On 30 April 2008, Prof. Hanqiu Xu of Fuzhou University was invited to visit IUE. During this visit, Professor Xu presented a seminar entitled “Remote sensing monitoring of the urban heat island effect and water quality of costal cities of Fujian Province”. He shared the audience with interesting results and data processing techniques he and his students had developed over the past years. His presentation was followed by an enthusiastic discussion. Professor Xu and colleagues from IUE also explored potential collaboration opportunities in the areas of environmental science and technology between IUE and Fuzhou University. Several researchers from the Xiamen Meteorological Bureau were invited to attend the seminar.