The U.S. Science Support Program sponsors Pre-Drilling Activities to provide funds in quick response to an opportunity to acquire data or information that will enhance a drilling expedition. Priority is given to projects that support expeditions already on the ship’s schedule. The definition of this activity is deliberately flexible to allow consideration of exceptional or unusual requests for drill site data enhancement.

Apply to host an Ocean Discovery Lecturer! Note C-DEBIer Andreas Teske (UNC Chapel Hill) is one of the lecturers presenting “From Magma to Microbe: The Deep Hot Biosphere of Guaymas Basin”! Open to any U.S. college, university or nonprofit organization. For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Deadline is May 27, 2022.

The NSF has asked the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) for assistance in developing Science Mission Requirements, or SMRs, for a globally-ranging riserless U.S. drilling vessel to address high priority scientific objectives outlined in the 2050 Science Framework: Exploring Earth by Scientific Ocean Drilling. The SMR effort will begin with an online community survey, which will be accessible through March 15. All survey responses provided by March 15 will be used to guide the virtual forums and in-person workshop. Completion of the survey will serve as one part of your application for attending the in-person workshop. The survey has 28 questions and should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. During the survey period, we will hold open, online sessions to provide answers to any questions you may have about the survey. The first session is scheduled for February 8, 2022 at 3 PM Eastern.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is now accepting applications for scientific participants on Expedition 399: Building Blocks of Life, Atlantis Massif, aboard the JOIDES Resolution. The Atlantis Massif (AM) Oceanic Core Complex (30°N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge) is one of the earliest sites recognized for the extensive exposure of ultramafic and mafic rocks at the seafloor caused by an oceanic detachment fault. The Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF) is hosted in peridotite on its southern wall and vents alkaline fluids rich in H2 as a by-product of serpentinization. The AM is therefore an ideal natural laboratory for studying tectonics, magmatism, and the interaction between the ocean and lithosphere, as well as their combined influence on ocean chemistry and the subseafloor biosphere. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, petrologists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, petrophysicists, borehole geophysicists, igneous geochemists, inorganic geochemists, organic geochemists, and microbiologists. Application deadline: February 1, 2022. To learn more about the scientific objectives of Expedition 399, life at sea, and how to apply to sail, register in advance for the webinar on January 5, 2022 (11:00 AM EST).

The U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) invites members of the U.S. IODP community to submit proposals for novel projects and activities that will enhance and advance the goals of scientific ocean drilling. With this request for proposals, USSSP aims to foster innovative, out-of-the box projects that may address elements of the current IODP Science Plan or focus on the future of scientific ocean drilling (2050 Science Framework). Novel Projects proposals may explore a range of topics, including (but not limited to): Legacy Data and Cores, Outreach and Communication, and Career Development. This Novel Projects RFP is intended to stimulate new ideas, foster opportunities for unique projects and collaborations, and encourage community engagement related to scientific ocean drilling. Proposal deadline: October 15, 2021.

The U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) is seeking scientists to participate on a variety of IODP panels, boards, and committees. There are three open calls for participation, on the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC), the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP), or the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB). Deadline to apply: July 23, 2021.

During the summer of 2021, we are running a series of workshops engaging three communities in envisioning broadening the impact of scientific ocean drilling in the coming decades. These workshops will strive to chart the future course of science communication and outreach for scientific ocean drilling. The series of workshops will explore STEM education and science communication, engaging workshop participants as collaborators, while paying special attention to issues related to diversity and inclusion. This effort is in direct support of the 2050 Framework for Scientific Ocean Drilling and its call to “communicate far-reaching scientific ocean drilling knowledge to the broader community.” We are seeking a diverse group of participants across many demographics, experience/levels, geographic locations and career areas for the three workshops “Engaging the Public”, “Informing Policymakers, and “Preparing the Next Generation.”  Deadlines to apply are May 17, June 21, and July 1, 2021.

This one-hour gathering is a Q&A session to inform the IODP community. It’s your chance to ask questions about IODP and JR through 2024! Panelists Clive Neal (JRFB), Brad Clement (JRSO), Marta Torres (USAC), Jamie Allan (NSF), and Carl Brenner (USSSP) will answer questions about scheduling and operations of the JOIDES Resolution through 2024, and provide information about the outlook for activities and support within the current IODP (to 2023/2024). We welcome questions from everyone in the IODP community and anyone interested in IODP. All topics related to the JR through 2024 are fair game – and you can send a question even if you can’t attend the live event by emailing the USSSP Office at usssp@ldeo.columbia.edu,. A recording will be posted on the USSSP page. Register in advance for the meeting on April 28, 2021 at 11 AM Pacific / 2 PM Eastern Time.

The U.S. Science Support Program is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program. The Schlanger Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. Research may be related to the objectives of past expeditions or it may address broader science themes. Selected fellows will receive an award of $30,000 for a 12-month period that can be used for research, stipend, tuition, or other approved costs. Schlanger Fellowships are open to all graduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions in full-time Ph.D. programs. Applications require reference material from two referees, one of which must be the student’s faculty advisor. All application materials, including reference material, must be submitted by December 11, 2020.

For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. Participation of researchers in the USSSP Ocean Discovery Lecture Series is essential to the program’s goal of bringing scientific results and discoveries to the geoscience community. The nomination period for the 2021-2022 Ocean Discovery Lecturers is now open. Please submit nominations by the deadline of July 22, 2020.

