Welcome to IsoEcol 2026!

Welcome to the 14th International Conference on the Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies (IsoEcol 2026). We are thrilled to extend the legacy and bring the meeting back to Asia for another unforgettable chapter—this time, to Hong Kong. Whether you are a longtime attendee or joining us for the first time, we will adhere to the familiar and well-loved format: four days of dynamic scientific exchange through keynote addresses, oral presentations, lightning talks, and poster sessions, split by a full day of field trips on Wednesday, curated to showcase the region’s unique ecological and cultural landscapes. We also warmly invite proposals for pre-conference workshops, which can be hosted across our network of facilities including the HKU campus, our Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (SIRMS) laboratory, and the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS)—a world-class coastal laboratory at the edge of the stunning Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve. And when the science is done, we will gather as one community to close the meeting in true Hong Kong fashion: a raucous, celebratory Cantonese banquet, where plates are shared, glasses are raised, and new friendships are sealed. Trust us—you will not want to miss it.

This year’s conference is set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most dynamic and ecologically surprising cities. Long before Hong Kong became a global hub for finance and trade, its waters were plied by Neolithic peoples who left behind middens and kilns with remnants of ecosystems past—including marine mammals, saltwater crocodiles, and bountiful schools of fish from the South China Sea and Pearl River. Though our seas and forests have been diminished, they are resilient. Hong Kong remains a remarkable biodiversity hotspot, home to more than 6,000 marine species and over 3,000 terrestrial fauna, among them endemic tree frogs, mangrove crabs, and ancient oyster beds. Around our sloping campus, you may get a glimpse of a wild boar, or a raucous flock of exotic and critically endangered yellow-crested cockatoos.

Our scientific roots here run deep: Sir Charles Elliot, the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong was a sea slug taxonomist who described 119 species, and in the 1850s, William Stimpson collected numerous type specimens from Hong Kong waters that would form part of the founding collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. While rapid urbanization and regrettable episodes of illegal wildlife trade have tested this natural heritage, Hong Kong is now charting a different course—working toward a harmonious future with nature under China’s national policy for Ecological Civilization. Today, the SAR boasts a surprisingly rich and collaborative academic landscape spanning ecology, environmental science, archaeology, and ocean sciences across our eight publicly funded universities, with HKU ranked 1st in Asia and 11th in the world. And few cities can rival ours for accessibility and convenience: in under 30 minutes, you can end your hike along a lush tropical trail or dive among coral reefs, and then be seated for a Michelin-starred dinner. It is here, too, that HKU’s Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (SIRMS) laboratory was established in 2011—since expanding to host a wide range of instrumentation and the only open-access SIA analytical service platform in China. We hope you will experience all that this extraordinary city has to offer during your visit, and that you will take the opportunity to connect with our local isotopists for future collaborations and discoveries.

Soak in the Hong Kong spirit while you are here—whether navigating the trails, sharing a late-night discussion over dim sum, or simply finding your way around the city. And when you do, don’t be shy to try out a bit of Cantonese. Our local battle cry, 加 油! (Gā yóu!)—literally ‘ADD OIL!’—captures everything about this place: relentless energy, quiet determination, and the push to keep going, together. It’s the phrase we whisper to colleagues before a conference session, and the one we shout across centuries of tradition. We invite you to make it yours too.

Sincerely, 
Prof. David Baker (Chair)