On October 19, East China Normal University (ECNU) held a signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) at its Minhang campus.
Representatives from the three parties signed the trilateral MoU: Jian Wu, Assistant President and Executive Dean of the Graduate School of ECNU; Dongyan Liu, Chair of the IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee; and Emily Twigg, Executive Director of SCOR. The ceremony was hosted by Qing He, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC) at ECNU.
Attendees included Chungang Duan, Director of the Department of Development Planning at ECNU; Lei Li, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Division; Zhenhua Sun, Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources; Yu Meng, Executive of the International Cooperation & Exchange Division; and representatives from IMBeR IPO supporting institutions and organizations including Ocean University of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, and the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, along with representatives from relevant international projects.
Jian Wu warmly welcomed the attendees, including the Chair of the IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee, the SCOR Executive Director, and representatives from supporting organizations and international projects. He noted the significant progress made in the partnership since ECNU first signed an MoU with IMBeR in 2010 and expressed hopes for further deepening cooperation in the future. He also looked forward to SCOR’s involvement as a new signatory, believing its global network and research capabilities would inject new momentum into the collaboration, enhancing the depth and breadth of the joint efforts in marine sustainability research to address complex global challenges.
Welcome remarks by Jian Wu, Assistant President and the Executive Dean of the Graduate School, ECNU
SCOR Executive Director Emily Twigg expressed appreciation for the long-term support from ECNU, the IMBeR project, and Chinese supporting organizations. Reflecting on nearly two decades of collaboration between IMBeR and SCOR, she highlighted the historical significance of this partnership, tracing its roots back to the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (GLOBEC) project initiated in 1992. Following the recent 2024 SCOR annual meeting and the 40th anniversary celebration of the SCOR China-Beijing National Committee, she emphasized the importance of the IMBeR International Project Office (IPO) located at ECNU, which plays a crucial role in advancing global and regional IMBeR activities, outreach and communication, and capacity developing. As this is an important time for IMBeR, the stability and long-term knowledge provided by the IPO at SKLEC, ECNU will be invaluable.
Remarks by Emily Twigg, Executive Director of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)
As the Chair of the IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee, Dongyan Liu acknowledged the valuable support from ECNU and SCOR, highlighting IMBeR’s significance as a large global research project focused on ocean sustainability in the context of global change. Initiated in 2005, IMBeR has developed a broad international cooperation platform aimed at addressing key issues in global marine science through interdisciplinary collaboration. She stated that IMBeR would continue to strengthen partnerships with international research institutions, and looks forward to ongoing strong support from partners in tackling global challenges such as climate change and providing new insights into marine science research.
Remarks by Dongyan Liu, Chair of the IMBeR Scientific Steering Committee
Following the signing ceremony, representatives from ECNU’s functional departments, the Chinese Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research, IMBeR IPO’s supporting organizations, the International CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean – Variability, Predictability, and Change) Project Office, the SOLAS (Surface Ocean – Lower Atmosphere Study) IPO China, and the FEC (Future Earth Coasts) IPO China engaged in discussions. Messages of congratulations were also received from Feng Zhou, Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics (SOED), Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Liuming Hu, the First Director of IMBeR Regional Project Office. They acknowledged the significant achievements made by the IMBeR IPO since its upgrade to an international project office in 2020. This signing marks the continuation of ECNU’s collaboration with IMBeR and SCOR, with hopes to jointly advance marine science research and promote the sustainable development of oceans.
IMBeR – Integrated Marine Biosphere Research – is a large global research project which focuses on ocean sustainability in the context of global change. IMBeR supports collaborative, disciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and integrated research that addresses key ocean science issues generated by and/or impacting society. This project is co-sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and Future Earth.
SCOR – Scientific Committee on Ocean Research – is an international non-governmental non-profit organization. SCOR activities focus on promoting international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. SCOR covers all areas of ocean science and cooperates with other organizations with common interests to conduct many SCOR activities.