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The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), has a history of long-term partnership with the A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS), which is a parent organization for the Primorsky Aquarium. A group of researchers from IOCAS led by its Deputy Director SHA Zhongli arrived in Vladivostok to take part in the business program of the Eastern Economic Forum.
The guests were interested in scientific research at the Primorsky Aquarium and were shown to the Shared Equipment Facility, which has been working here since 2019. The SEF’s main areas of research include: environmental monitoring of the coastal waters around Russky Island; morphological, molecular and genetic identification of marine microalgae; isolation and separation of bioactive compounds from marine organisms and testing their biological activity; blood tests and diet estimation in marine mammals; and cytological and histochemical tissue studies.
Our colleagues from China were impressed by state-of-the-art equipment in the laboratories. They were amazed to discover that the Primorsky Aquarium had been doing serious scientific work. The same institutions in China are more entertaining than scientific.
A desktop micro-CT scanner, a spectrophotometer, a confocal microscope and other types of equipment help in performing a variety of studies carried out by Primorsky Aquarium’s staff members, researchers from NSCMB FEB RAS and other scientific institutes of Primorsky Krai, as well as by experts from different regions of Russia. For example, geneticists from Moscow worked here in June studying blood samples from marine mammals.
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As Director of the Primorsky Aquarium Olga Shevchenko said, our institution is open for cooperation with researchers from both Russia and other countries, which enables us to develop a wider range of scientific interests and to use our venues for joint research with international partners.
The guests from China visited the exhibits and a demonstration of marine mammals’ skills in the Dolphinarium. The scientists from IOCAS recognized high level of research and education at the Primorsky Aquarium - Branch of the NSCMB FEB RAS. They pointed out that federal support is very important for such institutions and added that they would be happy to have the same kind of an aquarium (affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences) in their native city of Qingdao.
The Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), was founded in 1950 and is the first ocean research institute in China. During its 70-year history, the institute has trained around 1,000 senior scientists and technicians. At present, the institute has nearly 500 scientific and technical personnel, including 175 senior research technicians and 101 doctoral instructors. The institute has established long-term relationships with the NSCMB FEB RAS. Among the upcoming cooperative activities, a joint research expedition is to be launched in 2025-2026.