For 2020, the U.S. Science Support Program in association with IODP is seeking new U.S.-based members for the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Drilling (USAC) and the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP), as well as one senior U.S.-based scientist to serve on the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB). All new members will serve three-year terms, beginning in October 2020. Scientific disciplines particularly needed for SEP this year include paleoceanography / paleoclimate, hydrology, geomechanics, structural geology & tectonics, marine geology & geophysics, sedimentology / stratigraphy, and geochemistry. For USAC, USSSP seeks expertise in all scientific disciplines relevant to IODP. Candidates for the JRFB should have an extensive history of participation in scientific ocean drilling. We encourage the involvement of early and mid-career scientists on USAC and SEP, as well as those with more experience. Scientists interested in volunteering for these opportunities should apply by July 10, 2020.

The European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) regrettably announces that IODP Expedition 377: Arctic Ocean Paleoceanography will not be implemented in August to October 2021. In spring 2020, the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) opened a call to the commercial market to provide platform, drilling and ice management services for this expedition. The commercial bids received were evaluated at the end of May 2020. Unfortunately, it has been concluded that the procurement has failed to achieve its objectives. The primary and overriding reason for this is the combination of facilities and services required cannot be fulfilled within the expedition’s available budget. At its recent spring meeting on 10-11 June 2020, ECORD Council confirmed the removal of Expedition 377 from the 2021 mission-specific platform expedition schedule. Later in June, the ECORD Facility Board will consider options for future MSP expeditions for 2021-2023. The Call for Scientists will now be stopped, and announcements on the future of Expedition 377 will be made via IODP-related channels in due course. Current applications will be deleted, and a fresh Call for Scientist issued if and when appropriate.

We are arriving at an important benchmark in our planning for future scientific ocean drilling and present the first version of the 2050 Science Framework, entitled Exploring Earth Through Scientific Ocean Drilling, now ready for your examination and peer review. This new 2050 Science Framework has a 25-year outlook to 2050, inspiring state-of-the-art approaches for scientific ocean drilling far into the mid-21st century. Foundational Earth science research is described in seven Strategic Objectives and five Flagship Initiatives that encourage innovation and new discoveries. The major objective of scientific ocean drilling is to advance our understanding of Earth as an interconnected system through multi-disciplinary and societally-relevant collaborative research endeavors. As the structure and roadmap to produce this framework were previously reviewed via online community postings on IODP.org in August 2019 and endorsed by the IODP Forum in September 2019, we are at this stage primarily seeking input from the international science community on the framework’s scientific merit, accuracy, and completeness, so that each chapter strongly conveys the aspirations for future scientific ocean drilling through 2050. The deadline to review the document and respond has been postponed to March 31, 2020.

For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. For the 2020-2021 academic year, an exciting lineup of distinguished lecturers is available to speak at your institution. The topics of their lectures range widely, including hydrothermal microbial communities with C-DEBI researcher, Jessica Labonté (Texas A&M, Galveston). USSSP will provide support for the lecturer’s travel to your institution, while hosting venues are responsible for housing, meals, and local transportation. Open to any U.S. college, university, or nonprofit organization. Deadline to apply to host a lecturer: May 15, 2020.

Returning to the University of Leicester for the fifth year, the ECORD Summer School: Downhole Logging for IODP Science focuses on downhole logging within IODP and the applications of downhole measurements in various geoscientific fields, including paleoclimatology and sedimentology, as well as for broader geological and ecological processes. The Summer School is a 1-week long CPD-accredited course offering 36 hours of training in the core principles of petrophysics and downhole logging, from data collection to interpretation. The School will be hosted at the University of Leicester (UK) and will run from the 4th July to the 10th of July 2020. The course is open to applicants from the international community, but applications from early career researchers (including PhD students) are particularly encouraged. U.S.-affiliated students and researchers may also apply for travel support through the U.S. Science Support Program. A limited number of travel grants are available and priority may be given to applicants actively engaged or interested in research using IODP data. The deadline to apply for travel support and for the course has been extended to February 21, 2020.

The USSSP Onboard Outreach Program gives formal and informal educators, artists, writers, videographers and other participants the opportunity to spend an entire expedition with an IODP shipboard party and translate their experiences for students and the general public via blogs, videos, social networking sites, live ship-to-shore video events and development of educational resources. Onboard Outreach Program participants are selected through a competitive application and interview process. All expenses for Onboard Outreach Program participants, such as travel to and from the ports of call, and a $10,000 stipend, are paid by USSSP. The selected individual(s) will also be flown to a three-day training session prior to their expedition. Non-US applicants will be directed to their country’s IODP Program Member Office but are still encouraged to apply. Deadline: February 10, 2020.

Stories from the Cores is a series of video games that let players act like scientists studying cores drilled from the ocean and uncovering their secrets. Watch this trailer to see what the games are like. You can download this game to play on you home computer.

The Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. program to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. The Fellowship year begins in either June or August (summer or fall semester) and runs one year. During the following summer, at the conclusion of the fellowship, Schlanger Fellows may attend a meeting of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) to present the initial results of their research and take part in U.S. Science Support Program-related activities. Fellowship awards are $30,000 for a 12-month period and are made to the fellow’s home institution. The entire amount is intended to be applied to the research project, student stipend, tuition, benefits, and, if necessary, related travel. No part of the award is to be used to cover institutional overhead, administrative costs, or permanent equipment. Award start dates can be negotiated on an individual basis—but in general are based on the academic year and following summer. The deadline for submission is December 6, 2019.

Scientific ocean drilling is central to the study of Earth’s climate history, tectonic evolution, geohazards, and deep biosphere. In an effort to foster a larger, more dynamic, and more diverse ocean drilling community, we encourage early career researchers to apply to this workshop, Demystifying the IODP Proposal Process for Early Career Scientists: Pacific Ocean. The workshop will begin with a series of speakers explaining the structure of IODP and how early career scientists can become involved in IODP activities, from sailing to expedition proposals. Then, workshop participants will work on the initial stages of developing real drilling proposals in the Pacific Ocean, where the JOIDES Resolution is expected to be operating beginning in 2023-2024. We aim to attract a diverse array of specialists (in geophysics, paleoceanography, deep biosphere, tectonics, etc.) to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. Workshop participation support is available from the U.S. Science Support Program for IODP, for a limited number of graduate students and early career researchers (i.e., those who have completed their PhD within the past 10 years) from U.S. institutions and organizations. The deadline to submit has been extended to November 6, 2019.

