On June 30, the SIO held the 2025 Graduate Commencement and Master’s Degree Conferment Ceremony, marking the successful conclusion of the graduates’ master studies and the commencement of their new lives. The ceremony was attended by Director Fang Yinxia, Party Secretary Yu Jian, Deputy Director Chen Jianfang, Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Chen Li, as well as heads of various administrative departments, laboratories (centers/schools), and supervisor representatives. Family members and friends of some graduates were also invited to witness the occasion.

This year, a total of 67 graduates were conferred with master’s degrees. Director Fang Yinxia personally turned the tassels, presented the diplomas and took commemorative photos with each graduate. The leaders and supervisor representatives of the SIO presented certificates to recipients of national scholarships, Zhejiang Provincial Outstanding Graduates, and Zhejiang Provincial Outstanding Master’s Theses awards.

    The graduate education outcomes of the SIO this year have been remarkable. Over 63% of the graduates have published SCI/EI papers as first authors, including one paper featured in a Nature Index journal and two papers with impact factors exceeding 10. Three graduates have been honored as Zhejiang Provincial Outstanding Graduates, and 15 will continue their doctoral studies at prestigious institutions such as City University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Nanjing University. The employment rate of graduates exceeds 90%.

In her heartfelt address, Director Fang Yinxia encouraged the graduates to cherish the institute’s motto of “Seeking Truth Through Practical Work, Achieving Excellence Through Diligent Action”, and to carry forward the broad vision instilled by the SIO. She urged them to be at the forefront of deep-sea technology, explore the “uncharted territory” of deep-sea research by integrating emerging fields like AI with deep-sea research, thereby forging new paths and creating a brighter future.