On June 27, 2008, the University of Delaware and Xiamen University officially established the Joint Institute for Coastal Research and Management, a world-class global collaborative research initiative.
XMU, one of the leading and most prestigious comprehensive institutions in China, is well-known for excellent programs in oceanography and environment, chemistry and chemical engineering, and a number of areas in the life sciences and the social sciences. The university, which has 34,000 students, 4,600 faculty and staff, is also known as the "cradle of marine sciences" in China.
Similarly, the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) is recognized as one of the great maritime colleges in the United States. Researchers work worldwide to measure and predict how the ocean responds to change — information that is vital to national and international policymaking. CEOE faculty and students also assist in the management of valuable natural resources, improves energy independence, and supports economic development.
The institute’s logo is composed of water drops—the fundamental components of the oceans. In Chinese, there is a saying that "water drops can penetrate the rocks." This embodies the spirit we would like to have in our joint efforts for ocean science. The convergence of the water drops symbolizes our objective to attract scientists from all over the world to work together to meet our common goals. The blue color also reflects the ocean and environment concentration.