From September 24 to 26, 2024, the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) hosted a visit from prominent international scholars, including Professor Frank Löffler from the University of Tennessee, USA, and Professor Michael Manefield from the University of New South Wales, Australia. The visit, organized by IAE researchers Dr. YAN Jun and Dr. YANG Yi, also included Dr. ZENG Jun from the Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, CAS.

The primary goal of the visit was to share the latest research findings in environmental microbial remediation, explore current trends and emerging topics in the field, and discuss potential collaborative research projects. The academic symposium, themed “Advances in Environmental Biotechnology: Tackling Contaminants of Emerging Concern,” attracted over 50 participants, including IAE researchers, young scientists, and graduate students.

On September 24, Professor Manefield delivered a lecture titled “Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater.” He highlighted the global issue of groundwater contamination due to chlorinated alkanes and presented his team’s remediation project in Newcastle, Australia. The lecture sparked innovative ideas and discussions among the attendees.

The following day, Dr. ZENG Jun, Dr. Liang Xiaolong, and Dr. LI Xiuying, along with other young researchers from IAE, presented their latest research findings. The presentations were critically reviewed by attending experts, who provided constructive feedback and suggestions for further interdisciplinary research.

On September 26, Professor Löffler gave a lecture on “Organohalogen Degradation Microbial Strategies and Processes,” detailing how both naturally occurring and synthetic organohalogen compounds are metabolized and regulated by microorganisms. He also shared his team’s research on the aerobic defluorination of short-chain fluorinated alkanes by Pseudomonas sp. 273. The lecture concluded with a lively discussion on approaches for removing emerging perfluorinated compounds.

The symposium provided a platform for knowledge sharing and networking, inspiring innovative ideas and fostering future collaborations.