About Us

Globally, growing population density and rapid industrialisation in coastal areas is impacting heavily on the quality of the marine environment. Pollution, over-exploitation and under protection are threatening to further damage marine ecosystems, leading to great public health concerns and economic loss.

The Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology (MERIT) was established to meet the imminent and growing demand for new technological solutions and leading edge research to protect our marine environment for sustainable use and the benefit of our future generations.

Founded and directed by Professor Rudolf Wu, Chair Professor and Director of the School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, MERIT is one of only twelve Areas of Excellence (AoE) in Hong Kong, and the only AoE selected for conducting environmental research.

MERIT's enviable reputation for ongoing innovation derives from the diverse backgrounds of its eminent local and international members; comprising ecologists, environmental chemists, toxicologists, physicists, molecular biologists, environmental engineers, modellers and statisticians from six universities in Hong Kong and around the world, the MERIT team constitutes a seamless integration of scientific and engineering disciplines.