M.U.S.T. “National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao” Plaque Unveiling Was Held Successfully

As part of the celebration of the 22^nd anniversary of M.U.S.T, the plaque unveiling ceremony for the “National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao " (NSM) was held at the MGM Cotai Ballroom on the morning of March 28, 2022. The unveiling ceremony was held both online and offline simultaneously. The NSM is the only national observation and research station overseas. Guests attending the unveiling ceremony included the Director of DSPA of the Macao S.A.R., Mr. Tam Wai Man, Director of Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao S.A.R., Mr. Kong Chi Meng, Director of Marine and Water Bureau of the Macao S.A.R., Mr. Wong Soi Man, Member of the Administrative Committee of the FDCT, Mr. Ye Guilin, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Prof. Yang Zhifeng, The Chancellor of the M.U.S.T., Dr. Liu Chak Wan, The President of M.U.S.T., Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE, members of the Council and Advisory Committee of M.U.S.T., representatives of Mainland universities, enterprise managers, representatives of local government, scholarship sponsors, internship agencies, business associations, and staff and students of M.U.S.T.

Speech by Mr. Li Zhe, Director of the Division of General Affairs and Coordination

    Mr. Li Zhe, the representative of the Department of Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Director of the Division of General Affairs and Coordination, made an online speech. Mr. Li said that the NSM is the first national-level field station in Hong Kong and Macao, reflecting the great attention given by the Ministry of Science and Technology to Macao's scientific and technological innovation, especially in the fields of scientific observation and research. It is hoped that the Macao Environmental Protection Bureau and the Macau University of Science and Technology, as the competent departments and supporting units, can implement relevant policies and supporting funds for field stations. The Ministry of Science and Technology will provide support and guidance for the construction and operation of NSM, build a cooperation platform to promote exchanges and mutual learning with national field stations in relevant fields in the Mainland and organize networked-observation research based on unified observation indicators and technical specifications. Through the joint efforts of many parties, the NSM will be built and developed to contribute to the construction and sustainable development of the ecological civilization in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Macao.

Speech by Mr. Tam Wai Man, Director of DSPA

Mr. Tam Wai Man, Director of DSPA, mentioned that the NSM was officially approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China on October 9 last year, and as the country's first overseas state-level field station, it is an important part of the national innovation system and the embodiment of Macao's full integration. The NSM is a three-dimensional observation platform that can observe several environmental elements, and promote the ecological environment in the coastal zones. As Macao is located at the intersection of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the data collected by the station plays a major indicative role in any environmental changes in the observation area. The studies provided by the NSM will support the protection of the Greater Bay Area environmentally wise. The Macao Environmental Protection Bureau, as the competent unit, will continue to actively cooperate and support the construction and development of the NSM.

Speech by Chair Professor Joseph Hun-wei LEE, President of M.U.S.T

President Joseph Hun-wei LEE said that through the establishment of the NSM, the Macau University of Science and Technology will carry out closer cooperation with universities in the Greater Bay Area and even across the country in scientific observation, joint research, and talent training. The NSM will greatly enhance the research capabilities of M.U.S.T. in the fields of collaborative control of multiple pollutants, regional collaborative governance, and ecological restoration under the background of ecological environment and climate change, and achieve the goal of helping Macao's environmental protection, pollution prevention and control work through scientific and technological innovation, to find a solution to the air pollution in the Greater Bay Area. Ecological and environmental issues such as water pollution and coastal zones degradation, as well as green sustainable restoration and ecological risk management and control, will be given strong support. As a young comprehensive, research-oriented, and innovative university, the Macau University of Science and Technology has always been committed to cultivating talents and promoting social progress. As a private university, M.U.S.T. has always stood at the forefront of higher education reform. Rooted in Macao, expanded to the Greater Bay Area, and serving the country. The construction of the NSM is in line with the school's concept of pioneering and innovating, and it will promote the development and implementation of regional environmental protection and pollution prevention and control, make new contributions to the environmental protection of Macao and the country, and promote the in-depth development of scientific research and high-level professional talents in multidisciplinary related fields of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Group photo in the unveiling plaque

From left to right:, Prof. Ma Yibing, Chair Prof. J.H.W. LEE, Mr. Tam Wai Man, Dr. Liu Chak Wan, Mr. Kong Chi Meng, Mr. Ye Guilin, and Prof. Yang Zhifeng

After the unveiling plaque for NSM, Prof. Yang Zhifeng gave an academic report in which he pointed out that under the implementation plan for the construction and operation of 2021-2025 approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, the NSM will be built into an integrated three-dimensional coastal ecological environment observation platform (sky-earth-sea) with advanced field scientific data collection, transmission and integrated analysis capabilities, and it will test the development of pollution control and ecological restoration technology.

Prof.Yang Zhifeng in the academic report

The NSM is an important national science and technology innovation base juxtaposed with the national laboratory and the state key laboratory. Its establishment marks another substantial step in Macao's integration into the national strategy and scientific and technological innovation system and shows that once again the Macao University of Science and Technology has been recognized and supported by the central government in terms of scientific research capabilities.

Academic Report made by Prof. Yang Zhifeng