Introduction
The 1st International Symposium on Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defense aims to address the severe challenges faced by estuarine and coastal systems, including climate change, sea-level rise, coastal wetland biodiversity loss, coastal erosion, and intensive human activities. The symposium seeks to promote the integration of natural coastal ecosystems with traditional protective engineering through nature-based sustainable theories and methods. It aims to strengthen the link between scientific research, policy-making, and practical applications by proposing innovative and interdisciplinary solutions. The goal is to enhance coastal resilience, improve disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, and promote sustainable coastal development.
01 Date and Location
Date: 19-20 June 2025
Location: Shanghai, China
02 Conference Language
Conference Language ：English
03 Organizers and Co-organizers
State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University（华东师范大学河口海岸全国重点实验室）
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Coastal Disaster and Protection, Hohai University（河海大学海岸灾害及防护教育部重点实验室)
Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University（华东师范大学崇明生态研究院）
CCCC-Fhdi Engineering Co., Ltd.（中交第四航务工程勘察设计院有限公司）
State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics（卫星海洋环境监测预警全国重点实验室）
Future Earth Coasts（未来地球海岸）
04 Themes
01.Ecosystems-Hydrodynamics-Morphodynamics Interactions
Understanding the complex interactions between ecosystems, water dynamics, and coastal morphology to optimize coastal protection.
02.Multiple Functionalities of Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defenses
Highlighting the biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and habitat restoration benefits of ecosystem-based approaches.
03.Risk Assessment of Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defense
Evaluating the reliability, risks, and adaptability of nature-based solutions under different environmental scenarios.
04.Sustainable Solutions of Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defense
Exploring policies, management strategies, and integrated frameworks for ecosystem-based coastal defense, while drawing lessons from global case studies.
05 Keynote Speakers |
(more to be confirmed)
1. Prof. Heidi Nepf, MIT, The USA
Title: Vegetation Hydrodynamics for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
Prof. Heidi Nepf, the Donald and Martha Harleman Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prof. Nepf received her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1992 and completed her postdoctoral research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Since joining MIT in 1993, she has made significant contributions to the field of estuarine and coastal hydrodynamics, focusing on interactions between flow and vegetation, sediment transport, and wave attenuation. Her impactful research has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the Schoemaker Best Paper Award (2012), the ASCE Hunter Rouse Award (2019), and the IAHR M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award (2023). In 2018, Prof. Nepf was elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions to coastal engineering and hydrodynamics.
2.Prof. Stijn Temmerman, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Title: Nature-based solutions for estuarine problems: examples from the low countries, Belgium & the Netherlands
Prof. Temmerman is a professor at the University of Antwerp. He works on the ecology and geomorphology of coastal and estuarine systems, with a particular focus on tidal wetlands, including marshes and mangroves. Prof. Temmerman explores how these systems function through complex interactions between tides, waves, storm surges, sea-level rise, erosion, sedimentation, vegetation dynamics, and carbon sequestration. The practical applications of his work span ecosystem restoration and management, nature-based solutions for flood risk mitigation, and climate mitigation through carbon sequestration in tidal wetlands. Prof. Temmerman’s expertise in nature-based strategies provides valuable insights into enhancing coastal resilience and addressing global climate challenges.
Title:Synergistic enhancement of coastal defense capacity and ecological functions of urban seawalls: example from the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area
Prof. Jinhai Zheng has been a professor since 2006 at Hohai University, China where he received the Doctoral Degree in Coastal Engineering in 1998. He was conferred the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China in 2014, the distinguished visiting fellowship award of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering in 2016. He has served as the president of Hohai University since 2024.He has been engaged in teaching and research work in the fields of port, waterway, coastal, and offshore engineering, dedicated to innovative research and engineering practices in estuarine and coastal dynamics, port and waterway development, coastal zone protection and restoration, and disaster prevention and mitigation. He has presided over national-level research projects including the National Key R&D Program and the Key International Cooperation Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.He has authored more than 300 academic publications. Among them, one paper won the 2014 Best Paper Award of Journal of Waterway Port Coastal and Ocean Engineering, ASCE. He received the National Teaching Achievement Award (Second Class) and the National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Class) twice each.
06 Organizing Committee
主席：
Prof. Zhong Peng 彭忠教授，华东师范大学
委员（按姓氏拼音排序）：
Dr. Deping Cao 曹德平副教授，同济大学
Prof. Xinping Chen 陈新平研究员，自然资源部海洋减灾中心
Prof. Yining Chen 陈一宁研究员，自然资源部第二海洋研究所
Prof. Zhenming Ge 葛振鸣教授，华东师范大学
Prof. Leicheng Guo 郭磊城教授，华东师范大学
Prof. Zhan Hu 胡湛教授，中山大学
Prof. Wei Li 李薇教授，浙江大学
Prof. Jianhui Liu 刘建辉正高级工程师，自然资源部第三海洋研究所
Dr. Yuqi Shan 单钰淇副教授，四川大学
Prof. Jun Tang 唐军教授，大连理工大学
Prof. Aifeng Tao 陶爱峰教授，河海大学
Prof. Kehua Wang 王科华正高级工程师，中交第四航务工程勘察设计院有限公司
Dr. Wei Wang 王炜高级工程师，自然资源部第一海洋研究所
Dr. Guoxiang Wu 武国相副教授，中国海洋大学
Prof. Sudong Xu 徐宿东教授，东南大学
Dr. Yuan Xu 徐元副教授，华东师范大学
Prof. Yu Yao 姚宇教授，长沙理工大学
Prof. Lin Yuan 袁琳教授，华东师范大学
Prof. Jinfeng Zhang 张金凤教授，天津大学
Prof. Mingliang Zhang 张明亮教授，大连海洋大学
Dr. Xiaoxia Zhang 张小霞助理教授，深圳大学
Prof. Zeng Zhou 周曾教授，河海大学
07 Key Date | 关键日期
28 March - Abstract submissions open
10 May - Abstract submissions close
20 May - Abstract acceptance notifications
21 May - Registration opens
30 May - Early bird registration closes
18-20 June - Onsite registration
19-20 June - Conference
20 June - Excursion
08 Abstract submission
09 Registration fee
Contact us
Li Tan ltan@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn