Tuesday 5^th - Thursday 7^th May 2020
The Etches Collection : Museum of Jurassic Marine LIfe Kimmeridge, Dorset

The Meeting

This meeting will consist of two days of oral platform presentations, discussions, and posters. This 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, and we welcome abstracts from researchers studying all aspects of this field.

The presentations will take place on the 5^th and 6^th May, with an optional conference meal at Springfield Country Hotel and Spa on the evening of the 5^th May. An optional field trip will be led to the fossiliferous Kimmeridge Bay area on the 7^th May. Numbers for the field trip are limited to 30 people, and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, once registration opens.

The Venue

The conference will be held at The Etches Collection in Dorset, UK. This incredible museum 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:

Please note, the shuttle bus will only serve Wareham station at the following times:

5^th May morning only (pre-conference)
6^th May afternoon only (post-conference)
7^th May afternoon only (to accommodate the field trip)

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 4th, 5th and 6th May 2020 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, to take place on the evening of the first day, 5^th May, at Springfields 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

The conference venue has a maximum capacity of 100 people (to include staff, organisers, and delegates) and we will allocate places on a first come first served basis. As the first UK-based conference dedicated to marine reptiles in a decade it is sure to be popular, so book now to avoid disappointment!

The first ten students to submit an abstract will receive a £30 discount off the registration cost, including the Early Bird Registration rate! 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.

NB/ Students must be in full or part-time education in May 2020, and a scan of valid student ID will be required to book a student place. This is not held on record by the organisers.

Abstracts

Abstracts for platform presentations and posters should be no more than 250 words, and not include references. The deadline for submitting your abstract is Friday 28^thFebruary 2020. You will be notified if you have been successful or not, by Monday 16^thMarch 2020. Submit abstracts by email to [email protected]

Please note, by submitting an abstract, you are agreeing to abide by the MRC2020 Code of Conduct.

If your oral or poster abstract is accepted, you will receive an email notification, including guidance for the oral presentation format, the poster size, etc.

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]
Mark Evans [email protected]
Dean Lomax [email protected]
Richard Forrest [email protected]

General contact email: [email protected]

Cancellation Policy

If after you have registered you find you are no longer able to attend, please let the conference organisers know by email as soon as possible. Cancellations received on or before 1^st April 2020, will be refunded in full. Cancellations received between 2^nd April and 30^th April 2020, will have 50% of their registration cost refunded. Cancellations received after 30^th April will not be refunded. This is due to the outgoing costs to third parties that cannot be recouped by the organisers.