On July 8, 2025, a delegation from the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, China visited the Primorsky Aquarium. The Chinese academics had arrived in Vladivostok to participate in a joint seminar hosted by the A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS) and to discuss possible cooperation in science and education. The delegation was headed by Prof. Zuo Jiane, Associate Dean, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School.
During their visit to the scientific and educational center, the delegation members toured the Primorsky Aquarium Shared Equipment Facility, where they gained an insight into the research activities undertaken by Aquarium specialists, such as assessing the structure of the phytoplankton community in the coastal waters off Russky Island and evaluating its seasonal and long-term dynamics, and sexing Humboldt penguins. Dr. Andrey Boroda, Head of the Marine Mammal Physiology Lab, NSCMB FEB RAS, told the Chinese academics about his lab’s studies on cells derived from marine mammals. The guests also learned about the research on bivalve immunity aimed at finding anti-cancer compounds, which is performed at the Biotechnology and Molecular Bioengineering Lab, NSCMB FEB RAS.
Then the delegation members visited the Belyok environmental biology club, where they were introduced to the environmental education programs run by the Primorsky Aquarium. The Chinese academics also explored several exhibits and watched the demonstration of marine mammals’ skills. The presentation at the Dolphinarium brought out a lot of positive emotions from the guests.
“The dolphin show is fascinating,” said Dr. Li Binbin, Associate Professor, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School. “Today we are very lucky. The atmosphere of the performance is fantastic. We are greatly impressed with the efforts the trainers have been putting in working with animals.”
“We deeply appreciate the interest our scientific and educational center and its activities receive from our foreign counterparts,” said Dr. Olga Shevchenko, Director of the Primorsky Aquarium. “Networking and exchange of experience are valuable for both sides that is why we are always glad to welcome our peers from other parts of the world to the Primorsky Aquarium. Since China is our closest neighbor, we are pleased to introduce Chinese academics to our research and education activities.”
At the end of the visit, the delegation members heartily thanked the Primorsky Aquarium for welcoming them and expressed hope for future cooperation.