A seven-member delegation from the University of Plymouth, UK, paid a visit to the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, 2011.

Headed by marine ecologist Martin Attrill, director of Marine Institute of the university, the delegation gave an overview of marine disciplines and research progress of its university. IOCAS, in response, introduced to the delegation its disciplines distribution, research progress and blueprint, personnel structure, technical capacity as well as international cooperation regarding to different laboratories such as Experimental Marine Biological Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences.

The visit was within the framework of scientific cooperation memorandum signed between the two sides in June this year. The visit not only clarified the two sides' cooperation focus and concrete content, but also contributed to the expanding of international cooperation between IOCAS and other European scientific institutions. 

The Marine Institute of the University of Plymouth is a leading institution in the field of marine research and technological development, demonstrating distinct advantages in the research of sustainable development of world's costal zones and shelf seas.