A delegation led by Dr. Fan Wang, Director of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), attended the 26th Annual Meeting of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) in Penang, Malaysia, during February 24-25, 2025. The event brought together 94 scientists from 27 countries.
Distinguished from previous conferences, POGO-26 featured top-tier experts who explored seven frontier themes: biomolecular observation and eDNA, sustainable ocean observation, marine pollutant monitoring for Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), blue carbon sequestration, digital twins, marine heatwaves, and El Nino/La Nina impacts on coastal zones. The IOCAS delegation delivered five oral presentations and two poster displays.
A vibrant scene from the POGO26 Annual Meeting
Dr. Fan Wang delivered a keynote address titled "Building a Collaborative Observation Network for Air-Sea Fluxes in the Western Pacific", highlighting China's latest breakthroughs in sustainable ocean observation technologies. His presentation addressed current challenges in air-sea flux monitoring and showcased three critical technological advancements, underscoring China's innovation in the field.
Fan Wang delivers a speech at POGO-26
Furthermore, the Health of Ocean under Multiple Ecosystem Stressors (HOMES) project—spearheaded by IOCAS in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia, Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency, the University of the Philippines, the University of Papua New Guinea, and the University of Tokyo—hosted a successful workshop on the opening day. Chaired by Professor Aileen Tan (Director, CEMACS), the session engaged 37 experts from 18 countries. Dr. Wang elaborated on HOMES' scientific vision, recent progress, and future roadmap. POGO Chair Francisco Arias and Dr. Margaret Leinen commended the project's achievements and pledged enhanced cooperation.
Fan Wang introduces HOMES
Margaret Leinen commends HOMES progress
Endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade program in April 2024, HOMES focuses on multidisciplinary research to address marine biodiversity conservation under climate change in the Maritime Continent.
Participants of HOMES Side Event
POGO-26 not only served as an academic exchange platform but also catalyzed global marine science collaboration, injecting new momentum into international efforts to tackle pressing ocean challenges.
(Editor: ZHANG Yiyi)