On October 11, the United Nations (UN) “Ocean Decade on Campus” event was held at Ocean University of China (OUC). University leaders, guests from partner organizations, business representatives, and faculty and student representatives attended the event.
Zhang Junfeng, President of OUC, welcomed the guests on behalf of the university. He noted that, while continuously advancing marine talent development and marine science and technology, OUC also places great emphasis on ocean literacy education. The university has established a series of high-level innovation platforms, developed a comprehensive education system with distinctive marine features, systematically created teaching materials, courses, and program resources, and promoted global exchanges and cooperation in marine science and education. He described the “Ocean Decade on Campus” event as a valuable initiative that connects the frontiers of marine science and technology with efforts to enhance public ocean literacy and brings the concept of sustainable ocean development to campus. OUC will use the event as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with relevant organizations and make greater contributions to strengthening China’s education and marine sectors and building a maritime community with a shared future.
Zhang Zhanhai, Chairman of the China Ocean Mineral Resource R&D Association (COMRA), noted that the Ocean Decade, guided by the ambitious vision of “co-designing the science we need for the ocean we want,” is a decade-long global ocean science initiative featuring broad participation, co-design, and collaborative implementation. He added that promoting public ocean literacy is a key cross-cutting theme of the Ocean Decade. He emphasized that OUC is an important force in advancing China’s marine science and technology. The university should take learning beyond the classroom and out to the ocean, encourage students to engage with marine science, strengthen their ocean literacy, and help align China’s advances in marine science and technology with the needs of global ocean governance.
Wei Zexun, Director General of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), Ministry of Natural Resources, noted that the UN Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination Amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P.R. China (DCC-OCC), hosted by FIO, launched and continues to organize the “Ocean Decade on Campus” series. Through the series, the Center brings cutting-edge knowledge in marine science, major advances in marine science and technology, and the vision of the Ocean Decade to campuses. He emphasized that marine research should not only explore the unknown and support the development of China’s marine sector, but also reach the public and campus classrooms, enabling more people to understand and appreciate the ocean.
Experts from COMRA, FIO, DCC-OCC, and OUC delivered thematic presentations. Representatives from the Center of Environmental Education and Communications of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Qiwuzhi Public Service Platform for Study Tours and Experimental Education, the OUC Affiliated Schools Administration Office, and faculty and student representatives from OUC groups engaged in ocean science outreach through volunteer service and social practice shared examples from their work.
During the event, the UN Ocean Decade Primary and Secondary School Ocean Literacy Alliance presented its flag to OUC. The organizing committee of Deep Blue Voyager 2035 (DBV) presented certificates to outstanding on- and off-campus marine science outreach platforms, groups, and individuals in three categories: “DBV Science Outreach and Experiential Learning Platforms,” “DBV Science Communication Teams,” and “DBV 2026 Science Communication Ambassadors.”
