International Programs

China-Australia symposium

Towards Sustainable Coastal and Deltaic Systems under Climate Change

Guangzhou and Xiamen, China – 13-15 October 2009

The Academy and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research organised the Australia-China Symposium on Sustainable Coastal and Deltaic Systems in China on 14 and 15 October. This symposium is the sixth in a series of high-level annual symposia to be conducted with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Australian delegation was led by the Academy’s President, Professor Kurt Lambeck, and ATSE Vice-President, Mr Peter Laver.

The symposium was divided into five workshops which were each co-convened by an Australian and a Chinese participant. The subjects of the workshops were:
• sustainable land use
• sustainable coastal wetland ecosystems
• environmental pollution and public health
• sustainable marine use
• coastal management and observation.

All identified a range of prospective future collaborative activities. In addition to bringing together leading scientists from both economies to increase research
linkages and strategic partnerships formed through participation, these symposia have
provided a valuable avenue for the training and exchange of young scientists, and the
sharing of expertise and facilities between the two countries.

The symposium was coupled with pre- and post-event site visits to institutions
including the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, South China Botanical
Gardens and the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry.

The next Australia-China symposium will be held in Australia in 2010. For more

information on the Academy’s international activities visit
science.org.au/internat/