Featuring an article about the upcoming IODP Expedition 385: Guaymas Basin Tectonics and Biosphere from co-chiefs Andreas Teske and Daniel Lizarralde!

On May 6th and 7th, 88 U.S. scientists with a strong interest in scientific ocean drilling (SOD) convened a workshop in Denver, CO, entitled “NEXT: Scientific Ocean Drilling Beyond 2023” to discuss United States priorities for SOD after the current IODP science plan ends. Joining the workshop were several representatives from the JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (JRSO), experts in drilling/coring, geoscientists from other organizations, and about 30 international partners. In total, approximately 140 people participated. Goals of the NEXT workshop included: What new scientific challenges should be addressed in the new SOD program? What should the framework or structure of the new science plan look like? And what is needed in a new U.S. riserless drilling vessel (from coring to shipboard analysis) to respond to the new challenges identified in this next science plan?

The U.S. Science Support Program for IODP is currently accepting nominations for the 2020-2021 Ocean Discovery Lecture Series. For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the exciting scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. Lecture topics range widely, and include monsoon history, ice sheet dynamics, sediment diagenesis, and more. To learn more about the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series and the current lecturers (including deep biosphere researchers Ginny Edgcomb and Brandi Kiel Reese), visit the USSSP webpage. Nomination deadline: July 5, 2019.

Deadline: June 24, 2019.

The U.S. Science Support Program, associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program, is currently accepting proposals for planning workshops. Proposed workshops should promote the development of new ideas and strategies to study the Earth’s processes and history using scientific ocean drilling. Workshops may focus on a specific scientific theme or topic, or they may focus on a geographic region, integrating multiple topics. Regionally-focused workshops offer opportunities to synthesize scientific results from past expeditions, or to develop drilling proposals for future expeditions. Prospective workshop proponents should consider long-term projected ship tracks in identifying potential geographic areas for focus. Funding may be requested for U.S.-based meetings or to support U.S. participants at larger international workshops. Broad-based scientific community involvement, co-sponsorship by related programs, and the active participation of early career researchers are strongly encouraged. The submission deadline is June 1, 2019.

Expeditions 390 and 393 are a multidisciplinary and joint scientific ocean drilling project that aims to recover complete sedimentary sections and ~200 m of oceanic crust along a crustal age transect at ~31°S across the South Atlantic Ocean to: (1) investigate the history of low-temperature hydrothermal interactions between the aging ocean crust and the evolving South Atlantic Ocean; (2) quantify past hydrothermal contributions to global geochemical cycles; (3) investigate sediment and basement-hosted microbial community variation with substrate composition and age in the low energy South Atlantic Gyre subseafloor biosphere; and (4) investigate the responses of Atlantic Ocean circulation patterns and the Earth’s climate system to rapid climate change, including elevated CO2 during the Cenozoic. The expeditions will occur from 5 October to 5 December 2020 (Expedition 390) and 6 April to 6 June 2021 (Expedition 393). Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, petrologists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, petrophysicists, geophysicists, inorganic and organic geochemists, and microbiologists. The deadline to apply is August 1, 2019.

The Northern Pacific, Bering Sea and Western Arctic regions contain important records of linked tectonic and paleoceanographic histories. The primary goal of this workshop was to develop new proposals and reinvigorate existing proposals for scientific ocean drilling in the region. By focusing on regional coordination across scientific themes, our breakout groups and working sessions encouraged new collaborations to develop coordinated drilling strategies.

The USSSP Onboard Outreach Program gives formal and informal educators, artists, writers, videographers and other participants the opportunity to spend an entire expedition with an IODP shipboard party and translate their experiences for students and the general public via blogs, videos, social networking sites, live ship-to-shore video events and development of educational resources. Onboard Outreach Program participants are selected through a competitive application and interview process. All expenses for Onboard Outreach Program participants, such as travel to and from the ports of call, and a $10,000 stipend, are paid by USSSP. The selected individual(s) will also be flown to a three-day training session prior to their expedition. Non-US applicants will be directed to their country’s IODP Program Member Office but are still encouraged to apply. We are now accepting applications to sail as an Onboard Outreach Officer on Expedition 387: Amazon Margin or Expedition 388: Equatorial Atlantic Gateway. Application period closes April 26, 2019.

For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. For the 2018-19 academic year, an exciting lineup of distinguished lecturers is available to speak at your institution, including C-DEBI researchers Ginny Edgcomb and Brandi Kiel Reese. The topics of their lectures range widely, and include monsoon history, ice sheet dynamics, sediment diagenesis, and more. Open to any U.S. college, university, or nonprofit organization. Application deadline to host an Ocean Discovery Lecturer: May 17, 2019.

