IODP (2013-2023)
The International Ocean Discovery Program is currently being planned and is scheduled to start in October 2013 and to last for 10 years.
The new program’s science plan, Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present, and Future, addresses pressing scientific priorities and social concerns with four themes: Climate and Ocean Change, Biosphere Frontiers, Earth Connections and Earth in Motion. The full version and a summary of the plan published in mid-2011 is available at: http://www.iodp.org/Science-Plan-for-2013-2023/
The scientific goals of the science plan require access to two permanent drilling platforms, the US- supplied JOIDES Resolution and the Japanese riser-vessel Chikyu, and the option to charter mission-specific platforms for operations in environments where specialized platforms are required.
Related to this initiative, a new Science Advisory Structure (SAS) was formed by October 1st 2011 to guide the scientific, technological and engineering aspects of the current IODP, ending in September 2013, as well as the new Program, from October 2013.
IODP-Management International (IODP-MI) is responsible for continuous scientific planning for the current program and a seamless transition into the post 2013 program.
Framework for the International Ocean Discovery Program
Messages to the IODP Community - Planning for the New Program
An open letter of August 19 from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to the community stated that the structure of the new drilling program post 2013 needs to meet certain fiscal realities, which conflict with the currently planned program structure. The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) issued a position paper responding to this new situation on September 1, and the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) Management Agency (EMA) distributed a message to the community to explain their position regarding the general goals of a new program.
Additional open letters related to the future of scientific ocean drilling from Funding Agencies, Program Member Offices, Member Institutions, IOs, and IODP-MI will be posted here as they are released.
NSF Community IODP Letter August 19, 2011
EMA Message to ECORD Community August 31, 2011
MEXT Position Paper September 1, 2011
Community Letter from IODP-MI September 2, 2011
Letter from USAC Chair September 7, 2011
J-DESC Letter to Community September 16, 2011
IWG+ Message to the Community November 15, 2011
NSF Letter to Community June 2012
Letter to the ECORD Science Community February 2013
