From September 19 to 20, the 2026 Forum on Frontiers in Physical Oceanography was held in Qingdao. The forum was hosted by the Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China (OUC), and co-organized by the State Key Laboratory of Ocean Dynamics-Physical Environment and Intelligent Sensing, the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, and the Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System. Professor Wu Lixin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered remarks via video link. Professor Wang Houjie, Vice President of OUC, attended the opening ceremony.
Academician Wu Lixin noted that physical oceanography, as a foundational discipline underpinning marine science, provides essential support for China’s leap from “understanding the ocean” to “managing the ocean.” He expressed the hope that members of the academic community would work together, build on the distinctive characteristics of China’s seas and the country’s accumulated disciplinary expertise, remain true to their original aspirations in scientific research, shoulder the responsibilities of the times, pool their efforts to break through critical technological bottlenecks, and jointly lay a solid foundation for greater self-reliance and strength in China’s marine science and technology.
Vice President Wang Houjie noted that marine science is one of OUC’s longest-established and most distinctive disciplines. OUC has long been committed to research at the frontiers of physical oceanography, with its solid basic research providing strong support for the high-quality development of marine science at the university. He expressed the hope that the participating experts, faculty members, and students would use the forum as an opportunity to exchange ideas and inspire new insights, thereby making new and greater contributions to enhancing China’s capacity for independent innovation in marine science and technology and advancing its progress toward becoming a leading maritime nation.
Experts and scholars delivered plenary presentations on scientific questions at the frontiers of physical oceanography, providing in-depth analyses of current research priorities, development trends, and challenges in the field. Discussions focused on topics such as ocean observation and advanced equipment development, multiscale ocean dynamical processes, air-sea interaction and climate change, and AI and ocean big data. Young scholars from research institutions across China presented their latest research advances in a series of lightning talks and engaged in in-depth discussions with the participating experts, faculty members, and students.
Nearly 40 experts and scholars from universities and research institutions across China attended the forum.
