Overview

In 2011, the scientific ocean drilling community published a science plan for the International Ocean Discovery Program. The document, representing the goals of the international community, lays out an ambitious set of scientific challenges for the next 10 years of subseafloor exploration and research. The U.S. scientific community is now developing its goals within the science plan’s international framework and developing priorities among the scientific challenges, as recommended by the National Research Council.

Process

The U.S. community is developing its strategies and priorities with direct input provided by scientists through an online survey and an in-person workshop.

The online survey was held online from December 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012.  It is essential component to the planning process, as it was developed to assess the scientific interests, collaborations, and research directions of the overall U.S. scientific ocean drilling community. The survey results were key to selecting workshop participants who could represent the U.S. community and in developing the workshop agenda and focus areas.

The Building U.S. Strategies workshop will take place in Denver, Colorado, from April 30, 2012 to May 2, 2012. The goals of this process are to establish mechanisms for prioritizing the challenges outlined in the 2013-2023 Science Plan, ensure high-quality drilling proposals are submitted to the program, focus on timely research challenges, and seek new and innovative ways to illuminate Earth’s past, present and future. Workshop Framework

Participation

All U.S. scientists with an interest in scientific ocean drilling or the results thereof were encouraged to complete the online survey before January 31, 2012. Participants for the workshop were selected from the survey responses to assure that the experiences, institutions, disciplines, and research areas were well represented.

Meeting Documents

Workshop Agenda
Breakout Group Charges
Participant List

Background Resources

Active IODP Drilling Proposals
2013-2023 IODP Science Plan and Science Plan Summary
Past Workshops: USSSP Supported and IODP-MI Supported

Steering Committee

Anthony Koppers (co-chair), Oregon State University
Liz Screaton (co-chair), University of Florida
Susan Humphris, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Gabe Filippelli, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
Andy Fisher, University of California, Santa Cruz
Donna Blackman, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
David Smith, University of Rhode Island
Debbie Thomas, Texas A&M University