Academics
School of Marine Science

https://ma.gxu.edu.cn/English/Home.htm

School of Marine Science, Guangxi University was founded in September 2014with Coral Reef Research Center of China(founded in March 2014) affiliated to it. Focusing the research on islands and reefs in the South China Sea, the school features on Marine Geology and Environment, Marine Environmental Chemistry, Marine Biology and Ecology, Ocean Remote Sensing and Physical Oceanography. Selected as one of the supporting disciplines of the Civil Engineering and Advanced Materials subject group in September 2017, the discipline of Marine Science was included in the construction list of world-class discipline groups for Guangxi University.

Research Directions: The school takes the relationship between coral reef and ecological environment as the research focus, and aims to address the international cutting-edge scientific issues in the field of coral reef research as well as the urgent needs for development and utilization of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The overall goal is to conduct comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth research on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Faculty: We currently has 44 faculty members, including 31 full-time teachers. The faculty includes members of the Science and Technology Commission, Ministry of Education, chief scientist of the National Major Scientific Research Plan Project(also known as 973 Project), selected candidates for the National Baiqianwan Talent Project(a major national talent training project that develops young generations into academic and technological leaders), National Leading Young and Middle-aged Talents in Science and Technology Innovation, recipients of the Special Government Allowances of the State Council, Guangxi Bagui Scholars, specially appointed experts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, outstanding experts of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, talents of Guangxi Shibaiqian Plan for the New Century, and outstanding talents in Guangxi universities, Guangxi Excellent Female Workers, etc.

Some teachers of the school have been hired as the academic leaders and research team  of National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology for the research on islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Some have also been appointed as special researchers and research team members for 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of China South China Sea.

Scientific Research Made: The faculty members have led more than 40 scientific research projects, with a total funding of 87.95 million yuan. These projects include the National Major Scientific Research Plan Project(also known as 973 Project), key projects of the National Natural Science Foundation, Guangxi Innovation-driven Major Science and Technology Project, etc. Those researches above have also won the first prize of Guangxi Social Science Achievement Award, the second prize of Guangxi Natural Science Award, and the second prize of Guangxi Science and Technology Progress Award. Meanwhile, significant progress has been made in the study for coral reef in terms of its formation, evolution, environmental changes, as well as its response to global changes and human activities, the theory and technology of coral reef ecological restoration,etc .

Our "Blue Dream" scientific expedition team, focusing on international scientific frontier and national needs, has successively undertaken a series of large-scale scientific research projects on the coral reefs of the South China Sea, with their footprints covering almost all the coral reefs in the South China Sea.

Discipline Construction: In 2016, the bachelor's degree program in Marine Science, and the second-level doctoral and master's degree program of Marine Biological Resources and Environmental Protection were approved. In 2017, the school was authorized to offer master's degree program in first-level discipline in Marine Science. Now the school has recruited 306 undergraduate students and 80 doctoral and postgraduate students majoring in Marine Science.

In addition, a characteristic course, Introduction to Coral Reef Science, has been set up for students. Dean Yu Kefu and his team have compiled the textbook--Introduction to Coral Reef Science, which is the first textbook on coral reef science at home and abroad so far.

Platform Construction: In September 2016, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea was approved to be established here, the only autonomous region-level key laboratory that enjoys direct recognition without cultivation that year. It was successively listed as the Top 10 Excellent Key Laboratories in the Region's three-year evaluation in 2018 and 2021.

An offshore experimental practice base, the Beibu Gulf Research Institute of Guangxi University, was constructed within the Beihai Marine Industry Science and Technology Park.

The school also collaborated with the Weizhou Island Tourist Administration Committee, Weizhou Government, Zhulzheliao Village and so on, contributing to the establishment of "Coral Exhibition Hall - Weizhou Island Coral Protection and Restoration Demonstration Base".

Combining the research characteristics of the school, the SSI Diving Center of Guangxi University was established, which is qualified to conduct diving teaching and training. A total of 104 professional divers have been trained here and obtained relevant qualification certificates.

The school has also established an industry-university-research base by cooperating with marine research institutions, organizations, and enterprises, such as National Taiwan Ocean University, Guangxi Academy of Oceanography, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center of Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Beihai Oceanic Bureau, Qinzhou Oceanic Bureau, Guangxi Jinggong Marine Technology Co., Ltd., China Service Center of SSI (Scuba Schools International), Beihai Exploration Sports Diving Base, and Beihai Yuanlong Pearl Co., Ltd., to carry out the integrated training model of industry, education and research through exchange and joint internship training.