State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science
(Website: http://mel.xmu.edu.cn)
Founded in 1995, the Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL) was promoted to state level as the “State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (Xiamen University)” in March 2005. MEL is currently a primary research institution carrying out marine environmental science research in China.
MEL is dedicated to cutting-edge research in the field of marine environmental science with special focus on biogeochemical processes, mechanisms and their ecological effects. The ultimate goal of MEL is to be an internationally recognized institution in advanced marine environmental science and a platform for international academic exchange and cooperation.
At present, the lab has 63 full-time research members, 33 technicians, 63 research assistants and 7 administrative staff. During the past 5 years, MEL scientists have published 468 peer-reviewed papers in SCI journals, and have won 17 awards at the national or provincial level.
National Observation and Research Station for the Taiwan Strait Marine Ecosystem
National Observation and Research Station for the Taiwan Strait Marine Ecosystem (T-SMART) was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in October 2021. T-SMART consists of two substations, "Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove Wetland Ecosystem Station” (M-ECORS) and "Dongshan Swire Marine Station" (D-SMART), which cover four observation areas including Zhangjiang Estuary, Dongshan Bay, Xiamen Bay and Taiwan Strait. It is mainly committed to the long-term monitoring and experimental research of marine ecosystem structure and function, which provides science and technology support for the ecological environment health of marine ecosystem and the sustainable development of economy.
M-ECORS (117°23′E , 23°55′N), located at the Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove National Natural Reserve, Yunxiao County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China, was established in August 2008 and officially approved as the Observation and Research Station of Fujian Province in December 2018. The Station is committed to building a continuous field observation for the wetland-estuary-bay ecosystems, an open and shared scientific research platform for academic research, a high-quality talent training and public education base, and a distinctive international cooperation station.
Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems（Xiamen University）, Ministry of Education
(Website: http://wel.xmu.edu.cn/)
Endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Key Laboratory of Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems (Xiamen University) (WEL) was established in November 2011. It is founded on decades of research in mangrove ecology, diatom biology and parasite zoology at Xiamen University led by pioneering scientists, among whom are professors Dexiang Jin, Zhongzhang Tang (member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Peng Lin (member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering). WEL is dedicated to interdisciplinary cutting-edge research on coastal and wetland ecosystems under the impact of global climate change, with a particular focus on the structure, function, and restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems in the tropical and subtropical regions.
At present, there are 52 scientists, including one Member of Chinese Academy of Science and 31 professors.
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies
(Website: http://cees.xmu.edu.cn/)
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Coastal Ecology and Environmental Studies (CEES) was jointly established by Fujian Institute of Oceanography and Xiamen University in July 2011.
CEES aims at major scientific research on coastal, watershed and wetland ecosystem evolvement in Taiwan Strait and its adjacent coastal areas which are under multiple pressures of global change and human activities. CEES also makes great efforts to be in line with both national and local major demands for the ecological security and disaster prevention and mitigation of the ecosystems. At Present, Lab has 38 fulltime Research Members, including 1 grantee of NSFC Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar, 1 Minjiang Chair Professor, 1 XMU Chair Professor, Additionally, 3 young scientists were supported by the MOE Program for New Century Excellent Talents, 7 young scientists were supported by Fujian Higher Education Program for New Century Excellent Talents and 1 young scientists received Distinguished Young Scholar Award from Fujian Province.
Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province for Coastal Wetland Protection and Ecological Restoration
Established in 2010, The Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province for Coastal Wetland Protection and Ecological Restoration currently has 13 scientists, 7 research assistants and 3 administrative staff. It is designed to take the academic advantage of XMU to promote the research on technology development for coastal wetland protection and ecological restoration, and conduct mangrove and rare water bird conservation projects as well as wetland ecosystem and important biological population restoration projects. The goal of the center is to promote the economic development and ecological civilization of the west coastline of the Taiwan Strait.
Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control (Xiamen University) (CPPC)
Fujian Key Laboratory of Coastal Pollution Prevention and Control (Xiamen University) (CPPC) was established in June 2019. It is founded on innovation team in key fields of the Ministry of Science and Technology which is led by professor Mindong Bai. In December 2019, professors Delu Pan (member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), Si Zhang (member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), Minhan Dai (member of the Chinese Academy of Science), Hongqiang Ren (member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering) and other scholars were invited as members of the academic committee of the lab. CPPC aims at major scientific research on ecological security protection, pollution prevention and control in coastal areas. At present, lab has 21 fulltime research members, including 1 Chair Professor of “Cheung Kong Scholar” of Ministry of Education, 1 National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar, 2 scientists was supported by National Special Support Program for High-level Personnel Recruitment (Ten-thousand Talents Program and Thousands of young Talents Program), 2 scientists was supported by National Million Talents Program, 2 chief scientists of National Key Scientific Research Program, 3 scientists was supported by Fujian Higher Education Program for New Century Excellent Talents.
Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province for Coastal Wetland Protection and Ecological Restoration
Established in 2010, The Engineering Research Center of Fujian Province for Coastal Wetland Protection and Ecological Restoration currently has 23 scientists and 7 research assistants. It is designed to take the academic advantage of XMU to promote the research on technology development for coastal wetland protection and ecological restoration, and conduct mangrove and rare water bird conservation projects as well as wetland ecosystem and important biological population restoration projects. The goal of the center is to promote the economic development and ecological civilization of the west coastline of the Taiwan Strait.