As you are aware, scientific ocean drilling is half a century old this year, marked by the maiden voyage of the Glomar Challenger in 1968. Discoveries from scientific ocean drilling through the DSDP, ODP and IODP programs have helped reveal Earth’s history and have been critical to shaping our understanding of how our planet works. But although results from scientific ocean drilling have never have been stronger, addressing future challenges in the Earth sciences will require improved technologies that are not currently available on the JOIDES Resolution. The current phase of scientific ocean drilling will end after 2023, which is only five years away. At that same time the JOIDES Resolution will be 45 years old. In short, we are approaching a critical point with the current science plan expiring and the JOIDES Resolution in need of a replacement. Continuation of scientific ocean drilling beyond 2023 requires planning and action now. We are co-chairing the steering committee Instituting U.S. Scientific Ocean Drilling Beyond 2023 (SOD23+) to lead the U.S. planning for the post-2023 era in scientific ocean drilling and need broad input and support from the U.S. and international communities to consider the scientific plan and our future platform needs. In order to prepare the U.S. community for this critical time, we are organizing a two-day Workshop on May 6-7, 2019 in Denver that will bring together roughly 80-90 U.S.-IODP researchers and perhaps 20 international collaborators from non-U.S. IODP countries. Application window to the Denver3 Workshop opens January 28, 2019 and closes February 15, 2019.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is now accepting applications for scientific participants on Expedition 388 Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, aboard the JOIDES Resolution. IODP Expedition 388 will study the tectonic, climatic, and biotic evolution of the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway (EAG) at three sites on and near the Pernambuco Plateau (northeastern Brazilian continental shelf). These will target Late Cretaceous-Recent sediments and oceanic crust and are strategically located both near the continental margin and at paleo-water depths that are shallow enough (< 2000 m) to provide well-preserved organic biomarkers and calcareous microfossils for proxy reconstructions of greenhouse climates. Core and log data will address four key themes: (1) the early rift history of the Equatorial Atlantic; (2) the biogeochemistry of the restricted Equatorial Atlantic; (3) the long-term paleoceanography of the EAG; and, (4) the limits of tropical climates and ecosystems under conditions of extreme warmth. This expedition will constrain the long-term interactions between tectonics, oceanography, ocean biogeochemistry and climate, and the functioning of tropical ecosystems and climate during intervals of extreme warmth. The expedition will take place from 26 June to 26 August 2020. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, inorganic/organic geochemists, microbiologists, petrologists, petrophysicists, and borehole geophysicists. U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in responding to the special call should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2019.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is now accepting applications for scientific participants on Expedition 387 Amazon Margin, aboard the JOIDES Resolution. IODP Expedition 387 will drill the upper portion of the Foz do Amazonas basin of the equatorial margin of Brazil to recover a complete, high-resolution sedimentary sequence spanning nearly the entire Cenozoic. This expedition is the marine complement to the Trans-Amazon Drilling Project transect of continental drill sites, and will address fundamental questions about the Cenozoic climatic evolution of the Amazon region, the origins and evolution of the neotropical rain forest and its incomparable biodiversity, the paleoceanographic history of the western equatorial Atlantic, and the origins of the transcontinental Amazon River. Core and log data from sites on the uppermost continental slope will be used to: (1) generate a continuous record of climate and biodiversity in Cenozoic South America at unprecedented resolution; (2) reconstruct the oceanographic conditions of the western tropical Atlantic; (3) provide critical marine biostratigraphic control for correlation with the Trans-Amazon Drilling Project; (4) determine the onset and history of trans-continental drainage of the proto-Amazon River into the Atlantic; and (5) test major hypotheses about the originations and extinctions of tropical South American biota. The expedition will take place from 26 April to 26 June 2020. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all shipboard specialties, including but not limited to sedimentologists, micropaleontologists, paleomagnetists, inorganic/organic geochemists, petrologists, petrophysicists, microbiologists, and borehole geophysicists. U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in responding to the special call should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2019.

The U.S. Science Support Program is currently accepting applications for the 2019-2020 Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program. The Schlanger Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for outstanding graduate students to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. Research may be related to the objectives of past expeditions or it may address broader science themes. Selected fellows will receive an award of $30,000 for a 12-month period that can be used for research, stipend, tuition, or other approved costs. Schlanger Fellowships are open to all graduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions in full-time M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Applications require reference material from two referees, one of which must be the student’s faculty advisor. The submission deadline is December 7, 2018.

The U.S. Science Support Program, associated with the International Ocean Discovery Program, is currently accepting proposals for planning workshops. Proposed workshops should promote the development of new ideas and strategies to study the Earth’s processes and history using scientific ocean drilling. Workshops may focus on a specific scientific theme or topic, or they may focus on a geographic region, integrating multiple topics. Regionally-focused workshops offer opportunities to synthesize scientific results from past expeditions, or to develop drilling proposals for future expeditions. Prospective workshop proponents should consider long-term projected ship tracks in identifying potential geographic areas for focus. Funding may be requested for U.S.-based meetings or to support U.S. participants at larger international workshops. Broad-based scientific community involvement, co-sponsorship by related programs, and the active participation of early career researchers are strongly encouraged. The submission deadline is December 1, 2018.

The JOIDES Resolution Assessment Report, representing the results of a multi-phase, year-long community review, is now available on the USSSP website. Thanks to everyone who participated in the community survey and the September ‘17 JR Assessment Workshop, both of which provided crucial input to this report!

The USSSP Onboard Outreach Program gives formal and informal educators, artists, writers, videographers and other participants the opportunity to spend an entire expedition with an IODP shipboard party and translate their experiences for students and the general public via blogs, videos, social networking sites, live ship-to-shore video events and development of educational resources. Onboard Outreach Program participants are selected through a competitive application and interview process. All expenses for Onboard Outreach Program participants, such as travel to and from the ports of call, and a $10,000 stipend, are paid by USSSP. The selected individual(s) will also be flown to a three-day training session prior to their expedition. Non-US applicants will be directed to their country’s IODP Program Member Office but are still encouraged to apply. Application period ends on October 19, 2018.

