The 13th Xiamen University Ocean Sciences Day, held at the Xiamen University Xiang'an Campus on 9 November 2024, welcomed over ten thousand attendees, predominantly students and educators eager to explore the realm of ocean sciences. Among the event's highlights were two engaging activities organized by COASTAL-SOS: the Youth Ocean Speech Contest Final and the enlightening science booth themed 'Follow the Shiptime Sharing Project to COASTAL-SOS'.

2024 Youth Ocean Speech Contest

Co-organized by the Xiamen Science and Technology Association and the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (Xiamen University), and hosted by 70.8 Media Lab and COASTAL-SOS Project Office, the 2024 Youth Ocean Speech Contest showcased twelve finalists from esteemed high schools like Xiamen University Affiliated Keji High School and Xiamen No.1 High School. The competition provided a platform for these young talents to share insightful narratives and ideas on diverse topics including marine culture, AI technology's role in ocean science outreach, climate change, and biodiversity. Through such a competition, young people are encouraged to take the first step to develop the ability to become leaders in ocean conservation, and more people will know lesser-known stories about the ocean.

Prof. Hongmei Chen introducing COASTAL-SOS before the contest (©Hongmei Chen)

Group photo of the contest winners and teachers (©70.8 Media Lab)

Follow the Shiptime Sharing Project to COASTAL-SOS

The 'Follow the Shiptime Sharing Project to COASTAL-SOS' science booth, organized in the context of the NSFC Shiptime Sharing Project and COASTAL-SOS Programme, aimed to raise the public awareness of pressing coastal zone issues through engaging activities. Participants were not only immersed in informative displays but were also challenged to deepen their comprehension of coastal problems through interactive tasks. From measuring dissolved oxygen in water to identifying invasive species, and even crafting invasive species from light clay, the booth effectively fostered understanding and prompted action towards coastal conservation.

The science booth poster (©Ying Su)

A kid learning some coastal species (©Weifeng Li)

A volunteer introducing what is ocean deoxygenation to participants (©Weifeng Li)