June 8 2024 marks the 16th World Oceans Day and the 17th National Ocean Publicity Day. On this day, the UN Ocean Decade on Campus Alliance （ODCA） was officially established, initiated by the UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination Amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P.R. China （DCC-OCC） in collaboration with multiple organizations. Nearly 70 institutions, including international organizations, universities, associations, enterprises, research institutes, primary and secondary schools, foundations, museums, and non-profit organizations, have joined the alliance. DCC-OCC serves as the secretariat of the alliance.
During the event, distinguished guests including Tian Wenbiao, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Zhang Zhanhai, Chairman of the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association; Qiao Fangli, director of DCC-OCC and deputy Director-General of the First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China; Zheng Yue, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University; Academician Chen Dake, Director of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory （Zhuhai）; Academician Lin Jian, Dean of the Institute of Oceanology of the Southern University of Science and Technology; Pan Xinchun, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Oceanic Development Foundation; Liu Feng, Vice Chairman of the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association; Li Xiangyang, Deputy Director-General of China Ocean Affairs Administration; Sun Haiyan, Publisher Representative of Elsevier; and Feng Biyan, Vice Principal of Zhuhai Sun Yat-sen University Affiliated High School, jointly launched the alliance.
The Ocean Decade, formally known as the "United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development （2021-2030），" is one of the most significant ocean initiatives launched by the United Nations in recent years. To promote this initiative, the Ocean Decade on Campus Alliance was officially established. Through extensive cooperation, the alliance will actively carry out a series of Ocean Decade on Campus activities.
The alliance issued its first joint declaration. The declaration includes deepening and innovating marine science education to enhance ocean literacy of youth through diverse activities; actively promoting the Ocean Decade to provide broader development platforms for young scientists; and uniting various stakeholders to develop extensive cooperation networks.
"We firmly believe that through the efforts of the Ocean Decade on Campus Alliance, we will inspire a wave of ocean awareness and love for the ocean among the youth, enhancing society's understanding of the ocean and contributing to the achievement of 'the ocean we want' and the movement of Bring it All Together", the declaration states.
The Ocean Decade on Campus activities are held at Sun Yat-sen University's Zhuhai campus, open to the public from June 8 to June 14. The events are co-hosted by the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, Sun Yat-sen University, East China Normal University, National Marine Museum, DCC-OCC, China Oceanic Development Foundation, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory （Zhuhai）， and Future Earth Global Hub （China）， with support from more than ten other organizations. The activities include diverse and rich content such as "Academician Science Lecture," "Dialogue with Chief Scientists," "Dialogue with Future Ocean Stars," "Connecting with Ocean Research Vessels," "Outstanding Young Marine Scientists Salon," and "New Marine Productivity Roundtable Salon," along with the popular science exhibition "Deep Sea Discovery Journey" and the New Marine Productivity thematic exhibition. These activities will play an important role in promoting China's participation in the Ocean Decade initiative, enhancing marine science and governance research, and cultivating young marine scientists.
Other notable guests who attended and delivered speeches at the event included Huang Zhihao, Mayor of Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, and Academician Gao Song, President of Sun Yat-sen University.
Representatives witnessing the establishment of the UN Ocean Decade on Campus Alliance
Reading the declaration