The new JOIDES Resolution traveling exhibit (which if you’re not familiar with, you can see a video preview of it here: https://youtu.be/lbnQIXIcync) was created through an NSF grant that also provides funding to allow the exhibit to visit sites around the United States to the end of 2021. If you would like the exhibit to come to your community, there is an online application form to nominate your community as a future host site during 2019-2021. Before you go and do that though, there are a couple stipulations. The grant requires each host community to be a collaboration between an organization such as a library, museum, science center, or university and a local girl scout council. The organization will provide the facilities to present the exhibit to the public, as well as provide opportunities for underserved audiences to easily experience the exhibit. The girl scout council will commit to training some of their girl scouts to be volunteer docents for the exhibit while it is in town. If you have any contacts with local organizations and/or girl scout councils who may be interested in hosting this exhibit, please pass this information onto them.

For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series (formerly the Distinguished Lecturer Series) has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. Since 1991, over 1,000 presentations to diverse audiences have been made through the Lecture Series. Participation of researchers in the USSSP-IODP Ocean Discovery Lecture Series is essential to the program’s goal of bringing scientific results and discoveries to the geoscience community. If you would like to nominate yourself or a colleague to be an Ocean Discovery Lecturer for the 2019-2020 academic year, please contact Nicole Kurtz (nkurtz@ldeo.columbia.edu). Nomination period will close on July 13, 2018.

For 2018, the U.S. Science Support Program, in association with IODP, is seeking two senior scientists (one U.S.-based and one non-U.S.-based) to serve on the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB). New members will serve three-year terms, beginning in October 2018. Scientists interested in volunteering for any of these opportunities should apply by July 20, 2018.

The workshop on Scientific Exploration of the Arctic and North Pacific (SEA-NorP) will focus on the development of new proposals and reinvigoration of existing proposals for scientific ocean drilling in the Northern Pacific, Bering Sea and Western Arctic Ocean region. JOIDES Resolution is scheduled to operate in the Northern Pacific in 2023, so to ensure that the ship is used to best advantage in this region, now is the time to develop drilling proposals that could be linked through regional drilling strategies. The workshop will include discussion of hypotheses that can be tested by scientific drilling in the region, the technology necessary to achieve those goals, ideal sites for drilling based on existing data, and where additional site survey data is needed. Our goal is that multiple proposals will be initiated at the workshop, both for full cruise legs and for shorter, targeted expeditions around the following themes: ocean gateways, geohazards, volatile cycling, ice histories at transition zones, biosphere and climate. A limited number of travel grants will be available. Experience in paleoclimate, paleoceanography, sedimentology, geobiology, geophysics, geochemistry, seismology, volcanology, structure and tectonics is sought. We encourage graduate students, early career scientists and those new to IODP to apply, as well as program officers, government representatives, and private sector scientists. The workshop is open to U.S. and international participants, and the deadline for U.S.-affiliated scientists to apply is June 25, 2018.

Axial Seamount is the most magmatically active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific and has been the focus of inter-disciplinary studies for over two decades. The range of scientific interests includes volcanology, geophysical characterization and monitoring, hydrothermal vent formation and geochemistry, quantification of heat and chemical fluxes, hydrogeology, and the diversity and evolution of microbiological and animal communities. Axial Seamount erupted in January 1998, April 2011, and April 2015, and is likely to erupt again in the coming years. The site, therefore, presents a unique opportunity to study the interaction between volcanic, hydrothermal, and biological responses to magmatic and volcanic events. Primarily for these reasons, Axial Seamount was chosen as one of the key sites on the National Science Foundations’ (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) cabled observatory network, the Cabled Array (CA). The Axial workshop was held to explore how ocean drilling and related studies can complement seafloor-based investigations by gaining access to the subseafloor to expand our understanding of microbiological, geophysical, hydrologic, and geochemical processes, now that the CA is fully operational with data streaming live to shore from a diverse suite of cabled instruments.

For over 20 years, the Ocean Discovery Lecturer Series has brought the remarkable scientific results and discoveries of the International Ocean Discovery Program and its predecessor programs to academic research institutions, museums, and aquaria. For the 2018-19 academic year, an exciting lineup of distinguished lecturers is available to speak at your institution, and the nomination period is now open. The topics of their lectures range widely, and include monsoon history, ice sheet dynamics, sediment diagenesis, and more. USSSP will provide support for the lecturer’s travel to your institution, while hosting venues are responsible for housing, meals, and local transportation. The application period will close on May 18, 2018.

Petrophysics is the study of the physical (and chemical) properties of rocks and their interactions with fluids, and integrates downhole in situ data from logs with core and seismic data. This has significant applications in the hydrocarbon industry in terms of both exploration for, and production of, oil and gas. It is also an important component of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) in helping to answer the many and varied questions posed by ocean research drilling expeditions around the world. This third Petrophysics Summer School will provide a unique workshop that will bring together experts from both academia and industry to give training in the theory and practice of petrophysics and, notably its applications across both IODP and industry. There are few opportunities for training, especially for non-industry researchers, and with recent reports indicating significant skills shortages in the hydrocarbon sector, the workshop could attract a variety of participants including those who might not normally engage with the IODP community. In addition, the summer school will strengthen links between IODP and industry, increase the visibility of IODP, provide essential training to the next generation of petrophysicists and, importantly, enable future expedition participants to best utilize these data in their investigations of the ocean floor. U.S.-affiliated students and researchers may apply for partial travel support through the U.S. Science Support Program. A limited number of travel grants are available. To apply for U.S. travel support, complete an online application by March 23, 2018.

