Prof. XIAO Xi hailed as one of “Young Scientists for a Strong Maritime Country”

On the morning of October 8, the award ceremony for the 2023 “Young Scientists for a Strong Maritime Country” was staged in Ningbo, China. Prof. XIAO Xi from Zhejiang University’s Ocean College received well-deserved recognition. She won this much-coveted title for her remarkable contributions to the ecological restoration and utilization of blue carbon in China’s coastal regions.

Since her return to China in 2012, Prof. XIAO Xi has committed herself to pioneering research on blue carbon as a key member of the Zhejiang University International Blue Carbon Joint R&D Center. Her work began with extensive monitoring of blue carbon ecosystems along the coast of Zhejiang Province, and eventually expanded to cover the intertidal zones across the country. To conduct this research, she and her colleagues monitored and explored blue carbon ecosystems, including mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass beds.

Over the past decade, XIAO Xi’s research on the ecological restoration of blue carbon in China’s coastal areas has shed light on the ecological benefits of coastal vegetation in phosphorus absorption, nitrogen reduction, carbon sequestration, and sink enhancement. She has also developed groundbreaking theories regarding the nitrogen and phosphorus footprints of seaweeds, and pushed forward relevant work on technologies centered around sink enhancement and resource utilization in coastal wetlands, such as salt marshes, mangrove forests, and seaweed farms. Her exceptional work has earned her prestigious accolades, including the first prize of the 2020 Zhejiang Marine Science and Technology Progress Award, the 2021 Keeling Curve Prize, and the second prize of the 2022 Science and Technology Award by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Furthermore, Prof. XIAO Xi’s innovative approach to teaching is evident in her “Marine Geochemistry” course, which takes students out of the traditional classroom setting and immerses them in coastal wetlands for a hands-on learning experience. Her co-edited popular science book, “Buffer Zones Between Continents and Oceans—Coastal Wetlands”, received the 3rd Natural Resources Best Book Award in 2023. Additionally, the textbook she co-authored, “Introduction to Carbon Neutral Technology”, stands as the worldwide pioneering introduction to carbon-neutral technology. She has been a frequent participant in the Women Scientist Summit by the China Association for Science and Technology, vigorously advocating for the development of seaweed carbon sink resources. Her contributions extend beyond academia, as she has made her appearance on the popular science program “Geography of China” on CCTV-10, showcasing the enchanting charm of the coastal wetland ecosystem and promoting the “blue concept” of the harmonious coexistence between mankind and nature.

Photo: XIAO Xi