updates, modifications to older findings, or routine applications of well-established research methods. - Quality (1 to 5)
Abstracts should demonstrate that robust and appropriate research methods were used, and include a scientifically robust study design. The outcome of the research should provide clear answers to the main research questions posed. The methods and results should be described in sufficient detail and the conclusions supported by the data. - Importance (1 to 5)
This criterion addresses the importance of the research in terms of advancing the field of marine mammal science, or the conservation and management of marine mammals. - Presentation (1 to 5)
Abstracts that are clearly written and concise will receive higher scores. This criterion addresses how well the specific research question(s) and objectives, methods used, primary results, etc are explained, rather than the quality of the study itself. A clearly written abstract follows a logical order (e.g. aims, methods, results, followed by a clear interpretation of the results and any conservation management implications).
After adjusting for differences in scoring among individual reviewers, abstracts will be ranked on the basis of their overall score, and available slots for presentations will be allocated according to merit using all submissions combined, taking into account presentation preferences.
CONFERENCE TOPICS
You will need to select the topic(s) under which you will review abstracts. Each of the 10 topics includes a brief description to help you choose the ones most relevant to your expertise.
Note: You will only required to select one topic to participate, but you may choose up to three if you wish.
Explores the diverse ways marine mammals use sound for communication, navigation, and foraging. This theme includes studies on vocal repertoires, echolocation, acoustic ecology, and the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammal behavior and survival.
Highlights research on the form and function of marine mammal systems, including adaptations to aquatic life, thermoregulation, diving physiology, and sensory function.
Showcases advances in understanding marine mammal cognition, learning, social structure, and culture. Submissions may highlight long-term behavioral studies, tool use, and the transmission of behaviors across generations.
Highlights the role of public participation and education in advancing marine mammal science and conservation. Topics may include community science initiatives, educational programs, and collaborations with local and Indigenous communities.
Addresses applied science and policy aimed at safeguarding marine mammal populations. Topics include population monitoring, threat mitigation, recovery planning, and evaluation of conservation strategies at local, regional, and global scales, encompassing both in situ and ex situ conservation.
Covers the relationships between marine mammals and their environments, including habitat use, foraging ecology, prey dynamics, migration, and ecosystem roles from rivers to the open ocean.
Presents innovative tools and approaches that advance marine mammal research, including the use of drones, passive acoustics, biologging, artificial intelligence, and other novel analytical frameworks.
Focuses on evolutionary history, phylogenetics, genomics, and molecular ecology. Contributions may address population genetics, adaptations to changing environments, and the identification of new lineages or cryptic species.
Examines the interconnected health of marine mammals, humans, and ecosystems. This theme encompasses disease ecology, toxicology, zoonotic diseases, and the role of marine mammals as sentinels of ocean health.
Explores the complex relationships between people and marine mammals, from bycatch and vessel interactions to ecotourism and traditional knowledge. This theme considers both the challenges and opportunities for coexistence.
HOW TO ACCESS YOUR REVIEWS
All abstract reviews will be completed within the conference software. After the submission deadline, reviewers will receive instructions on how to access the review site and complete their evaluations.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
All abstract reviews will be completed within the conference software. After the submission deadline, reviewers will receive instructions on how to access the review site and complete their evaluations.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you experience any technical difficulties completing the sign-up form or submitting evaluations, please click the red “Support” button on the submission page (bottom right corner).
If you have general questions about the abstract submission process, please contact abstracts@marinemammalscience.org.