The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched an Integrated Research Center for Reefs and Islands Sciences on Meiji Reef, Nansha Islands, in the South China Sea.

The center will become an on-site test base to conduct studies on the ecology, geology, environment, materials and ocean energy of tropical seas, according to CAS.

It is of global significance to carry out in-depth research on the marine sciences in the South China Sea, which has many islands, diverse ecosystems and rich ocean resources, experts said.

The center has multiple functional laboratories in related fields such as  ecology, geology, environmental studies, and anti-corrosion.

Source: Xinhua