MESSAGE FROM KIYOSHI SUYEHIRO, President & CEO, IODP-MI, May 18, 2009:
"The sixth year into IODP’s 10-year program, we have three scientific drilling platforms of various capabilities in simultaneous operation for the first time. Thanks to all the people who worked hard to make this happen. This is great and I am happy to come to IODP-MI at this time.
Of many matters requiring attention right now, utmost are ‘what can IODP do better?’ and ‘where should we be in the 4-plus years till October 2013?’ Facing fiscal realities we all recognize, we can be pessimistic, optimistic, or noncommittal. Wherever we may fall on that spectrum, we need to recognize our collective responsibility to take wise actions to best achieve our scientific promise and to lead ocean drilling research into its next phase. The INVEST meeting scheduled for Sept. 23-25 emphasizes these priority tasks and provides dedicated time to discuss the future of ocean scientific drilling as a community. INVEST is the opportunity to express our scientific aspirations with all the key players who can help us realize them. I urge each of you to make the effort to attend this important meeting.
IODP, of course, is an international program. In addition to being a multi-platform, multi-disciplinary science program, it is also truly multi-national and multi-cultural. We know that IODP needs to cultivate relationships to national and international projects in order to bring about groundbreaking results where drilling takes an irreplaceable role. We need to embrace openness and seek collaboration with more scientists in wider fields. Strong partnerships will help secure the important role IODP plays in scientific research, and how that role is valued in the fabric of our societies.
Our languages and cultures are unique but the wisdom and values they impart often reveal commonalities. The Bundle of Sticks from Aesop’s Fable, the Lesson of Three Arrows of Medieval Japan, and “E Pluribus Unum” on U.S. coins all point to the same source of strength: unity. At IODP-MI, I aim to unite Earth and Life scientists around the world and deliver the best possible frontier science, as it adheres to the Initial Science Plan. Uniting IODP efforts among all three Implementing Organizations in platform operations, engineering development, and knowledge-base enhancements is a key factor of success. Clearly, this unique international program holds tremendous potential to contribute to society in a fundamental way by providing information and understanding about how Earth Systems are responding to internal and external excitations. IODP’s value far outweighs its expense.
Our business practices must match the rigor we place on our research methodology. To be transparent with each other and externally, we must communicate clearly and constantly. One of my immediate tasks is to unite the two IODP-MI offices into one for more efficient and effective performance, and to better serve the entire IODP community.
We will also aim to increase communications with Implementing Organizations, with the Science Advisory Structure, with the funding agencies, and with IODP-MI members. There are many partners, but we must make the effort to communicate, as well as to expand our network.
