Program News

Ocean Drilling Program

Principals decide principles

It is always a pleasure to be able to report progress, and this summer has seen significant progress in the development of the policies and principles that will guide the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), the future scientific drilling program post-2003. The Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have agreed on a set of principles, which define the relationship between the two agencies with respect to IODP, their joint relationship with future international partners, and the operation of future scientific drilling assets. This important step makes it possible for the providers of the two major physical assets of the program, the ‘Riser capable’ and the ‘non-Riser’ drilling platforms, to properly manage their legal and financial responsibilities. Of even greater significance, the principles allow IODP’s most important asset, the global intellectual capital of all its members, to govern the scientific activities of the future program. This will be executed through a centrally managed structure that will implement the very best science possible as recommended by a single science advisory structure.

The wide ranging principles developed over a period of time by STA and NSF, and agreed to this past August, are contained in a set of four documents: IODP Program Principles, IODP Platform Principles, IODP Membership Principles, and IODP Implementation Principles. These documents form the foundation of the new program. These principles also form a basis for a formal understanding between STA and NSF. The Program Principles state that, first and foremost, IODP is a scientific research program, which is based on international cooperation. It will be guided by a science advisory structure composed of scientists and engineers representing IODP members, and the results of the Program’s scientific and engineering activities will be openly available.

The Platform Principles state that at the core of IODP’s capability will be two vessels: a riser capable platform made available by STA, which will be owned and operated by the Japanese Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC), and the non-riser platform made available by the National Science Foundation. Legal and financial responsibility, including mobilization and platform operation costs, for the riser-capable vessel will reside with Japan and for the non-riser vessel with the United States.

The Platform Principles recognize that access, on an occasional basis, to additional drilling capabilities (beyond the two primary vessels) may be required to meet specific objectives of the science advisory structure. As with the two primary platforms, legal and financial responsibility, including mobilization and platform operation costs of additional drilling platforms, is to reside with the organization that decides to offer this additional capability to the Program. Provision of such a capability will not be considered a contribution in lieu of annual IODP membership contribution. Science operation costs for additional drilling capabilities will, however, be eligible for support from IODP program funds.

The Membership Principles, in addition to defining eligibility, spell out membership rights and responsibilities. The intent is to have IODP membership open to national or government agencies (or their representatives) which have an interest and/or capability in geosciences research, and signing of a memorandum of understanding with STA and NSF based on a 10 year commitment to participate. The financial contribution required for one participation unit has yet to be determined, however, financial contributions from international partners will be co-mingled to support science operation costs. It is understood that STA and NSF will contribute equally to total program cost and acquire additional units necessary to fully support the program.

These principles were agreed to between STA and NSF and then presented to the IWG for consideration and discussion at their fifth meeting this August in Tokyo.

IODP will officially begin on 1 October 2003 at which time membership and implementing agreements will go into effect. The IWG agreed to an Interim Science Advisory Structure (ISAS), which will be organized and begin operating in June 2001 and exist until 1 October 2003, to continue scientific planning for IODP. ISAS will be a joint working group representing JOIDES and the Japanese OD21 Science Advisory Committee with an Interim Planning Committee (IPC) serving as its highest-level committee and management authority. IPC will be co-chaired by the present chairs of IPSC and the OD21-SAC. IPC will encourage the international community to submit drilling proposals for IODP. These will be examined and reviewed by ISAS, however, final evaluation, ranking, and scheduling will be conducted by the formal IODP Science Advisory Committee, which will be established on 1 October 2003. The ISAS committees are expected to meet in conjunction with their equivalent JOIDES committee.

On another note, the riser vessel is under construction and the final piece of the budget for its completion, as announced by JAMSTEC, should be in place by 2001. So, as you can see, a lot has been accomplished over the summer months, but there is a lot more to do.

NSF continues to seek the funds and authorization to implement the new scientific ocean drilling program. In December, the Directorate for Geosciences will inform NSF’s governing body, the National Science Board (NSB), of progress to date. In the spring of 2001, NSF will formally review the finalized science plan produced by IPSC and intends to seek preliminary program approval from the NSB by fall of 2001.

In preparation for NSF’s formal review of the internationally prepared IPSC science plan, NSF has asked USSAC to prepare a companion document reflecting how well the plan meets the U.S. scientific community’s requirements for a future scientific ocean drilling program as reflected in numerous U.S. sponsored workshops and science planning activities.

USSAC is also engaged in a continuing effort, at NSF’s request, to examine and recommend optimal models for the support of U.S. scientists in the future IODP.

Beyond 2001, NSF funding will begin to focus on research and data acquisition required for preparation of drilling proposals in IODP.

Bruce Malfait (bmalfait@nsf.gov)
Paul Dauphin (pdauphin@nsf.gov)
Sheryl Miller (smiller@nsf.gov)