Collaborative Innovation Center for Health and Safety of Aquatic Environment (HSAE)
(Website: http://iwater.xmu.edu.cn/)
Collaborative Innovation Center for Health and Safety of Aquatic Environment (HSAE) was founded in 2013 and promoted to provincial “2011 Collaborative Innovation Center” in 2015. HSAE is led by Xiamen University and jointly established by Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academic of Science, Fuzhou University, Fujian Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Fujian Normal University and some other institutes which are prominent in Environmental Science and Ecology areas.
HSAE is dedicated to major research on health and safety of aquatic environment, with special focus on aquatic environment monitoring, aquatic environmental effects and human health, remediation technique for water pollution, aquatic environment safety precaution and emergency countermeasures, and coastal-watershed planning and management.
The ultimate goal of HSAE is to be a collaborative platform for technique innovation and talent training.
Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Fujian Province
Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove Wetland Ecosystem Station (M-ECORS), established in 2008, was officially approved as Zhangjiang Estuary Mangrove Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Fujian Province in 2018. The station focuses on the structure and function of coastal wetland ecosystems, the mechanism of ecosystem biodiversity maintenance, and the responses of ecosystems to global changes and human activities. Current observation systems and permanent plots provide solid supports for the research on material and energy cycles of subtropical estuarine wetland in the context of global climate change. The comprehensive building of M-ECORS was put into use in 2021, which has a total land area of 1.2 hm2 and a total construction area of over 1 hm2. It is now a multi-functional platform to support science, education and social services. The station is committed to build a continuous field observation system covering the wetland, estuary and harbour ecosystems, an open and shared scientific research platform for coastal and wetland ecosystems, a high-quality talent training and public education base, and a supporting platform serving for the sustainable development of social economy and ecological civilization construction.
The Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University
The Environmental Science Research Center was established on the basis of Institute of Environmental Science of Xiamen University, which was built in 1982. In 1992, led by Professor Hong Huasheng, in response to the rapid socio-economic development and discipline development in China, the Environmental Science Research Center was established by integrating the research strengths within Xiamen University. With the purpose of "facing the ocean, connecting with the outside world, training talents and serving the society", the Center gives full play to the marine advantages of the university and vigorously develops marine environmental science. After nearly 30 years of development, the Center has formed a disciplinary system and scientific research platform with the characteristics and advantages of marine environment, and has trained a large number of outstanding talents in the fields of biogeochemistry and global change, ecosystem and environmental change, environmental chemistry and monitoring, environmental toxicology, environmental management, etc. It has become a prestigious research institution for higher education and research in the field of marine environment at home and abroad.
Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University
(Website: http://comi.xmu.edu.cn/)
The Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI), Xiamen University, was established as a research organization of Xiamen University in Oct. 2005. It is dedicated to initiate research and higher education of ocean and coastal sustainable development science，with the support of relevant international organizations and Xiamen Municipality.
COMI’s primary mission is to create a platform to encourage interdisciplinary programs through taking advantage of the multi-discipline resource within the university, and collaborating with other highly respected regional, national and global institutions. It also trains quality comprehensive talents, and provides science and technological support for decision-making towards ocean and coastal zone sustainable development.
COMI is devoted to scientific research on the frontier of the sustainable development of the ocean and coastal area. Currently four research directions are newly established: Center for Oceans Policy and Law (XMU-COPL); Center for Integrated Watershed and Ocean Management (CIWOM); Center for Marine Economics (CME); and International Training Center for Coastal Sustainable Development (ITC-CSD).
Institute of Ecological Civilization, Xiamen University
Established on June 1, 2018, the Institute of Ecological Civilization is a university-level research platform of Xiamen University. The Institute faces the national strategy of ecological civilization development and local needs, integrates the multidisciplinary teaching and research resources in the university, and gives full play to the advantages of interdisciplinary research in arts, science and engineering. The Institute aims to build a world-class Environmental Science and Ecology discipline, promote cooperation among government, industry, academia, research and business systems, provide scientific and technological support and policy consultation for accelerating the construction of "Green China", provide scientific guidance and technical support for enterprise development, and build a national platform integrating scientific research, social services and national think tank.
The research content of the Institute mainly includes ecological civilization theory and ecological culture, ecological civilization development policy and system, ecological civilization development management technology, environmental protection and pollution control technology, ecosystem protection and restoration technology, resilient city planning and technology, green manufacturing and low carbon development technology, human resource development for ecological civilization , ecological civilization education, etc.
International Institute for Sustainability Science (IISS)
Established in April 2022, the International Institute for Sustainability Science (IISS) is a university-level research platform led by the College of the Environment and Ecology and jointly established with the School of Public Affairs and the School of Journalism and Communication.
Aiming at the international frontier of global environmental change and sustainable development and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Institute conducts theoretical, methodological and practical research to serve the strategic needs of national and local sustainable development. The main research directions are: the coupling mechanism of social-economic-environmental system; the pathway of sustainable development and its scenario modelling technology; the planning, progress assessment and decision support systems for sustainable development; urbanisation, rural revitalisation and sustainable development; and the sustainable development of coastal zone with land and sea integration.