During China’s 2026 National Day holiday, the sixth “Teacher at Sea” lecture was held at on Otc. 5, 2026 aboard the research vessel Tan Kah Kee (RV TKK), as part of the fourth leg of “XMU at Sea” undergraduate training cruise.
The onboard lecture was delivered by Siqi Wang, a biology teacher at Tong’an No. 1 High School in Fujian Province, with Xintong Ke, a Grade 11 student, joining the cruise. Offline sessions were also held at Tong’an No. 1 High School and Tong’an District No. 2 Experimental Primary School in Xiamen.
The lecture opened with a virtual ship tour on RV TKK, introducing students to the vessel and its marine research operations. From the A-frame and Doppler weather radar on the aft deck to the ship’s labs, and from CTD water sampling to benthic trawling, students followed the livestream to explore marine research operations and the process of sample collection and analysis at sea.
Wang then introduced the El Niño climate phenomenon and explained how fluctuations in sea temperature can affect the migration and growth of coastal fish. Through chlorophyll-a measurements of phytoplankton and morphological comparisons of zooplankton and benthic organisms, the lecture offered students a comprehensive view of the marine food web, from the ocean surface to the seafloor.
The lecture concluded with an engaging exchange among students from the two schools, scientists aboard the cruise and XMU undergraduates. Students raised questions about El Niño’s impact on the ocean, marine plankton, and pathways to studying marine science and pursuing careers in the field. The exchange demonstrated how science outreach can go beyond knowledge sharing to inspire the next generation of marine scientists.
As one of the signature ocean outreach programs on RV TKK, “Teacher at Sea” has reached its sixth edition. By bringing real-world research at sea into the classroom through immersive online experiences, the program gives young people a closer look at marine science and exploration.
Looking ahead, the program will continue to draw on RV TKK’s research cruises to bring scientific exploration, talent development and public engagement together, inspiring more young people to explore the ocean and pursue careers in marine science.
Text: Huang Jiajun
Translated by Qiuling Liu
Reviewed by MarOps
