A group of students from Trinity University in the US partnered with UIC students to conduct scientific research on the local ecological environment during their three-week study trip at UIC. On 17 June, they shared their research results at a poster presentation.
“We found that the seagrass beds on Tangjia Bay (tangjiawan) are declining and now less than 1 hectare,” said Tian Zilin, UIC’s Year Three Environmental Science student.
Her fellow student Wang Xiaomao continued, “We studied the seagrass beds habitat and biodiversity in the intertidal zone and measured the chemical and physical properties of surface water as well as 10-centimetre-deep water.”
Their team-mate Conor Young from Trinity University added that the results showed the seagrass beds on Tangjia Bay were threatened by waste from sewage, chemical pollution from ships, litter, and shellfish gathering. Land reclamation and constructions of artificial beaches could have damaging effects as well.
Wang Xiaomao, Tian Zilin and Conor Young present their research
Students from UIC and Trinity take a field trip in Tangjia Bay
“Seagrass beds are a significant marine ecosystem,” said supervisor Dr Tsim Siu Tai, Associate Professor and Coordinator of UIC’s Environment and Development Centre. “They’re highly diverse and harbour breeding grounds for many species of fish and shellfish. Once they disappear, the seashore will be impaired and many animals will lose places to breed.”
The other groups of students presented their studies on ecological properties of organic rice fields in Doumen and Fengshui Village in Huitong, bird biodiversity in Qi’ao Island, and biodiversity of a nearby stream.
Supervisor Professor David Ribble from Trinity University said the research presentations were part of their Ecology and Bioconservation in China Programme. “This programme is about understanding the environment, relationships between plants and animals, and what we can learn from that to help protect the natural environment in China.”
He added: “Before the students took the environmental science classes and went on numerous field trips, they spent five days learning about tai chi, Chinese language, guqin, Chinese archery and other aspects of Chinese culture. Our students and UIC students interacted extremely well.”
Trinity student Natalie Belew rated the collaboration between the students of both universities and said: “We have done a lot of discussions and brainstorming in class. The cooperation has been phenomenal. It is interesting and informative to talk to each other.”
She revealed that she was excited at the prospect of seeing four of the UIC students she worked together at Trinity in Texas next month to conduct further research.
“The programme exceeded my expectations,” Professor David Ribble said. “We were able to go in the fields and see interesting things. We did much more than I thought would be possible.”
He continued to point out that UIC has been an outstanding partner. “The faculty and administrators that we worked with have been wonderful, particularly the IDO (International Development Office) staff. They represent the university incredibly well.”
Last June three professors from Trinity University came to UIC to discuss cooperation for this study programme. One of the initiators of this cooperation, Professor Stephen Field believed this programme had been “innovative and successful.”
“We’ll try to continue this programme in the future. The next step is to get Trinity and UIC formally engaged in an exchange students programme,” Professor Field added.
 |
| UIC President Prof Ng Ching-Fai presents a certificate of completion to a Trinity student |
 |
| Staff and students from UIC and Trinity University |
Reporter: Deen He
Photographers: Vivi Xie, Tsim Siu Tai, Chloe Yan, Deen He
(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)
