The 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference & 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand from April 22nd to 25th, 2024. The conference attracted marine scientists from around the world to discuss important topics such as marine science and sustainable development. During the conference, the research team from the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) at City University of Hong Kong actively participated in various activities. Among them, the Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) team led by Prof. Kenneth Leung, the director of SKLMP, organized the scientific session on “Marine Chemical Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)” and hosted a thematic workshop on the GEM program at the Ocean Decade Symposium.
On April 23rd, the scientific session on “Marine Chemical Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)” was held. The session was jointly convened by Prof. Kenneth Leung and Dr. Chong Chen from Hong Kong SAR, China, Dr. Zainal Arifin from Indonesia, Prof. Koji Inoe from Japan, and Prof. Ahmad Ismail from Malaysia. The session featured 22 selected oral presentations and 11 poster presentations. Presenters from 13 different countries, including China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia, Vietnam, and more, shared their research findings. The topics covered a wide range of areas, such as the sources of contaminants in the ocean, the fate and distribution of contaminants, and the impact on marine species at individual and ecosystem levels. The scientific disciplines covered include environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, ecological risk assessment, and modeling of the environmental fate and transport of CECs. The studies ranged from laboratory experiments to field observations, providing a comprehensive scope of research in this field.
On April 24th, the workshop focusing on the GEM Programme was chaired by Prof. Kenneth Leung and Dr. Chong Chen. The workshop was divided into two sessions. Firstly, Prof. Kenneth Leung delivered a welcome remark to both online and offline participants, providing an overview of the GEM Programme. Ms. Demilade T. Adedipe, a PhD student from Nigeria, presented the latest research findings, which provided a comprehensive review on global estuarine pharmaceutical residues over the past two decades. Ms. Qiong Luo, a PhD student from China, reported on the establishment of global estuarine pharmaceutical monitoring and analysis methods. Dr. Chong Chen, the programme manager, presented the progress in the implementation of the first phase of the GEM Programme and outlined the prospects for the second phase. The second session of the workshop focused on the design of the next phase of the GEM Programme and explored global estuarine pollution solutions based on the vision of collaborative work with scientists worldwide.
This conference provided a platform for global experts and scholars in the field of marine science to exchange ideas and promote knowledge sharing and cooperation in the field of marine CECs. The active participation and contributions of the GEM research team in the conference were widely recognized. Participants expressed that the research efforts of the GEM Programme will contribute to a better understanding of the global marine environment and sustainable marine management, making significant contributions to achieving cleaner and safer oceans.
Figure 1 Research presentations of the scientific session on Marine Chemical Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)
Figure 2 Group photo of the scientific session on Marine Chemical Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)
Figure 3 Group photo of the conveners of the scientific session on Marine Chemical Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)
Figure 4 Prof. Kenneth Leung provided an overview of the GEM Programme
Figure 5 Ms. Demilade T. Adedipe presented a review on global estuarine pharmaceutical residues over the past two decades
Figure 6 Ms. Qiong Luo reported on the establishment of global estuarine pharmaceutical monitoring and analysis methods
Figure 7 Dr. Chong Chen presented the progress and prospects of the GEM Programme
Figure 8 Discussion during the GEM Programme Workshop
Figure 9 Group photo of the GEM Programme Workshop
Figure 10 Group photo of the research team from SKLMP at City University of Hong Kong