GEM Newsletter: Phase One Progress, Phase Two Plan, and GEM Webinar Series
- chonchen6
- Jul 26
- 3 min read
Dear Collaborators,
I trust this message finds you well. I am pleased to update you on the significant advancements of our GEM Programme over the past six months.
Phase One Progress
Our sampling campaign for Phase One has been successfully concluded. Over the last two years (from July 2023 to June 2025), we have collected samples from 187 estuaries across 50 countries worldwide, of which 53 estuaries have undergone sampling during both dry and wet seasons. This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of over 100 global partners like yourselves.
We understand your keen interest in the processing, detection, and analysis of the collected samples. With over 2370 samples at hand, the workload is substantial. As per our work plan, we anticipate being able to accommodate your urgent requests for data on 65 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) concentrations in your sampled estuaries by December 2025. The initial manuscript draft is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, and we will provide our Phase One Partners with the PPCPs detection concentration data and the manuscript for review without requiring any requests at that time. Subsequently, we will also gather co-author information from you to facilitate the collaborative publication process.
We appreciate your patience and assure you that we are progressing steadily towards our goals. Kindly note that the aforementioned data is subject to final published results.
Phase Two Plan
Our research team is currently gearing up for Phase Two, aligning with our previous communications. This phase will primarily focus on passive sampling and estuarine sediment sampling. You can anticipate receiving 2-4 distinct types of novel passive samplers for deployment in your local estuaries, expanding the monitoring target compounds from PPCPs to a broader range of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Stay tuned to our GEM website for the imminent unveiling of the sampling method, with the official launch of the sampling campaign slated for January 2026. If you wish to continue as a Phase Two partner and have not completed your registration, we urge you to do so promptly. The registration questionnaire is slated to close by the end of December 2025, and the registered partners will receive timely progress updates.
GEM Webinar
This year, we are excited to introduce a significant GEM webinar series, scheduled to be held online every 1-3 months. Each session will feature presentations from two esteemed researchers in the field of estuarine research. We encourage your active participation in our webinars and welcome your engaging academic contributions.
The presentation topics can encompass any content related to estuarine research and UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 17, such as, but not restricted to:
Chemical pollution in estuarine and marine environments (e.g., contaminants of emerging concern, persistent organic pollutants, microplastics)
Ecological toxicology and biogeochemical studies in estuarine and marine environments
Global initiatives and policies addressing estuarine and marine pollution
Leveraging artificial intelligence or modeling to assess estuarine environmental conditions and guide policy decisions.
If you are interested in delivering voluntary presentations at the GEM webinar series, kindly complete the Call for Interests: GEM Webinar Series Presentation promptly. This represents a remarkable opportunity to showcase your research globally. Following a review of the submissions, selected guest speakers will be contacted in due course. The first GEM Webinar is scheduled for 8-9 pm (HK time)/12-1 pm (GMT) on 19 September 2025. Stay tuned for further updates.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time.
Warm regards,
Dr. Chong Chen
Manager of the GEM Programme
