Frequently Asked Questions
How are IODP proposals selected for drilling?
IODP expeditions are developed from hypothesis-driven science proposals aligned with the program's Science Plan Illuminating Earth's Past, Present, and Future and are carried out in accordance with the program's Principles of Scientific Investigation.
Proposals are submitted by the international scientific community to the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP). The international scientists of the SEP evaluate and recommend proposals for drilling. The Environmental Protection and Safety Panel (EPSP) then carries out a site-by-site review of proposed or scheduled IODP expeditions from the point of view of safety and environmental protection.
Proposals are forwarded to the appropriate platorm facility board
Each platform has a Facility Board to determine which proposals are drilled. The Facility Board considers science priority, resources, ship track efficiency, risks, etc. The Facitlity Borads consists of international scientists, funding agencies and facility operators.
IODP Structure (diagram courtesy of R.M.Coggon)
SCIENTIFIC OCEAN DRILLING ACRONYMS
ADP – Amphibious Drilling Proposal
APC – Advanced Piston Corer
BGS – British Geological Survey
CDEX – Center for Deep Earth Exploration
CIB – Chikyu IODP Board
COL – Consortium for Ocean Leadership
CORK – Circulation Obviation Retrofit Kit
DLP – Distinguished Lecturer Program
DSDP – Deep Sea Drilling Project
20ECORD – European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling
EEC – ECORD Evaluation Committee
EFB – ECORD Facilities Board
EMA – ECORD Managing Agency
EPC – European Petrophysics Consortium (University of Leicester)
EPSP – Environmental Protection & Safety Panel
ESO – ECORD Science Operator
ESSAC – ECORD Science Support & Advisory Committee
HLAPC – Half-Length Advance Piston Corer
HRT – Hydraulic Release Tool
JAMSTEC – Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
J-DESC – Japan Drilling Earth Science Consortium
JR – RV JOIDES Resolution
JRFB – JOIDES Resolution Facilities Board
JRSO – JOIDES Resolution Science Operator
ICDP – International Continental Scientific Drilling Program
IODP – Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (2003-2013); International Ocean Discovery Program (2014-2024)
MARUM - Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften (Bremen University)
MEXT – Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
MSP – Mission Specific Platform
NSF – National Science Foundation (USA)
ODP – Ocean Drilling Program
PMO – Program Member offices
PSS – Petrophysics Summer School
SaDR – Sample and data Requests Database
SEDIS – Scientific Earth Drilling System
SEP – Science Evaluation Panel
SSDB – Site Survey Data Bank
TAMU – Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)
UK-IODP PAG – UK-IODP Program Advisory Group
XCB – Extended Core Barrel