In Search of Earth’s Secrets is a special project that aims to bring the JOIDES Resolution and IODP science to communities around the country. It is a 5-year project funded by the NSF’s Education and Human Resources (EHR) division, designed to create “pop-up” science events in the style of pop-up restaurants, stores and art fairs [the microbiology component was supported by a C-DEBI Education & Outreach grant to Sharon Cooper (LDEO)]. The aim is to bring high quality Earth and ocean science content to rural communities and those with a high percentage of traditionally underserved populations, and to create interest in the discoveries of IODP. The project involves working with libraries, youth organizations, program scientists, educators, and museums across the country. The exhibit includes interactive kiosks, a large interactive floor map, and an inflatable walk-through JR showing an immersive ScienceMedia-produced film inside, narrated by actress Michelle Hurd. For more information, to get involved, and to apply to bring Earth’s Secrets to your community, please visit: http://www.insearchofearthssecrets.com.

This is an exciting time for IODP outreach and education. Several high-profile drilling expeditions have greatly increased public awareness of the program, international collaboration on IODP outreach activities is at an all-time high, and the U.S. is poised to launch a major outreach effort focused on scientific ocean drilling and the JOIDES Resolution. At the same time, resources for these activities are limited, so the U.S. Science Support Program and U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling would like to solicit feedback from members of the U.S. IODP community regarding your hopes and priorities for the outreach and education programs. Please take a few moments to complete an online education and outreach survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EO-Community-Survey, and let us know your thoughts. The survey is open through February 2, 2018. Community input is critical to the implementation of a successful outreach program, so we are grateful for your opinions and guidance. You can find a concise annual review of 2017 U.S. outreach and education activity at http://bit.ly/2CJDPd2.

When Lamont-Doherty assumed management of the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) in early 2015, one of our main goals was to make the IODP expedition staffing process as transparent as possible. As we approach our fourth year of management, we would like to provide some statistics on U.S. shipboard participation in IODP over the past three years, as well as advice for those aspiring to sail.

The U.S. Science Support Program is seeking dynamic speakers to convey the excitement of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to geoscience communities and the public across the United States. Since 1991, more than 800 presentations have been made to audiences at U.S. colleges, universities, and informal learning centers. Your help is requested to identify scientists interested in participating as lecturers in the Ocean Discovery Lecture Series Program during the 2018-2019 academic year. Lectures focus on the discoveries and results of scientific ocean drilling and are primarily aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, museums, science departments, and the scientifically literate public. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an Ocean Discovery Lecturer, email their name, institution, and potential lecture topic to the USSSP Outreach Coordinator, Nicole Kurtz (nkurtz@ldeo.columbia.edu), by the nomination deadline of July 21, 2017.

The U.S. Science Support Program is seeking one U.S.-based senior scientist to serve on the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB), as well as new members for the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) and the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP). All new members will serve three-year terms, beginning in October 2017. The deadline to apply is July 21, 2017.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is issuing a special call for experienced scientists to apply for IODP Expedition 381 Corinth Rift Development aboard a Mission Specific Platform provided by the ECORD Science Operator in the following specialties: inorganic geochemistry, foraminifer micropaleontology, and nannofossil micropaleontology. The call is only for scientists able to sail during the offshore phase (56 days starting between October  2nd and 16th, 2017 from Corinth, Greece). The new deadline to apply is June 9, 2017 (by 11:59 PM EDT).

Dear C-DEBI Colleagues,

Last month we urged you to fill out the JR Renewal Online Survey. You all reacted in great numbers; with a total of 876 survey takers (for all of IODP participants, including 410 from the U.S.) we are showcasing the great, wide and enthusiastic interest in IODP utilizing the JR. Thank you so much!

However, the survey was only the first step in the two-step JR Renewal process. Now we need your PARTICPATION in the Denver 2 Meeting that is officially called the JOIDES Resolution Assessment Workshop! This workshop will bring together close to 80 scientists with strong interests and/or experience in IODP, from all career stages and from all U.S. institutions. We are hoping for a strong showing from deep biosphere colleagues to represent our interests in future IODP Expeditions. SEE THE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND PLEASE APPLY SOON (Deadline for application is TOMORROW, June 2nd)!!!

From the perspective of the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB) this workshop is critically important for renewal:

1. It will provide key evidence that the U.S. community is completely satisfied with the operation and management of the JR during the period of 2014-2017;
2. It will express powerfully the continued need for and unique use of the JR as part of the larger IODP program;
3. It will give a strong voice to the U.S. community in proposing novel plans for the JR for operations in the last five years of the 2013-2023 IODP Program.

The results of the Denver 1 Workshop in 2012 allowed NSF to successfully secure approval by the National Science Board (NSB) for starting the 2013-2019 portion of the current IODP program. However, it also provided the ingredients for a new business and operational model that now has been implemented (to great success) by the JRFB. As always, your PARTICIPATION, ENERGY AND IDEAS are key to making Denver 2 the greatest possible success!!!

Thank you, and all the best,
Jason Sylvan & Jennifer Biddle.

Axial Seamount is the most magmatically active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific and has been the focus of inter-disciplinary study for over three decades. The range of scientific interests includes volcanology, geophysical characterization and monitoring, hydrothermal vent formation and geochemistry, quantification of heat and chemical fluxes, hydrogeology, and the diversity and evolution of microbiological and animal communities. Axial Seamount erupted in January 1998, April 2011, and April 2015, thus the site presents a unique opportunity to study the interaction between volcanic, hydrothermal, and biological responses to magmatic and volcanic events. For these reasons, Axial Seamount was chosen as one of the key sites on the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) cabled observatory network, the Cabled Array (CA). Now that the CA is fully operational with data streaming live to shore for two years from a diverse suite of cabled instruments, we want to explore how ocean drilling and related studies can complement seafloor-based investigations by gaining access to the subseafloor to expand our understanding of microbiological, geophysical, hydrologic, and geochemical processes at Axial Seamount. The overall goal will be to develop a full IODP proposal for drilling and related experiments at Axial Seamount. The workshop will bring together a multidisciplinary group of scientists and engineers across a broad spectrum of ocean sciences and engineering to discuss recent engineering advances and practical issues related to drilling into zero-age oceanic crust, and to identify high priority science objectives and research opportunities that can only be achieved with ocean drilling at Axial Seamount. Contact Julie Huber (jhuber@whoi.edu) with any questions and to apply for the workshop. Deadline to apply: June 30, 2017.

