Researcher Agathe Serres: Protecting Hainan's Natural Beauty

Editor's note:

Since the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) began, international talents have increasingly chosen Hainan as the place to give root to their dreams. In so doing, they have become co-constructors of the FTP in their respective fields, as well as promoters, witnesses, and beneficiaries of Hainan's comprehensive deepening of reform.

As Hainan's 2024 "Two Sessions" get underway, HIMC is launching the special video series "Calling All Experts." The international talents featured in the series were invited to talk about their work, research, and studies in Hainan, demonstrating the attractive policies of the FTP and the vitality of its economic and social development. The series aims to attract more international talents to come to work or start a business in Hainan and join the many others who have placed their confidence and futures in the FTP.

French national Agathe Serres has loved dolphins since she was a child. In 2021, she became a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Sanya, Hainan. Here, she has participated in the research and protection of China’s iconic cetacean species, the Chinese white dolphin.

Due to the impact of human activities, the Chinese white dolphin has now become an endangered species. Agatha hopes to find the best way to protect the species by monitoring the status of their wild populations and studying their acoustic characteristics, behavior, and welfare. "I want my children to be able to see them in the future," explained Agatha.

With its pleasant climate, Hainan is an ideal place to monitor the dolphins. Agatha added that Hainan's natural environment is already a big draw for foreign nationals and hopes that "Hainan will invest more energy into protecting its natural beauty."