Xiamen, May 11–14, 2026 – The Third Meeting of the Second International Advisory Committee (IAC) of the National Observation and Research Station for the Taiwan Strait Marine Ecosystem (T-SMART) was successfully held in Xiamen, China.
Presiding over the IAC was Professor Gray Williams of The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong (IAC Chair), alongside distinguished IAC members including Professor Matt Frost (Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK), Professor Brian Helmuth (Northeastern University, USA), Professor Daniele Iudicone (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy), Professor Shing Yip Lee (Griffith University, Australia), Professor Po Teen Lim (University of Malaya, Malaysia), Professor Willard Moore (University of South Carolina, USA), Professor Daniel Pauly (University of British Columbia, Canada), Professor Aileen Tan Shau Hwai (Universiti Sains Malaysia), and Professor Mark Wells (University of Maine, USA). Special guest Ms. Tina Chan, Director of Public Affairs of The Swire Charitable Trust (Hong Kong), and invited expert Academician Minhan Dai (Director of the Earth Sciences Division, Xiamen University), along with approximately 55 faculty members and students from T-SMART, the State Key Laboratory of Marine Biogeochemistry, the College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, and the College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, attended the meeting.
Professor Bangqin Huang, Director of T-SMART, presided over the opening ceremony. Academician Minhan Dai delivered an opening speech, expressing sincere gratitude to the IAC members for their continued guidance and support, and reaffirming the IAC's vital role in advancing T-SMART's internationalization and professional development. During the ceremony, Academician Dai presented appointment certificates to newly joined IAC members Professor Daniel Pauly and Professor Aileen Tan Shau Hwai.
Professor Bangqin Huang reported on T-SMART's achievements in 2025. Professor Weiwei You presented the T-SMART Development Plan (2025–2030). Senior Engineer Jixin Chen, Professor Jian Ma, and Senior Engineer Yamian Zhang delivered progress reports on three key areas: scientific observation, talent cultivation, and demonstration services.
During the meeting, experts visited the D-SMART and the M-ECROS. Professor Xudong Zhu and Engineer Shengyao Sun introduced the current status, core observation tasks, technology transfer outcomes, demonstration projects, and future development plans of the two stations. The experts conducted onsite inspections of observation and experimental facilities and engaged in in-depth discussions on station management, technological upgrades, and research collaboration.
IAC members highly recognized T-SMART's accomplishments in 2025, noting significant progress in scientific observation and research, science outreach and education, and social services. They acknowledged T-SMART's growing leadership role in regional marine ecological and environmental observation and research. The committee engaged in vibrant discussions on T-SMART's development strategies, systematic observation and research, international (and regional) outreach and education, cooperation, and operational management, offering a number of constructive recommendations.
The IAC of T-SMART consists of renowned international scholars, including directors of leading marine field stations, the Chair of the World Federation of Marine Field Stations, fellows of European and American academies of sciences, and AGU fellows. The IAC's primary responsibilities are to guide, support, and assist in the development of T-SMART while strengthening its collaboration with marine field stations worldwide. The IAC evolved from the International Advisory Committee of D-SMART, established in 2014, which has held seven previous meetings. The committee's current term commenced in 2024.
