“SOCAL‐BRS” (Behavioral Response Study) is a multi‐year effort (2010‐2014) to designed to better understand marine mammal behavior and reactions to sound. It is an interdisciplinary research collaboration, building on previous efforts in the Bahamas and Mediterranean Sea. The overall objective is to provide a better scientific basis for estimating risk and minimizing effects of active sonar for the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies. SOCAL‐BRS is also part of a larger international collaboration to measure the impacts of noise marine mammals using opportunistic and experimental approaches (including controlled exposure experiments, or “CEEs”). SOCAL‐11 extends existing collaborations among scientists from private sector and academic scientists, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Navy researchers and operational personnel. It is jointly funded by the U. S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, Environmental Readiness Division (OPNAV N45) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The first year SOCAL-10 was extremely successful and you can find more information about our progress by reviewing the SOCAL-10 Final Report. The second year SOCAL-11 is currently underway and you can track our progress at the SEA Blog.