February 26 saw the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark host the First Meeting of the Assembly of the University of the Arctic (UArctic), in which the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering (OSE) at Southern University of Science and Technology became a member. OSE Head Chair Professor Chen Yongshun and Assistant Professor Liu Zhiqiang represented the department at UArctic.

UArctic is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes, and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North, founded in 2001. UArctic builds and strengthens collective resources and collaborative infrastructure that enables member institutions to serve their constituents and their regions. Through cooperation in education, research, and outreach, it enhances human capacity in the North, promotes viable communities and sustainable economies, and forge global partnerships. Following the meeting, there are now 217 members around the world, primarily made up of universities and research institutions.

OSE Chair Professor Jason Phipps Morgan spoke about the development of the department and its research directions. Joining UArctic will expand the global footprint of OSE while providing further opportunities for scholarly and research exchanges between members.

Members of UArctic share resources, facilities, and professional knowledge while mutually recognizing each other’s credits and degree-granting institutions. There will also be more opportunities for SUSTech students to undertake international exchange programs with member institutions.

OSE was founded in July 2015. The development pathway in the next five years will focus on marine geology and marine geophysics, marine microbiology and biogeochemistry, physical oceanography and atmospheric environment, and ocean engineering technology. Several key provincial and municipal-level laboratories are based out of OSE, including the Southern Ocean Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) Shenzhen Branch, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ocean Bottom Seismograph Equipment and Technology Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Oil & Gas Drilling Equipment and Pipeline Engineering and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics.