On the afternoon of December 25, the Ocean Decade on Campus event was successfully held at the East Campus of Sun Yat-sen University’s in Guangzhou. The lecture featured four distinguished guests: Dr. GUAN Song, Senior Project Manager of the DCC-OCC; HE Lisheng, a researcher from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering at the Chinese

 Academy of Sciences; Professor CHEN Jihong, Editor-in-Chief of Ocean & Coastal Management; and LI Shenghui, Deputy Director of the School of Management at Guangdong Ocean University. The guests engaged in a high-level, interdisciplinary academic exchange with faculty and students from the Law School, discussing the significance of the Ocean Decade on Campus event, the latest advancements in deep-sea frontier technology, writing humanities and social sciences papers, and the experience of youth participation in international cooperation. The lecture was chaired by Zhang Liang, Dean of the Law School at Sun Yat-sen University.

Zhang Liang, Dean of the Law School delivered the opening remarks

Dr. GUAN Song began by introducing the Ocean Decade, its impact on global ocean governance and the Law of the Sea, and the significance of bringing the Ocean Decade on Campus. She emphasized that ocean issues are not only matters of natural science but are also closely linked to the international law of the Sea and global ocean governance. China has been deeply involved in the Ocean Decade from the preparatory stages, actively promoting the provision of marine public goods and enhancing the capacity of developing countries to address climate change, demonstrating the responsibility of a major country.

Dr. Guan Song introduced the background and significance of Ocean Decade

Researcher HE Lisheng delivered a presentation titled "Diving 10,000 Meters! Exploring the Unknown and Wonders of Deep-Sea Biological Habitats," showcasing the achievements of China’s deep-submergence vehicle, the Striver, in deep-sea exploration. She systematically introduced the characteristics of extreme deep-sea environments and the adaptation mechanisms of organisms. She also highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of deep-sea research, which involves ecological protection, resource development, and international cooperation legal frameworks, providing new topics for legal studies.

Researcher HE Lisheng shared the achievements in deep-sea exploration

Faculty  and students listened to the lecture

Professor CHEN Jihong gave an in-depth presentation on " Humanities and Social Sciences Paper Writing in Marine Studies: Management and Policy Perspectives." Drawing on the characteristics of legal research, he systematically shared experiences and strategies for publishing in international journals, covering topics such as topic selection, structural norms, and interdisciplinary collaboration. In his research suggestions, Professor CHEN emphasized that legal studies should adopt a multi-layered "management–policy–governance" perspective, enhance the ability to engage in international dialogue, avoid falling into regional narratives, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration through academic team building.

Professor CHEN Jihong shared writing experiences and norms

Deputy Director LI Shenghui shared her practical experiences from the perspective of a young scholar, including her participation in the UN Ocean Decade Young Professionals Program, international conferences, and global network building. She encouraged young legal scholars to broaden their interdisciplinary perspectives, improve cross-cultural communication and global leadership skills, actively participate in international ocean governance processes, and amplify the voices of Chinese youth in areas such as ocean rule of law and marine policy.

Deputy Director LI Shenghui shared experiences in international ocean cooperation

Finally, Dean Zhang Liang expressed sincere gratitude to the four guests for their insightful presentations. Faculty and students in attendance noted that the lecture was rich in content and broad in scope, not only deepening their understanding of the Ocean Decade initiative and frontier marine science but also providing valuable discussions on the intersection of legal research and global ocean governance.

group photo of students and guests

group photo of guest speakers