To promote interdisciplinary studies in marine environmental science and to foster the next generation of ocean scientists, the State Key Lab of Marine Environmental Science initiated Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS) in 2014.  Since then, XMAS has grown to be one of Asia’s largest symposiums in marine sciences and acts as a hot spot to exchange research interests in global and regional oceans.

The 7th iteration, XMAS 2025 will be held from January 14th to 17th, 2025, in Xiamen, China. The theme for this year is "Transformative Science and Technology for a Sustainable Ocean". This symposium will bring together leading scientists and researchers from around the world to share the latest advancements, and discuss challenges and solutions facing the global marine environment.

XMAS 2025 will be a vibrant and interdisciplinary platform featuring 58 scientific sessions, 4 events, 2 townhalls, and 8 workshops. The content will cover the core areas of ocean science, including physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, marine pollution, and the interdisciplinary approaches needed to address urgent marine environmental challenges. It will showcase cutting-edge research, innovative solutions, and foster collaborative discussions on topics related to global and regional oceans.

The scientific sessions will cover topics including extreme weather events, marine biogeochemical cycles, ocean deoxygenation, microbial activity, the ecological and socio-economic benefits of marine protected areas, and the impact of human activities like plastic pollution. The sessions aim to deepen our understanding of the ocean and climate systems while promoting sustainable solutions through research and cooperation.

The events, townhalls and workshops will focus on discussions and exchanges in areas such as manuscript writing and reviewing, Women in Science, Education and Outreach, and regional marine ecosystem research.