GEM Team's Engagements at Various Symposium Events

Nankai University Shenzhen Research Institute hosted the International Symposium on Risk Management and Control of New Pollutants on November 27th. Prof. Kenneth Leung delivered a report titled "Environmental risk assessment of pharmaceutical residues in global estuaries: Scientific challenges and research gaps," shedding light on the latest developments and future strategies of the Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme. He extended a warm invitation to potential partners to join hands. Dr. Chong Chen presented the team’s findings in a report titled "A silent cocktail: Assessment of emerging contaminants in waters using a novel smart sponge passive sampler." The collaborative efforts between the GEM team and Prof. Chi-Chiu Ko's team at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) resulted in the creation of a smart sponge material aimed at monitoring emerging contaminants in water bodies. This innovative passive sampler is slated for global deployment in GEM Phase Two.

On December 1st, the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health at CityUHK organized the Yellow Sea-East China Sea-South China Sea Ecosystem Symposium 2025 at CityUHK Dongguan Campus. Dr. Chong Chen provided insights into the Recent Progress of the GEM Programme, while Ms. Ruolan Jia showcased a poster highlighting the effects thresholds and predicted no effect concentrations of common pharmaceuticals for safeguarding saltwater organisms. Ms. Qihui Zhao's presentation focused on the occurrence and ecological risks of pharmaceuticals along the Yangtze River Basin. Notably, Ms. Ruolan Jia was honored with the Best Poster Award at the conference.