September 29-30, the director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Prof. Dr. Margaret Leinen visited IOCAS on the invitation of director Sun Song.

On the afternoon of Sept.29, Margaret Leinen visited algae, jellyfish, shrimp, shellfish and fish laboratories, WPOS visualization system display and Marine Biological Museum Chinese Academy of Sciences with the accompany of Prof. Dr. Wang Fan, Prof. Dr. Li Chaolun and Dr. Li Yanwei. Margaret has carried on the detailed communication with the researchers from each laboratory. The basic research work on mariculture and taxonomy get high recognition from Margaret.

On the morning of Sept.30, Dr. Margaret Leinen made an academic report titled "US Ocean Research Priorities in the Next Decade". The report introduced the strategic planning layout, funding agencies, as well as the key research field in detail from the perspective of the major U.S. marine research institutes and funding agencies. She answered specific concerns from researchers and students as well.

IOCAS directors and scientists had a strategic cooperation discussion with Margaret on the afternoon of Sept.30. Dr. Sun Song elaborated the cooperation in detail from three levels: national, university, institute and discussed specific cooperation research areas, various forms of cooperation, and expected results, etc. with Margaret. This was a very important discussion after we signed the MoU with Scripps this March; it has set up a more efficient communication platform for the scientists from both sides.