USSSP periodically sponsors seagoing Earth systems research and education workshops—the “School of Rock”—aboard the JOIDES Resolution. During times when the ship is unavailable, the School of Rock is conducted at the Gulf Coast Repository, located at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, or other institutions. Over 150 formal and informal educators have participated in the School of Rock program since it was initiated in 2005. During the 7-14 day School of Rock workshop, educators have daily opportunities to conduct geological, physical and/or chemical analyses of sediment and hard-rock cores in laboratories on the ship or at the repository. Scientists who specialize in IODP research instruct participants on topics such as seafloor spreading, mid-ocean ridges, composition and structure of the oceanic crust, paleomagnetism, paleoceanography, biostratigraphy, sedimentology, hydrogeology, and methods for sampling the subseafloor environment. The workshop also provides educators with time to brainstorm and begin planning classroom activities based on their research and newly acquired knowledge. Application deadline: April 7, 2017.

In conjunction with  a team of international colleagues, the ANZIC members have proposed a major regional IODP workshop (SW Pacific, Southern and eastern Indian Oceans) to be held in Sydney in June 2017. The goal of the workshop is to trigger development of new IODP proposals and reinvigorate existing, compelling proposals. The workshop will be an opportunity to entrain a new generation of young scientists to work collaboratively to plan a new phase of ocean drilling in the Australasian region. The workshop will cover all possible IODP platforms, not just the JOIDES Resolution. European-funded alternative platforms are suitable for work in shallow-water reefal areas and on the Antarctic continental shelf. There is considerable optimism that IODP Proposal 871, for the use of the Chikyu to drill deep into the Cretaceous on the Lord Howe Rise, will soon come to fruition and provide strong encouragement for those hoping to use the Chikyu elsewhere in the Australasian region. This workshop is co-funded through a workshop award from the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP), the IODP Program Member Office for the U.S. This special call invites applications from early career researchers (PhD students and post-docs) from U.S. institutions. It is anticipated that 5 to 6 early career researchers can receive travel support to join the workshop. Applications due April 17, 2017.

The 2nd Petrophysics Summer School will provide a unique workshop that will bring together experts from both academia and industry to give training in the theory and practice of petrophysics and, notably its applications across both IODP and industry. It will include lectures, discussion groups, and practical exercises on the different elements and data types used in petrophysical analysis. In addition, basic training in an industry-standard software package, Schlumberger’s Techlog, will form a core part of the school. The European Petrophysics Consortium and its collaborators offer this unique training opportunity for a summer school through the provision of technical and scientific expertise in the fields of downhole logging and core petrophysics. The course is open to applicants from the international community, but applications from early career researchers (including PhD students) are particularly encouraged. For more information and to apply to participate, visit the Petrophysics Summer School webpage. U.S.-affiliated students and researchers may apply for partial travel support through the U.S. Science Support Program. A limited number of travel grants are available. To apply for U.S. travel support, visit the USSSP webpage to submit an online application. Note: Applicants must be accepted to participate in the course itself to receive travel support from USSSP. The deadline to apply for travel support and for the course is March 17, 2017.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is currently accepting applications for Expedition 381 Corinth Active Rift Development aboard a Mission Specific Platform provided by the ECORD Science Operator. To learn more about the scientific objectives of this expedition and the technical plans, please join a web-based seminar on Tuesday, 14 February 2017 at 8:00 am EST (1:00 pm GMT). To participate in the webinar, you need access to the Internet and a computer with a speaker and microphone (optional). To register, click the following link: Exp 381 webinar. The expedition is provisionally scheduled for a maximum of 60 days during October and November, 2017, with only a subset of the science party members participating. Subsequently, an Onshore Science Party will be held at the MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany, in February 2018 (exact dates to be confirmed). All science party members must attend the entire duration of the onshore science party. Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all specialties. While other expertise may be considered, specialists in the following fields are required: paleontology, sedimentology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry, structural geology, paleomagnetics, physical properties, geophysics and petrophysics/downhole logging. For the offshore phase of the expedition, we are particularly looking for the following fields: paleontology, sedimentology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry, physical properties, and petrophysics/downhole logging. U.S.-affiliated scientists interested in participating on this expedition should apply to sail through the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP); please visit http://usoceandiscovery.org/expeditions/. The U.S. deadline to apply is March 13, 2017.

To the IODP and ICDP Communities: Following discussions with the AGU Fall Meeting Program Chair, Denis-Didier Rousseau, a three-year plan (2017-2019) for IODP-ICDP sessions at the AGU has been defined, culminating with the celebration of the AGU Centennial in 2019. We have highlighted three overarching, societally relevant themes that are well aligned with both IODP and ICDP science plan themes. Thesethemes (and examples of topics; identified priorities are underlined) are the following: 1) Georesources, Storage, and Sustainability: 
Unconventional Energy (Supercritical and magma geothermics, EGS, methane and gas hydrates, hydrogen resources and storage), Deep Carbon fluxes and storage and Water resources (Groundwater vs. Seawater). 2) Climate, Environment and Ecosystem:Life in extreme environments: the hidden biosphere, Links between geological and biological systems at depth, Analogs and models of recent climate changes in geological archives, Impact of climate and ocean changes on ecosystems, Impact of Earth processes on Earth’s environment. 3) Geological Hazards:Monitoring and mitigating man-made geohazards? (e.g., induced seismicity, landslides), Hazards in the geological record: from improving risk assessment and prediction of catastrophic events towards mitigation, Underlying mechanisms of geological hazards: faulting, earthquakes, volcanoes, impacts. We seek potential conveners (who must be AGU members) to submit AGU session proposals on these three overarching themes. Please keep us informed so that actions and proposal submissions can be coordinated. The provisional dates of the call for session proposal are February 15th – April 19th, 2017.

