Tuesday 4th May - Thursday 6th May 2021
The Etches Collection: Museum of Jurassic Marine Life Kimmeridge, Dorset

 

 

Update due to coronavirus – July 2020

When the pandemic began, the committee polled registered delegates to determine whether we should:

1. Go ahead in May 2020 but hold the conference online
2. Postpone the physical conference to September 2020 but hold it online in the event a physical conference is still not possible come the autumn.

Delegates voted for option B, so that is what was advertised.

 

However, since the original vote was cast the committee has been contacted by a number of delegates who have expressed a fatigue with online events. Unfortunately, with social distancing not going away soon, holding MRC in September would mean it would be virtual in format.

 

For the reasons outlined above, after much discussion the committee has taken the decision to postpone until May 2021, when we will stand a much better chance of delivering the physical, high end conference our delegates deserve.

 

We hope this will come as good news to all!

 

The new dates for the Marine Reptile Conference are therefore intended to be Tuesday 4^th – Thursday 6^th May 2021. The field trip will be either the 4^th or the 6^th, depending on the tides.

 

Bookings

We apologise for any inconvenience the change of dates may cause. Registered delegates - please get in touch with us if you require a refund due to the change of dates.

 

We will not be taking new bookings at this time as the maximum capacity of the venue is likely to be reduced due to ongoing social distancing protocols.

 

The Meeting

This meeting will consist of two days of oral platform presentations, discussions, and posters. The conference is open to all, and we invite professionals, amateurs and enthusiasts in the field of marine reptiles to attend. The primary focus will be on the fossil record, covering both marine reptiles and other organisms which formed part of their ecosystems, however a session will also take place on modern marine reptiles.

 

The presentations will take place at the Etches Collection: Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, with an optional conference meal at Springfield Country Hotel and Spa. An optional field trip will be led to the fossiliferous Kimmeridge Bay area on either the 4^th or the 6^th, depending on the tides. Two field trips will run one after another, with a reduced maximum capacity on each.

 

The Etches Collection in Dorset, UK holds a world class collection of Jurassic marine material, with numerous holotypes and newly discovered marine reptile species, well worth a visit for any marine reptile enthusiast. It also has a comprehensive range of fossil material that represents the wider marine ecosystem of the Jurassic, including many fascinating specimens showing evidence for predation.

 

Travel

For those delegates coming by car, there is free parking at the Museum, including parking reserved for the disabled, however space is limited. There is also parking at Kimmeridge Bay, which is a 15 minute walk away. Please be aware that the Smedmore Estate charge a £5 toll to use the car park down at Kimmeridge Bay.

 

For those delegates coming by public transportation, the conference organisers will put on a minibus to act as a shuttle between the conference venue and Springfield Country Hotel and Spa (approximately a 20 minute walk from the centre of Stoborough Green). The exact logistics are to be confirmed and will depend on how many people require it. The shuttle bus will also serve the main train station in Wareham.

 

If you require the use of the shuttle bus, you will need to ensure you let the organisers know when you register for the conference.

 

Accommodation

The conference dinner will take place at Springfield Country Hotel and Spa (located in Stoborough) where delegates are invited to stay. Delegates of the Marine Reptile Conference are being offered discounted room rates (between 10% and 30% off depending on the room type and occupancy) for the nights of 4^th and 6^th May 2021 as follows:

 

Standard Room – Single Occupancy £89.00 – Double £120.00

Superior Room – Single Occupancy £99.00 – Double £140.00

Executive Room – Single Occupancy £119.00 – Double £160.00

 

Terms include: Full English breakfast and full use of the Leisure Club & Spa, Ample Free Car Parking and Free Wi-Fi.

 

The minibus shuttle put on by the conference organisers, for those without their own means of transportation, will run between Springfield Hotel (20 minute walk from the centre of Stoborough Green), and the conference venue (The Etches Collection).

 

Catering

The registration cost will include lunch, as well as teas and coffees on both conference days, to be hosted at The Etches Collection. If the weather is favourable, teas and coffees may be taken on the veranda, so fingers crossed! You have the option of booking the conference dinner (date TBC), at Springfield Hotel in Stoborough, after which there will be a presentation by our keynote speaker. Please let us know about any dietary requirements at the time of registration. Those staying for the fieldtrip will need to make their own catering arrangements for the day.

 

Registration

Please note - Registration is currently closed.

 

Category	Registration
Regular delegate	£85
Student delegate	£60
Conference dinner (inc drinks)	£40
Fieldtrip	£15

 

 

 

 

 

The first ten students to submit an abstract will receive a £30 discount off the registration cost! Due to the way our payment system works, students are required to register at the normal student rate at the outset, once the abstract has been submitted we will be in touch to organise a refund of the £30.

 

Abstracts

Please note - We are not currently accepting further submissions.

 

Abstracts for platform presentations and posters should be no more than 250 words, and not include references. Please note, by submitting an abstract, you are agreeing to abide by the MRC2020 Code of Conduct.

 

Session Themes

The conference will have several sessions across the two days. Proposed themes for these sessions are outlined below, however we welcome abstracts covering all aspects of marine reptiles, whether they slot into the following themes or not.

• Recent Discoveries
• Fieldwork, conservation, and preparation projects
• The origins of Mesozoic marine reptiles
• Taxonomy of fossil marine reptiles
• Faunas of the Kimmeridge Clay
• Diet, foodwebs, and predation
• Extant marine reptiles as analogues: The physiology and diets of today’s marine reptiles
• Fleshing out the bones: Palaeoart (2D and 3D)

 

The Organisers

Nigel Larkin [email protected]

Emma Nicholls [email protected]

Richard Forrest [email protected]

Dean Lomax [email protected]

Mark Evans [email protected]

General contact email: [email protected]

 

Cancellation Policy

We are sorry that the change of dates will cause some delegates to be unable to attend though feel sure you will all appreciate the difficulty of the situation.

 

We ask that any registered delegates no longer able to attend the conference get in touch with the committee as soon as possible to arrange for a full refund; [email protected]. Cancellations received on or before 26^th March 2021, will be refunded in full. Cancellations received between 27^th March and 26^th April 2021, will have 50% of the registration cost refunded. Cancellations received after 27^th April 2021 will not be refunded. This is due to the outgoing costs to third parties that cannot be recouped by the organisers.