Report on SIMS/SARCCM delegation to State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University (ECNU) on the World Harbour Project

Photo: SIMS/SARCCM delegation meeting with Director of SKLEC/ECNU Prof. Yunxuan Zhou and his Board of Directors.

In the morning on May 6 of 2014, Prof. Peter Steinberg, A/Prof Xiao Hua Wang and Dr. Moninya Roughan from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) and the Sino-Australian Research Consortium for Coastal Management (SARCCM) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), a partner in SIMS, visited the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University (ECNU). Prof. Yunxuan Zhou and SKLEC board members attended the discussion on the World Harbour Project and related issues.

During this visit, Prof. Yunxuan Zhou, Director of SKLEC/ECNU, introduced SKLEC about its team and research. Prof. Peter Steinberg, Director of SIMS, introduced about SIMS and the World Harbour Project (WHP). Dr Moninya Roughan reported her research on Sydney Harbour, the East Australian Current and EAC's roles in ecological connectivity. A/Prof Wang presented his work on sediment transport dynamics in Darwin Harbour.

The World Harbour Project is a SIMS initiative aimed to facilitate, link and enhance programs of research and management across major urban harbours of the world, in order to help build resilience globally for these iconic urban waterways and the cities that surround them. SARCCM is both a part of this initiative and an independent Research Consortium, at UNSW and is taking the lead to facilitate Chinese partnerships in the WHP. SKLEC is interested to join the WHP as the research team for Shanghai Harbours.

• Try different funding sources globally
• SKLEC will send students to UNSW/SIMS for up to twelve months as visiting students, or four years for PhD degree. (Possible for dual PhD degrees?)
• Students can also apply for scholarships from UNSW directly.
• SKLEC welcomes SIMS students with CSC scholarships for both short term and long term study.
• SKLEC will send early-career scientists and technical staff to visit SARCCM and SIMS for short term research and training.
• SKLEC would like to invite scientists from SARCCM and SIMS to do short visit and give lectures to graduate students.
• SKLEC welcome scientists from SARCCM/SIMS to conduct cooperative research.
• The group of the workshop has been invited to attend the workshop held by the Sino-Australian Research Consortium for Coastal Management, October 24, 2014 at OUC, Qingdao.
• WHP will be launched during Nov. 11-19, 2014, at the IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney. A WHP specific workshop will be held immediately prior to the Congress, and SKLEC will be invited to attend the workshop and Congress.

Based on the above issues, SKLEC would like to formulate formal agreements with SARCCM and SIMS on collaboration framework. The first step is for ECNU to provide Prof. Steinberg and SIMS with a letter of support for the WHP.