Activities

2025.7.22

SIO and WPI-AIMEC Co-host International Workshop on Ocean Environmental Change and Ecosystems

On June 23, 2025, researchers from Japan and the U.S. gathered at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California San Diego, USA for the AIMEC Joint Workshop to discuss ocean environmental change and its ecological impacts. The event featured interdisciplinary talks on climate dynamics, biogeochemistry, marine microbiology, and fisheries under global change.

The event took place at the historic Martin Johnson House in La Jolla, California, and brought together more than 20 leading researchers from Japan and the United States.

The workshop commenced with opening remarks by Prof. Shang-Ping Xie (SIO, UCSD). This was followed by a keynote introduction of WPI-AIMEC by its Director, Prof. Toshio Suga (Tohoku University).

The scientific program was structured around four thematic sessions:

• Climate Dynamics: This session explored the drivers of extreme events such as marine heatwaves and coastal El Niño. It was chaired by Associate Prof. Baolan Wu (WPI-AIMEC, Tohoku University).
• Biogeochemistry: Presentations focused on ocean deoxygenation and projected changes in biogeochemical cycles, chaired by Prof. Sayaka Yasunaka (WPI-AIMEC, Tohoku University).
• Metagenomics: Cutting-edge approaches using meta- and epigenomic tools for monitoring ocean microbial processes were shared, in a session chaired by Prof. Takeshi Obayashi (WPI-AIMEC, Tohoku University).
• Microbiology and Fisheries: This session examined microbial interactions and the ecological impact of wildfires, chaired by Researcher Yosuke Yamada (WPI-AIMEC, JAMSTEC).

In addition to scientific discussions, participants were invited on a guided tour of the SIO Pier, followed by a formal meeting with the SIO President, underscoring strong institutional support for long-term international collaboration.