Source: POGO Western Pacific Regional Node Office
The 26th Annual Meeting of the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) was grandly held in Penang, Malaysia during February 24–28, 2025, attracting 94 scientists from 27 countries. The meeting convened representatives from POGO member institutions and invited leading experts to engage in in-depth discussions on seven cutting-edge topics: biomolecular observation, eDNA technology, sustainable ocean observation, marine pollutant monitoring, blue carbon sequestration, digital twin technology, marine heatwaves, and the impacts of El Niño and La Niña on coastal regions.
Notably, the POGO Western Pacific Regional Node Office—the first regional node office under POGO—played a proactive role as an organizer and coordinator during the conference. Since its official establishment in September 2024, the office has significantly contributed to international training on subsurface mooring observations and fostered scientific research and collaboration in the Western Pacific. Jointly hosted by the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), the Ocean Decade Collaboration Center (ODCC), and the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (China), the office operates under a biennial rotating leadership system. Dr. Hui Zhou, a researcher at IOCAS, serves as the inaugural Director, while Dr. Wei Zheng from the First Institute of Oceanography holds the position of Deputy Director.
The establishment of the Western Pacific Regional Node Office underscores China’s growing prominence in international marine science. Under the office’s coordination, the Chinese delegation to the POGO26 meeting comprised 23 members, with eight delivering oral presentations that showcased China’s latest advancements in marine research, significantly enhancing the nation’s global scientific influence.
Additionally, the Health of Ocean under Multiple Ecosystem Stressors (HOMES) project, endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and initiated by Dr. Fan Wang of IOCAS, held a dedicated workshop on the first day of the conference. Attended by 37 marine scientists from 18 countries, the session was chaired by Professor Aileen Tan, Director of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Wang delivered the opening remarks, outlining HOMES’ scientific vision, progress, and future plans. Key presentations included: Prof. Aileen Tan’s report on Climate Change Threats to Regional Ecosystems; Prof. Zainal Arifin (National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia) on Sustainable Observations of Island Ecosystems; Dr. Jianing Wang (IOCAS) on Scientific Expeditions and Achievements in the Western Pacific; Dr. Hui Zhang (IOCAS) on Marine Biodiversity Revealed by Environmental DNA; Dr. Hui Zhou (IOCAS) on Ocean Circulation Dynamics and Ecological Impacts in the Maritime Continent.
POGO Chair Francisco Arias (Director, Colombian Institute of Oceanography and Coastal Zones) and Dr. Margaret Leinen (Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA) praised HOMES’ progress and expressed interest in deepening collaboration.
Moving forward, the POGO Western Pacific Regional Node Office will continue to advance international cooperation, strengthen regional capacity-building, and promote public awareness of ocean sustainability, fostering a shared vision for a resilient marine future.
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(Editor: ZHANG Yiyi)