On July 11, 2025, the opening ceremony of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowshipprogram (URF), hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL) at Xiamen University, took place at the Xiang’an Campus. The program welcomed 28 students from 20 universities across China, the U.S., Indonesia, and Malaysia. Professor Yawei Luo, Chair of the URF Committee, along with 19 mentors and representatives of MEL faculty, attended the related event, which was hosted by URF program coordinator, Guanfei Wang.
In his opening speech, Professor Luo highlighted the development and achievements of Xiamen University’s marine environmental science discipline. He emphasized the program’s mission to inspire students to “Unleash the unknown with boundless curiosity, Reveal truth through relentless exploration, and Forge the future with fearless innovation.”
Following the ceremony, Zhiyong Lin, an engineer of MEL,and Guanfei Wang conducted laboratory safety guidance and equipment introduction, while Jia Zhu and Yaojin Chen led students on tours of MEL’s historical exhibits, ocean observation system displays, and Mass Spectrometry Center.
A lunch & ice-breaker provided opportunities for free discussions between students and faculty, allowing participants to experience MEL’s inclusive and dynamic academic culture. Meanwhile, a poster exhibition featuring the 2024 URF projects was held for reference and inspiration.
From July to August, participants will engage in short courses, lectures, hands-on experiments, research cruise and science outreach activities, further enriching their research experience.
Since its launch in 2014, the MEL URF program aims to cultivate undergraduate research skills, foster innovation, and prepare students for advanced studies. Fellows have opportunities to conduct research projects, master lab techniques, and develop scientific communication skills under faculty guidance.
