On the afternoon of March 31, the grand discussion on the development of the marine science discipline at Tianjin University was successfully held at the Weijin Road campus. Prior to this meeting, the School of Marine Science and Technologyhad organized a mobilization meeting, discussions among the two departments, and specialized academic report sessions. The purpose of this meeting was to summarize the current status of marine science discipline development, explore trends in discipline development, clarify development plans, optimize key focus areas, and promote the high-quality development of the marine science discipline.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dean Zhai Jingsheng provided a summary report on various aspects, including the basic situation of the discipline, the construction of programs, the talent cultivation system, international development, research and platform development, and an analysis of the discipline assessment results. He analyzed the existing gaps and challenges in the construction of the discipline and the school, identified the reasons behind these issues, and proposed future construction goals and development pathways for the discipline. The school vice dean, Prof. Su Rongxin, reported on the achievements of the marine science discipline since 2021 in areas such as talent cultivation, faculty development, scientific research, and community service. He also provided a detailed report on the action plan for the development and construction of the marine science discipline for 2025 and the next three years.

During the expert discussion segment, Prof. Liu Guozhu recommended refining unique characteristics and integrating advantages from both internal and external sources to empower marine science. He also suggested deepening cooperation with ASEAN countries to enhance the international influence of the discipline.And Prof. Du Zunfeng proposed further strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration by establishing cross-disciplinary platforms with various marine-related disciplines within the university. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing connections and cooperative efforts with internal and external organizations to concentrate resources on major initiatives.

During the grand discussion segment, faculty and students actively participated, discussing key areas such as talent cultivation, faculty development, scientific research, and international cooperation. They raised various challenges and difficulties encountered during the development process, as well as suggestions for future action plans.

In the concluding remarks, Mr. Shan Xiaolin, the School Secretary, acknowledged the contributions made by all faculty and staff in the construction of the discipline. He stated that the school would take the experiences and suggestions from the experts gathered during the discussion to continue striving for the enhancement of the discipline's development level.