To understand the dynamics of onshore-offshore shore hydrologic systems, this IODP- and ICDP-sponsored workshop will focus on the coupling between glacial dynamics, sea-level variations, and groundwater flow for Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA and the U.S. Atlantic continental shelf offshore Martha’s Vineyard. The overall goals of the workshop (May 22-23, 2017; Woods Hole, Massachusetts), are to develop a new operational plan for IODP Proposal 637 and establish an amphibious component of the project to accomplish its science objectives. These goals will be accomplished by (1) developing ideal sampling and measurement plans for geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and microbiology across the shoreline and the shelf; (2) prioritizing onshore and offshore scientific operations including site order and target depths; and (3) formulating specific plans for pursuing external funds for the drilling project. Travel support is available for a limited number of participants through USSSP (for U.S.) and ICDP (for international). For more information, visit the workshop website. The workshop is open to U.S. and international participants and the deadline to apply is February 17, 2017.

In preparation for the 2018 NSF presentation to the National Science Board seeking renewal of the JOIDES Resolution facility (JR), the U.S. IODP scientific community will convene a workshop on September 26-28, 2017 to review and assess the role of the JR in meeting the challenges of the 2013-2023 IODP Science Plan, Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present and Future. This assessment will cover the period beginning with the start of the International Ocean Discovery Program (Expedition 349 in 2014) and include both an inventory of facility accomplishments and an identification of specific Science Plan challenges that require the continued use of the JR to meet. Your input is critical to this effort. If you have sailed on the JR, plan to in the future, or use data acquired on JR expeditions, we ask that you take the time to complete the survey to let us know your experiences, opinions and priorities for the facility. Your candid responses will provide the foundation upon which we can prepare for the 2017 workshop and build a successful case for renewal of the JR facility. Although the final decision on renewal will be made by the U.S. National Science Foundation, we seek input from all users of the JR and its data, both within and outside of the U.S. We anticipate that completing this survey will take 15-30 minutes, depending on the level of detail you wish to provide. To complete the survey, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JR-Community-Survey.

The European Consortium of Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) is now accepting applications from active leading scientists from ECORD and the US to serve as Science Board Members of the ECORD Facility Board, the key forum for planning mission-specific platform (MSP) expeditions operated by ECORD. The primary tasks of the EFB are to: (1) recommend MSP expedition schedules, based on ready-to-drill, high-priority science proposals, optimal geographic distribution and costs; (2) assess the Annual ECORD Plan, including operations schedule, data management, publications, core curation, and scientific technical development; (3) advise on long-term planning of MSP expeditions; (4) participate in ECORD reviews of completed MSP expeditions; and (5) liaise with all major entities of IODP. The EFB meets once a year, usually in early spring. The new EFB members are expected to serve for three years, starting 1 January 2017. Travel costs for EFB-related activities are fully covered by the relevant IODP national funding organizations. Application deadline: December 2, 2016.

The USSSP Onboard Outreach Program (formerly known as the Educator Officer Program) gives formal and informal educators, artists, writers, videographers and other participants the opportunity to spend an entire expedition with an IODP shipboard party and translate their experiences for students and the general public via blogs, videos, social networking sites, live ship-to-shore video events and development of educational resources. Onboard Outreach Program participants are selected through a competitive application and interview process. All expenses for Onboard Outreach Program participants, such as travel to and from the ports of call, and a stipend, are paid by USSSP. The selected individual(s) will also be flown to a three-day training session prior to their expedition. Non-US applicants will be directed to their country’s IODP Program Member Office but are still encouraged to apply. The current deadline to apply is November 2, 2016.

The U.S. Science Support Program is currently accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Schlanger Ocean Drilling Fellowship Program. The Schlanger Fellowship Program offers merit-based awards for outstanding graduate students to conduct research related to the International Ocean Discovery Program. Research may be related to the objectives of past expeditions or it may address broader science themes. Selected fellows will receive an award of $30,000 for a 12-month period that can be used for research, stipend, tuition, or other approved costs. Schlanger Fellowships are open to all graduate students enrolled at U.S. institutions in full-time M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Applications require reference material from two referees, one of which must be the student’s faculty advisor. The submission deadline is December 2, 2016.

Scientific ocean drilling is central to the study of Earth’s climate history, tectonic evolution, and deep biosphere. A large, dynamic, and diverse community is vital to the health of the program; engaging early career scientists in expedition planning and leadership is critical to the future of IODP. For early career scientists who are new to the community, developing an IODP proposal from conception to drilling is a daunting task that can appear insurmountable. The goals of this workshop are to (1) provide early career scientists with direct experience in the IODP proposal process, (2) build an interdisciplinary community of early career researchers that will be able to develop active research programs in coordination with the evolving landscape of ocean drilling research, and (3) develop drilling proposal ideas to investigate the North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, where the JOIDES Resolution is expected to be drilling in FY20-21. Participation support is available for a limited number of graduate students and early career researchers (i.e., completed their PhD within the past 10 years) from U.S. institutions and organizations. The application deadline is November 11, 2016.

The U.S. Science Support Program sponsors Pre-Drilling Activities to provide funds in quick response to an opportunity to acquire data or information that will enhance a drilling expedition. Priority is given to projects that support expeditions already on the ship’s schedule. The definition of this activity is deliberately flexible to allow consideration of exceptional or unusual requests for drill site data enhancement.