Prof. Meng Li’s group has been supported by grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for a major research project on the mechanism of hydrosphere microbes driving the circulation of earth elements, with a direct funding of 1 million yuan.

The mechanism of hydrosphere microbes driving the circulation of earth elements is a major research project initiated by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2017, which focuses on the biogeochemical cycle of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and sulfur involved in microbial activity, and discovers new types of interaction between functional microorganisms (groups) and the environment, revealing new approaches of element circulation and energy metabolism and their effects on ecological and geological processes. Major research projects funded projects includes two types: key support projects and training projects. In 2018, 19 projects were funded, including the research program of carbon metabolism mechanism and ecological effect of Asgard Archaea in offshore sediments by Prof. Meng Li’s group. It is the first time for IAS to receive funding from the national major research projects.