As the urgency to draw down atmospheric carbon intensifies, the ocean emerges as a vital frontline in climate action. Among marine solutions, seaweed (macroalgae) stands out as a remarkable ally, a photosynthetic powerhouse capable of growing fast while directly capturing and storing CO₂. Its value, however, extends beyond long-term carbon sequestration in marine ecosystems, seaweed also underpins a rapidly expanding and sustainable blue economy.
In this webinar, Prof. Yongyu Zhang from Chinese Academy of Sciences will examine the fundamental mechanisms through which seaweed farming contributes to carbon sequestration. He will then look ahead to its vast potential, critically assessing its scalability and role as a multi-dimensional strategy for global climate mitigation.
Time: 16:00 – 17:00 Beijing Time (UTC+8), October 9, 2025
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85282953129
Zoom Code: 202510
KouShare Link: https://www.koushare.com/live/details/46357
Keynote Speaker: Yongyu Zhang
Prof. Yongyu Zhang is the Director of the Reasearch Center for Marine Biology and Carbon Sequestration at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on biologically driven carbon sequestration in the ocean, with a particular emphasis on carbon sequestration through seaweed farming. He has published over 100 papers in leading journals such as National Science Review, Science Advances, Nature Communications, Global Change Biology, The ISME J, Communications Earth & Environment, Environ Sci & Technol. Among his representative contributions, Prof. Zhang has systematically uncovered multiple previously unrecognized carbon sequestration pathways in macroalgae, clearly demonstrating that the sequestration potential of seaweed farming has been significantly underestimated in previous global assessments. He has also elucidated the intrinsic tendency of phytoplankton and microorganisms to form long-term mutualistic symbioses in oligotrophic oceans, revealing their substantial contributions to the formation and persistence of marine recalcitrant organic carbon pool. In addition, his group has assessed the global status Qof herbicide pollution in coastal bays, identified its detrimental impacts on oceanic primary production and carbon sequestration, and proposed a promising remediation strategy based on macroalgal beds.
Discussion Panel: Guang Gao, Zengjie Jiang, Xi Xiao
Guang Gao
Dr. Guang Gao is a Professor at the College of Ocean and Earth Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Marine Biogeochemistry, Xiamen University, and holds a Ph.D. from Newcastle University, UK. His research centers on algae-based Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). He has led multiple national projects, including sub-tasks of the National Key R&D Program, projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), key projects of the “Ocean Decade” China Action International Cooperation Seed Fund, and both Special Grants and First-Class Grants of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. To date, he has published more than 90 SCI-indexed papers, over 60 of them as first or corresponding author in top-tier journals such as Nature Climate Change, Nature Ecology & Evolution and Global Change Biology. His findings have been widely recognized by peers worldwide. He has received the First Prize of Fujian Provincial Natural Science Award, the Google China Climate Action Research Award, and the First Prize of the Science & Technology Award from the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences. He has been consecutively listed among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” released by Stanford University & Elsevier (2023–2025). His publications have accumulated 4,403 citations with an h-index of 37; several papers rank in the top 1% of highly cited papers in Environment/Ecology. His research results have been adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNESCO, and the Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Zengjie Jiang
Dr. Zengjie Jiang is a professor at Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI), Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS). He received his PhD in Marine Biology from Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) in 2008. His main research interest is in the development of sustainable marine food production systems and the interaction between climate change and mariculture. Dr. Jiang is in charge of over 10 national and international projects, such as the international science & technology cooperation program of China, the branch task of the Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System, the scientific and technological co-operation project between the National Science and Technology Foundation of Portugal and National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has published more than 130 peer-review academic papers and won 6 awards for achievements in sustainable aquaculture innovation. He was selected into the Young Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province in 2019 and Shennong Talent Program in 2023.
Xi Xiao
Professor Xi Xiao at Zhejiang University is recognized as a Young Scholar under the Ministry of Education's "Chang Jiang Scholars Program" and a Young Principal Scientist of the National Key R&D Program of China. She earned her bachelor's degree from Nanjing University in 2007 and Ph.D. from Zhejiang University in 2012, with a joint training program at the University of Oslo, Norway. Her research focuses on the protection and restoration of aquatic ecological resources. She has authored over 60 papers in prominent environmental science journals such as Nature Climate Change, Advanced Science, Water Research, and Environmental Science & Technology. Her research achievements have been honored with the Keeling Curve Prize for global carbon capture and utilization, the Second Prize of the Ministry of Natural Resources Scientific Progress Award, and the First Prize of the Zhejiang Provincial Marine Science and Technology Progress Award. He was selected as one of the first cohort of "Young Scientists for a Maritime Power" (10 recipients nationwide) and received the Young Scientist Award from the Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award.
Post your questions to the keynote speaker and panel members：once.secretariat@outlook.com