IMECaN Event
The Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network (IMECaN) was established by early career researchers (ECR) at the 2016 Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) summer school, with the endorsement of IMBeR’s Scientific Steering Committee. Since its inception, IMECaN has served as a platform for ECR to foster collaborations, access training opportunities not covered in formal education, and engage in leadership development, with a particular focus on researchers from developing countries. IMECaN now has 1,243 members from 101 countries, excluding Antarctica, with diverse participation across all continents. At least 25% of members are students at various levels, while the remaining members range from postdoctoral researchers to professors. Although the primary research themes include biodiversity, systematics, marine ecology, fisheries, and climate change, only 12% of the members focus on these topics, highlighting the broad range of research interests within the network.
This event will reflect on the network’s achievements over eight years and gather perspectives to shape its future as IMBeR enters a new phase. All ECRs and more experienced scientists are encouraged to join, with further details on interactions to be shared soon.
Convenor
Shenghui Li, Guangdong Ocean University; IMECaN Co-chair
Dr. Shenghui Li is a lecturer and researcher at Guangdong Ocean University, China. Her expertise lies in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and global ocean governance, with a focus on transboundary issues and multi-stakeholder collaboration. She is a steering group member of the MSP Research Network and actively promotes MSP education and research. Her work explores MSP’s role in enhancing coastal community resilience and regional marine governance under climate change. Shenghui is also the co-chair of IMECaN (Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network). Her interdisciplinary background spans marine natural and social sciences, including a joint PhD in Marine Affairs from Xiamen University, China, and the University of Liverpool, UK, as well as postdoctoral experience at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Actively engaged in the UN Ocean Decade, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Global ONCE programme, the Coordinating Group of ECOP-China, and as the focal point of the Ocean Literacy Hub-Asia, empowering youth and advancing transformative ocean governance.