SJTU-BGI MEER Program Seminar and Signing Ceremony of Strategic Cooperation Agreement

On January 10, 2022, the program seminar of Mariana Trench Environment and Ecology Research Project (MEER) and signing ceremony of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and BGI was held in the Tang zhongying Building of Minhang Campus in SJTU. The attendees from BGI included Jian Wang, the chairman of BGI, Shuang Yang, the Executive Vice President and other staffs. The attendees from SJTU included Dexiu Ma, the former secretary of the Party Committee of SJTU, Lifeng Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President, leaders of relevant schools and departments, and scientists in the field of hadal trench. The ceremony was presided over by Jianping Gu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Life Science and Technology, SJTU.

 Dexiu Ma extended a warm welcome to BGI members. She hoped and believed that the cooperation and joint construction between BGI and SJTU will fully realize the complementary advantages of both sides and solve scientific questions in key areas.

Jian Wang said that he hoped to deepen the industry-university-research cooperation with SJTU, and closely combine the advantages of BGI's technology platform with the multi-disciplinary advantages of SJTU.

After that, Zhenping Weng, executive director of the Marine Equipment Research Institute, introduced the "Big Ocean" project in SJTU. Shijun Liao, dean of the School of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Civil Engineering, and Yan Feng, executive deputy dean of the School of Life Science and Technology, introduced the development history, scientific research achievements and development plans of their schools, respectively.

Xiang Xiao, dean of the International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), SJTU, introduced the IC-DLI and the MEER program. Shuang Yang introduced the general situation, scientific research, scientific and technological services of the BGI.

Witnessed by the leaders of both SJTU and BGI, Zhenping Weng and Shuang Yang signed the SJTU-BGI Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

After the meeting, Zhongqin Lin, President of SJTU, had a cordial exchange with Jian Wang, and expressed his expectation of  extensive cooperation between the BGI and SJTU and the smooth implementation of the MEER project.

Before the meeting, BGI members visited the State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering and the IC-DLI of SJTU, and had an in-depth understanding of the relevant research and achievements of SJTU in the marine field.