Chinese, UK students unite for conservation

A two-week student program focusing on blue carbon and coastal wetlands is winning praise from British participants for strengthening international collaboration in marine science and conservation.

The Blue Carbon and Coastal Wetlands Youth Scientific Exchange Program and Sino-UK Culture Exchange Week, currently underway in Hainan province, began on June 17 and features fieldwork in coastal wetlands, lab sessions on marine biodiversity and cultural activities designed to connect scientific research with public engagement.

Hosted by Hainan University, the program aims to foster long-term partnerships, including joint academic initiatives and co-authored research on blue carbon — an area where China's mangrove and seagrass ecosystems excel at capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Ari Drummond, a doctoral student in marine and biological sciences at the University of Plymouth, said she hopes to help bring more British students to Hainan in the future.

"I would be very happy to come back and facilitate more students from the UK — whether undergraduates, research assistants or master's students — to experience even short courses like this one," Drummond said.

She noted that while the United Kingdom offers a wide range of marine-related programs, including a new technical diving master's degree launching this year, international exchange is key.

Harry Clarke, a master's student in marine conservation at the University of Plymouth, highlighted the program's relevance to the UK's "30 by 30" initiative, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world's oceans by 2030.

"The UK manages extensive ocean territories and is actively working toward this target," Clarke said. "But unilateral action isn't enough. Programs like these — where Chinese and British researchers and youth exchange techniques and perspectives — are essential."

Shen Yijun, dean of the School of Marine Science and Engineering at Hainan University, said the 21 British participants and their Chinese counterparts developed a shared understanding during the exchange.

"Through this program, both sides recognized that ocean conservation is a universal responsibility," Shen said. "China's long coastline gives it unique advantages in blue carbon research, with diverse marine ecosystems offering rich study opportunities."

Drummond said the experience reinforced the interconnected nature of marine science.

"The sea belongs to all humanity," Shen said. "Protecting it requires exactly this kind of cross-border dialogue."