ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSTPONEMENT

You don’t need to do anything!  We will be rolling all registrations forward to the future conference date. However, if there is a reason you would like a refund we will work with you. Please contact registration@marinemammalscience.org if you have any questions.  Please be patient while we work through requests.

We can refund presenters that need a refund and allow you to maintain your presentation spot in the conference program, but you MUST be fully registered again by the new early bird registration deadline of Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 12pm EDT. Please contact abstracts@marinemammalscience.org if you have any questions.  Please be patient while we work through requests.

If you require a refund for your conference registration, or any other items you’ve already paid for (e.g. workshop, merchandise, etc.), please contact registration@marinemammalscience.org and we will work to provide you with a full refund until Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 12pm (noon) EDT. After this date, our standard cancellation of $100 USD handling fee for registration cancellations will apply.

Don’t worry! We will be reopening and extending the early bird registration window. Early bird registration will now be open until Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EST. If you registered after the original early bird deadline and paid full price, please reach out to registration@marinemammalscience.org to request a partial refund until Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 12pm (noon) EDT.

The conference program has already been set with excellent content and we are hoping to minimize any changes in 2022. However, we realize that the change of conference date may change your preference for how you would like to present your work (i.e. in person vs. virtually).  If you would like to switch to a virtual presentation, or visa versa, we can accommodate your request. If you would like to switch to an in-person presentation we will put you on a waiting list and add you as spots become available. We will be extending the date to make these requests to Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EDT.

We realize that the later conference date may allow you to analyze that last bit of data. We can work with you to help you update your abstract if necessary. We will follow up with an announcement early in the calendar year to open a short window for updates. Presenters will be given one opportunity to update their abstracts.

The SMM2022 Conference Team realizes that some Society members’ professional schedules also had to undergo a “reschedule” when the SMM2022 Biennial Conference was rescheduled from December 2021 to August 1-5, 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida (Workshops July 30-31). We have fielded many requests from members and potential attendees regarding consideration of new abstracts. To accommodate those who now have data ready to share and/or are able to attend, we are announcing  a limited Abstract Submission for 15 days, starting Monday, January 3, 2022 at 12pm (noon) EST until Monday, January 17, 2022 12pm (noon) EST. These new abstracts will undergo the same review process as all previously submitted abstracts. We anticipate all new abstracts submitted by in-person attendees will be presented in the poster format, as the oral presentation program is relatively locked in. However, some abstracts may be chosen as or changed to oral presentations subject to slot availability and quality of abstracts. For those unlikely to attend in-person, we encourage using this abstract submission period to submit for virtual presentation.  This format allows for great flexibility and creativity of presentation for long and short formats.  The traditional oral and poster formats can be completely reimagined. Authors will be notified in early February 2022.

You can cancel your reservation with no penalty and rebook at your convenience. To visit the accommodation reservation portal, click HERE.   We will be establishing the new room block soon and will announce opening for rebooking or changing your reservation.

We will be working with workshop organizers to determine how this delay might impact their workshop. If a workshop organizer needs to cancel their planned workshop, you will be refunded the full cost. If you no longer will be able to attend the workshop in person at the new date, we will refund the full cost. Please wait for updates and guidance. We will be sending out more information before Wednesday, October 27, 2021.

You don’t have to do anything if you are still planning on attending the conference in person.  Products will not be shipped to attendees prior to or following the conference. So, if you will now be presenting virtually or no longer want the merchandise, please contact registration@marinemammalscience.org and we can provide a full refund.

If you were going to be a student during the originally scheduled dates of the conference then we will honor that status at the conference in 2022 – even if your status has changed. Your registration costs and travel grant status will not change.  It is expected that all grant recipients maintain their Society for Marine Mammalogy membership.

Yes! If you still plan on attending the conference you will be able to keep your travel grant. We are hoping that travel uncertainty will clear up before the postponed conference happens. If you received support to attend the conference in person and the date change means you will not be able to do so, then please work with your grant coordinator (Student Members-at-Large or International Relations Committee) to let them know of your change of plans and whether or not you will need the virtual conference costs covered.  It is expected that all grant recipients maintain their Society for Marine Mammalogy membership.

If needed, we will gladly provide an updated conference receipt or VISA letter with new conference dates to support your travel to Palm Beach. Please contact registration@marinemammalscience.org for assistance with these requests.