Our Story

The State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) in the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has been a leader in marine research since it was founded in 2010. With over 40 cross-disciplinary researchers from eight partner universities, SKLMP is dedicated to developing multidisciplinary and innovative solutions to imminent marine pollution problems that pose a significant threat to our environment and public health.

Looking back to 2007, CityU united with the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (UST), and The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People's Republic of China for the establishment of State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP). The application was approved on 25 November, 2009. We are honoured by the approval of the application and also the SKLMP’s success because it reflects the strength and endurance of our research team under the leadership of the Academic Committee.

In 2012, SKLMP established The Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health (H2O) in Shenzhen, mainland China with the approval of the Shenzhen Government. As a satellite division of SKLMP, it aims to build a world-class basic research and applied research platform and also provides good opportunities for SKLMP’s outstanding research team to strengthen its collaboration with mainland institutions in academic and technological exchanges. In order to improve the marine ecological environment and develop the sustainable marine economy of Shenzhen, the Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity (SUMB) was established in 2014 endorsed by Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission and with support from the research experts in the SKLMP.

The SKLMP is also partnered with the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL) at Xiamen University. The partnership is dedicated to the development of innovative chemical, biological and engineering technologies for the early detection, assessment, prediction, and control of pollution impacting the marine environment. The SKLMP will build upon these strong foundations, and move forward step-by-step to become one of the world’s leading research hubs in this discipline, conducting high-impact basic research in marine pollution, stimulating the formation of new marine technology ventures in China, and solving complex environmental problems over large temporal and spatial scales.