​European Petrophysics Consortium (EPC) at the University of Leicester holds a set of replicas of IODP core sections from five significant intervals. The core replicas, commissioned and funded by ECORD and created by the master model makers at KAMYK.PL, are available for short-term loan, free of charge, for educational and outreach use in the UK. These new replicas duplicate the original set of ECORD core replicas, with which members of the UK-IODP community may already be familiar, but being held in the UK, will not be subject to international shipping and customs costs, and the related delays that have sometimes been problematic in the past.

The replica cores are valuable tools for introducing scientific ocean drilling to a wide range of audiences. They could be used for: 

• Hands-on tutorials and lab activities for undergraduate teaching 

• Supporting scientific teaching in schools 

• Display items at science centres and festivals 

• Research events

• Public lectures

• Workshops

Borrowers can request one or more of the cores at any time. Borrowers are asked to consider fair use, and only request as many cores as they require for their purposes.

Core replicas are sent from the University of Leicester by EPC, who cover the cost of transportation to the borrower and transit insurance. Return transportations costs must be covered by the borrower. Upon return of the replicas, borrowers will be asked to write a brief summary describing how they were used, for impact reporting purposes.

For further details about the cores, please contact epc@le.ac.uk

To request a loan, please complete the online form here.