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Missions

SINO-ECOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION OVERSEAS' (SINO-ECO) missions, as stated in its bylaws, are

(1)   To promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and scientific development in Ecology and related sciences among Chinese ecologists overseas as well as between ecologists overseas and those in China.

(2)   To provide an efficient channel between Chinese and overseas ecologists, through which mutual understanding and cooperation can be enhanced.

History

The idea of having a SINO-ecological organization can be traced back to as early as 1986 at the joint meeting of ESA and the International Congress of Ecology (INTECOL) at Syracuse.  During the 1988 annual meeting of the Ecological  Society of America, at the University of California, Davis, over 20 overseas students conceived the idea of forming an overseas Chinese ecological organization (Photo 1, Davis 1988).  After the meeting, Jianguo Wu, Xinyuan Wu, and Yegang Wu (the “Triple Wu”) worked diligently and passionately to establish the organization, and came up with the name, SINO-ECOLOGISTS CLUB OVERSEAS (SINO-ECO for short) (Photo 2, China Daily 1989).  

The Triple Wu also served as first editors-in-chief and published the first few issues of the SINO-ECO Newsletter.  The first newsletter was published in November 1988 (Photo 3), and listed the names of the 35 members.  Within three years, the number of registered members exceeded one hundred.

The association members elected the first president in November 1989.  In January 1990, the association passed its bylaws, and soon after that the Association was officially registered as a non-profit organization.  Currently, SINO-ECO is a non-profit academic organization registered in the State of Delaware, USA.

The following is the list of SINO-ECO presidents in chronological order:  Drs. Jianguo Liu, Xingguo Han, Pu Mou, Jiquan Chen, Xi He, Quan Dong, Ye Qi, Guanghui Lin, Junda Lin, Yude Pan, Shili Miao, and Changhui Peng.  

Most of the association members hold advanced degrees and are working in universities, research institutes, and government agencies in North America.  There are also some members on  other continents.  Many SINO-ECO members are now major players in their research fields, including, but not limited to, global change ecology, landscape ecology, ecosystem restoration, remote sensing, aquatic ecology, wetland ecology, conservation biology, and biological invasion.  SINO-ECO members are making significant contributions to advances in ecology and using ecological principals and theories to solve real world problems.

Highlights of Accomplishments and Activities  

SINO-ECO and its members have made significant contributions to the collaboration and communication among members and among ecologists in China, the United States., and other countries and to the development in many areas of ecological sciences.  

Symposia, seminars, workshops, and conferences.  A number of symposia, workshops and conferences have been organized, co-organized, or sponsored by SINO-ECO or its members, such as the Symposium on Ecology, Conservation, and Environmental Protection in China co-organized by Xinyuan Wu in 1990;  the Symposium on Current Ecological Perspectives and Workshop in Modern Ecology, co-organized by Jianguo Wu in 1994; the Advances in Aquatic Ecology Workshop, co-organized by Junda Lin and Xi He in 1994; and The Western Development Investigation Workshop, organized by Yude Pan in 2001.  

Collaborations in ecological research.   Many SINO-ECO members have been collaborating with colleagues in China.  Such collaborations include conducting joint research, co-authoring technical papers, lecturing and organizing workshops, introducing new methods and technologies, and consulting for central and local governments.  SINO-ECO members in the US also sponsor and arrange visits of Chinese scholars to the US.

Publications:  SINO-ECO members have authored and edited many publications,  collaborating with each other and with scientists in China, US, and other countries.  The publications in Chinese provided timely information to researchers, educators and students in China.  Many of them were influential and instrumental and greatly helped the development of Chinese ecology.  Examples of collective efforts include: (1) Advances in Modern Ecology,1992.  All chapters of the book were written by SINO-ECO members.  (2) Lecture in Ecology (Vol. I), 2001.  Approximately 50% of the book contents was written by SINO-ECO members. (3) Global Ecology: Climate Change and Ecological Responses, 2000.  Approximately 50% of the book contents was written by SINO-ECO members.  (4) Lecture in Ecology (Vol. II), 2001.  Approximately 70% of the book contents was written by SINO-ECO members.  (5) The Ecological and Environmental Impacts of Large Dams, 1997.  All chapters are written by SINO-ECO members.  In addition, many SINO-ECO members are productive in their own research.  Individually or collaboratively, SINO-ECO members have published thousands of scientific and technical papers in English or other languages, including papers in Science and Nature. 

Services:  Many SINO-ECO members have been appointed by research institutes, universities, governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations, as scientific and technical advisors, adjunct and visiting faculty, board members, and consulting experts on various environmental and ecological issues.   They provide lectures and media interviews, sit on review panels, and serve as journal editors and reviewers.     

Collaboration with the Ecological Society of America and the Ecological Society of China.  SINO-ECO kept close ties to these two ecological societies.  SINO-ECO initiated and sponsored a proposal to create the Asian Section of ESA.  The Asian Section of ESA has played a proactive role to promote exchanges between ecologists in Asia and North America.  SINO-ECO members led or contributed in the majority of activities of the Asian Section.  The president of SINO-ECO was elected as a council member of the Ecological Society of China in 1995, and has served that post ever since.  SINO-ECO members have been serving as members of the editorial board of all three major ecological journals (Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, Acta Ecologica Sinica Acta Botanica Sinica) since1995.

Current  SINO-ECO Officers

The routine operation of SINO-ECO is managed by its president who chairs an operating committee. For the term of 2004-2006, the president and the committee members are as follows: 

We welcome colleagues from all over the world to contact us for potential collaborations

Contact Information

Dr. Ben Gu

South Florida Water Management District

3301 Gun Club Road

West Palm Beach, FL 33406

E-mail:bgu@sfwmd.gov

Website: http://www.sino-eco.org.