UM establishes Department of Ocean Science and Technology
澳大成立海洋科學及技術系

The University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) today (24 November) held the first Hong Kong-Macao Ocean Forum and an inauguration ceremony for the Department of Ocean Science and Technology. A number of renowned experts and scholars joined the forum to exchange ideas on the theme of marine environmental safety and sustainable development, while the inauguration ceremony marked the official establishment of the Department of Marine Science and Technology at UM for promoting research in regional oceans in Macao and nurturing talent in this field.

At the ceremony, Huang Jing, director general of the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21; Yonghua Song, rector of UM; Chen Dake, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xu Chengzhong, dean of the FST; Gan Jianping, director of the Center for Ocean Research Hong Kong and Macau; and Xu Jie, interim director of the Centre for Regional Oceans, unveiled the plaque of the Department of Ocean Science and Technology. The ceremony attracted many faculty members, students, and industry practitioners.

In his speech, UM Vice Rector Ge Wei said that the development and utilisation of Macao’s wasters, costal environmental protection, and disaster prevention and mitigation have always been a hot topic in the local community. To this end, UM has been actively promoting marine research and has made regional oceans one of its three key research areas. In 2020, UM established the Centre for Regional Oceans to develop cutting-edge theories and innovative technologies in offshore civil engineering, ocean environment and ecology, and ocean disaster prevention. In 2022, UM played a leading role in the establishment of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Ocean Research Alliance to promote cooperation in ocean science and education between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. According to him, to further promote talent and research development in this field, UM decided to establish the Department of Ocean Science and Technology with a focus on ocean environment, disaster prevention and mitigation, and smart ocean technology research. The department offers a master’s degree programme in coastal environment and safety, with the goal of nurturing professionals in the field to meet the needs of the local community and integrating into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the national ocean science and technology innovation platform. This effort will also help build an international platform for cooperation in ocean science and technology and support national strategies such as the ‘Ocean-oriented nation’ policy and the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.

In his speech, Lionel Ni, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), said that he is delighted to see the opening of the first Hong Kong-Macao Ocean Forum. He pointed out that marine development and technology research are of great significance to the GBA and the entire country and expressed hope that all parties would jointly contribute to the development of the GBA and marine development of the country.

During the forum, experts and scholars gave presentations on the theme of marine environmental safety and sustainable development. Chinese Academy of Sciences members Wu Lixin, Jiao Nianzhi, Chen Dake, Zhang Renhe, Dai Minhan, and Dai Yongjiu, as well as Chinese Academy of Engineering member Zhang Si, also joined the forum either virtually or in-person to discuss advanced scientific issues related to ocean environment, disaster prevention and mitigation, and smart ocean technology research.

Other guests attending the forum and the ceremony included Huang Shengbiao, deputy head of the economic affairs department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Ip Kuai Lam, member of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao; Mok Kai Meng, vice rectors of UM; Tang Iu Man, deputy director of the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau; Ng Si Io, a division head of the Environmental Protection Bureau; Wu Chu Pang, head of the Maritime Activities Department of the Marine and Water Bureau; as well as Wong Kuan Lon, head of the Marine Technology Division of the Marine and Water Bureau.

The master’s degree programme in costal environment and safety is now open for applications. For applications and for more information, please visit the website of UM Graduate School at https://bit.ly/3U4ZPCG , or the website of the Department of Ocean Science and Technology of the Faculty of Science and Technology at https://www.fst.um.edu.mo/ost/.

澳門大學科技學院今（24）日舉辦首屆港澳海洋論壇暨海洋科學及技術系成立儀式，多位知名專家學者就海洋環境安全及可持續發展的主題展開交流和討論；同場還舉行了澳大科技學院海洋科學及技術系揭牌儀式，標誌著學系的正式成立，並將全面推動澳門在區域海洋領域的研究，培育更多相關人才。

儀式上，科技部中國21世紀議程管理中心主任黃晶、澳大校長宋永華、中國科學院院士陳大可、科技學院院長須成忠、港澳海洋研究中心主任甘劍平及區域海洋研究中心代主任徐杰共同為海洋科學及技術系揭牌，一眾師生及社會業界人士出席見證。

澳大副校長葛偉致辭時表示，澳門水域的開發利用、海岸帶環境保護及防災減災一直都是社會焦點。為此，澳大積極發展海洋研究，將區域海洋列為澳大的三個重點研究領域之一。2020年，澳大成立區域海洋研究中心大力拓展海洋土木工程、海洋環境與生態及海洋災害防治等前沿理論及創新技術研究。2022年，澳大牽頭成立中國與葡語國家海洋聯盟，推動中國與葡語國家海洋科教合作。為進一步推動人才和科研發展，澳大成立海洋科學及技術系，聚焦海洋帶環境健康、防災減災及智慧海洋技術研究；同時設立海岸帶環境與安全碩士課程，培養海洋領域的高級專業人才，滿足澳門社會需求，並更好地融入粵港澳大灣區及國家海洋科技創新平台建設，打造海洋科技合作國際平台，服務海洋強國和‘一帶一路’建設等國家戰略。

論壇上，多名專家學者就海洋環境安全及可持續發展發表主題報告。香港科技大學（廣州）校長倪明選致辭時表示，樂見首屆港澳海洋論壇的展開，海洋的發展及技術研究對粵港澳大灣區及國家皆有著重大意義，期望共同為粵港澳大灣區及國家海洋發展貢獻。另外，中國科學院院士吳立新、焦念志、陳大可、張人禾、戴民漢及戴永久，中國工程院院士張偲分別在線上線下參加圓桌論壇，共同探討了海洋帶環境健康、防災減災及智慧海洋技術研究中具有重大意義的前沿科學問題。

出席論壇及儀式的嘉賓還有中聯辦經濟部副部長黃聖彪，澳門科學技術發展基金行政委員會委員葉桂林，澳大副校長莫啓明，澳門地球物理暨氣象局副局長鄧耀民，澳門環保局處長吳時要，澳門海事及水務局海域管理廳廳長胡柱鵬、海洋技術處處長黃昆侖。

海岸帶環境與安全碩士課程現正接受網上報名，截止日期為2023年2月28日。報名及有關入學章程可瀏覽澳大研究生院網頁：https://bit.ly/3V5WjJp 或科技學院海洋科學及技術系網頁：https://www.fst.um.edu.mo/ost/。