EARTH-HK Annual workshop in Guangzhou

The Earth-HK Annual Workshop 2025 was successfully held on May 17–18, 2025 at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST-GZ). This pivotal event brought together researchers, Co-Principal Investigators, and collaborators to review the project’s progress, address challenges, and chart future directions for the Areas of Excellence (AoE) initiative.

The workshop highlighted the project’s groundbreaking efforts to model a "system of complex systems," integrating climate and human activities across land, atmosphere, biosphere, and ocean through a digital twin platform—an endeavor commended by the Monitoring & Assessment Panel of the Research Grants Council (RGC). Special gratitude was extended to the teams conducting field surveys in the Shenzhen Bay, Greater Bay Area (GBA), and Pearl River Estuary (PRE), whose frontline work underpins the project’s success.

Esteemed guests enriched the discussions, including Prof. Yongjiu DAI (Sun Yat-sen University), Prof. Qingyun DUAN (Hohai University), Prof. Ye QI (HKUST-GZ), Prof. Fei CHEN (HKUST), and Prof. Shuh-Ji KAO (Hainan University), who shared invaluable interdisciplinary insights. Participants engaged in vibrant knowledge exchanges to strengthen collaboration and align with project goals.

Prof. Hongbin Liu presented preliminary findings on "Microbial Processes in a Hong Kong Seagrass Bed," shedding light on this critical ecosystem. Other Co-PIs also shared updates on their research progress, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue. Additionally, logistical and scientific plans for the upcoming July 2025 research cruise were discussed, marking a key milestone for the project’s next phase.