On August 2, 2024, the scientific ocean drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution (JR) successfully concluded its Expedition 403 of the Eastern Fram Strait Paleo-Archive, organized by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

Yi ZHONG, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), participated in this expedition as one of two Chinese scientists.

Setting sail from the Port of Amsterdam, Netherlands, on June 4, 2024, the JR vessel embarked on this scientific journey with a team of 29 scientists from 11 countries and regions, including China, the United States, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Spain, Australia, Japan, and India.

As a paleomagnetist, Yi ZHONG collaborated with the research team to study paleomagnetic chronology and the evolution of sedimentary environments.

During the expedition, Professor ZHONG and Yanguang LIU, Researcher at the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, conducted live science popularization broadcasts in collaboration with Science Illustrated and Xinhua News Agency. These broadcasts reached over 1.52 million online viewers.

“Ocean drilling is a collaborative effort that brings together scientists from many countries around the world”, Yi ZHONG said. “This valuable experience of participating in the expedition has highlighted the importance and necessity of international cooperation in ocean science research. Ocean science is a multidisciplinary field, and as a marine paleomagnetist, I must broaden my horizons and promote polar science in China through cooperation and exchange. I am honored to have participated in the latest expedition of the JOIDES Resolution under the IODP”, he added.

Established in 1968, the IODP is the largest, longest-running, and most far-reaching international scientific cooperation program in the field of earth and ocean sciences. It is an important platform for contemporary international deep-sea exploration.

China’s independently designed and built ocean drilling vessel, Dream, successfully completed its first trial expedition at the end of 2023. As the IODP continues to evolve, China’s role will transition from “participant” to “leader”, taking on a more significant role in international ocean drilling.