Program Update: Integrated Ocean Drilling Program – September 2012
Earlier this month, the scientific drillship Chikyu drilled and collected samples from more than 2400 meters beneath the seafloor – setting a new world record for scientific ocean drilling – during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 337 (Deep Coalbed Biosphere off Shimokita). The previous record of 2111 meters was set by the JOIDES Resolution in 1993 during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 148. The Shimokita expedition, which concluded in late September, aimed to study the co-evolution of life and hydrocarbon systems in the marine subsurface by studying the microbiology, ecology, and geology of a buried Eocene lignite coalbed. Supported in part by the Strategic Fund for Strengthening Leading-edge Research and Development from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), it is the first IODP expedition developed from a complementary project proposal. For more information, please visit the Expedition 337 website.
The summer 2012 issue of Core Discoveries, the newsletter for U.S. scientific ocean drilling, is now available online. The issue discusses the National Science Board’s approval for the continued operations and management of the JOIDES Resolution, outcomes from the Building U.S. Strategies for 2013-2023 Scientific Ocean Drilling Workshop, new developments in downhole measurement tools, research and expedition highlights, and recent School of Rock workshops. If you are interested in subscribing to the print edition of the newsletter, please send an email with your mailing address to mwright@oceanleadership.org.
To better serve the scientific ocean drilling community, IODP Publication Services is seeking user feedback on the drilling program’s scientific publications. If you have accessed IODP publications – particularly the Proceedings of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program – your input will be highly valuable to help shape future publication efforts. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey. The questions ask for your feedback about the features and functionality currently offered, as well as your suggestions for improvement. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes, and will remain open until October 31, 2012 – but your early response is appreciated.
