From Talks to Necropsies: What Happens at a Student Marine Mammalogy Conference

We (Hannah, Kara, Elise) had the amazing opportunity to attend the conference of the Society for Marine Mammalogy NZ/AUS student chapter. For some of us, this was our first scientific conference experience ever, and for all of us, it was the first time attending the student chapter conference.

Hannah, Elise and Kara on the Massey University grounds where the conference was held (repping the MAVE Lab merch of course)

“He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.”

What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication.

Whakatau (Traditional Māori Welcome)

When everyone first arrived at our accommodation, we were part of a traditional Māori Welcome ceremony where the elders welcome us to their land, including the Hariru, the process where you touch foreheads and breathe in, sharing the breath of life. They then sing the waiata, (traditional Māori song) all together.

Introductions

Day 1 we all arrived at our accommodation kindly organised and provided through the conference. We were excited to see some familiar faces we’d met through previous studies or in online meetings, but also nervous to meet so many new people. We quickly realised that it was a very interesting and fun group of people and had nothing to worry about. Our advice is to not be afraid to introduce yourself! It’s a marine mammal conference, everyone is interested in the same things that you are. It may seem scary at first, but everyone feels nervous, and as soon as you mention your lifelong dream to see an orca or your obsession with nudibranchs, you will never run out of things to talk about.

(Left to right) our accommodation in Auckland, New Zealand at the Marine Education & Recreation Centre (MERC), the gorgeous beach view from our room window, and Massey University grounds

Student and guest speakers

Across the 3 days of the conference, we listened to a variety of talks covering large range of topics (genetics, habitat, population monitoring, movements and acoustics, isotope and feeding ecology, human impacts, anatomy and physiology). It was really interesting and inspiring, and we learnt a lot about different species and research methods we hadn’t been exposed to previously, helping to give us ideas on some areas we would all like to explore more, such as acoustics and genomics.

Kara and Hannah listening in while Katharina gave her guest presentation via Zoom

Some guest speaker talks focused on career advice, including general advice about doing a PhD, what comes after, and describing different career pathways. We found this very useful since some of us are about to embark on our own PhD journey! It was very insightful to learn about different academic/post doc/industry journeys to help us start thinking about things we might want to investigate in the future.

Our talks

We were all a bit nervous before our talks speaking in front of a large audience can be daunting, especially when the room is full very smart, experienced people. But once we got up there and started sharing our research, the nerves quickly turned into excitement. It felt great to finally talk about what we’ve been working on over the past year with our colleagues, fellow students and friends, and to celebrate how far we’ve come. Question time was intimidating at first, but it soon became a highlight and a chance to dive deeper into areas we couldn’t cover in the talk itself. The atmosphere felt more like a friendly conversation than a formal Q&A, which made it much easier to relax and enjoy the exchange.

MAVE Lab students presenting their research: Elise, Hannah, Nicholai, Evi & Kara (top left to bottom right)

Necropsy workshop

During the conference we had the incredible opportunity to take part in a necropsy demonstration. The CERG team, led by Professor Karen Stockin, guided us through a common dolphin post-mortem examination — an experience that was both fascinating and, admittedly, a little smelly! Being a part of something so hands-on and scientifically important was truly inspiring. It also gave us valuable insight into whether this kind of work is something we might want to pursue in the future. We were especially impressed by how respectful CERG approaches this work, recognising the deep cultural significance of cetaceans to Māori culture and collaborating closely with local iwi and the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Hannah, Kara and Elise looking very fashionable wearing the latest necropsy gear!

What we learned

• Build connections early. The people you meet at these conferences are your future peers and collaborators, so take the opportunity to connect and get to know them now.

• Take notes! We heard so many amazing presentations, and bringing a notebook was a great decision! It not only helped us remember key ideas but also made it easier to start conversations by asking questions about others’ research, and in some cases, linking it back to your own!

• Share your excitement. Everyone at the conference genuinely wants to hear about your work and learn from you. Remember, this isn’t an exam, it is a chance to grow, exchange ideas, and showcase all the effort you’ve put into your research.

Advice for conferences

• Say yes! Take every opportunity you can to learn, connect, and get involved — you never know what might come from it.

• Ask questions and enjoy answering them too. Engaging with others’ work shows genuine curiosity and helps you grow as a researcher.

• Reflect on what inspires you. If a presentation really grabs your attention or relates to your own goals, write it down! These sparks often lead to new ideas and collaborations.

• Talk to everyone. If someone’s research interests you, introduce yourself! A simple conversation can open doors to future opportunities and lasting professional connections.

Outside the Cetacean Pathology Unit post-necropsy with Cetacean Ecology Research Group (CERG) and MAVE Lab members!

Authors: Hannah Davies, Elise Beaumont & Kara Stokes