NanTroSEIZE coring operations are ongoing. The third expedition of Stage One operations of the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) is underway. The Chikyu arrived on location at site C0006 (proposed NT1-03B) on Dec. 27. Site C0006, proposed as Site NT1-03B, targets the main frontal thrust at the seaward edge of the accretionary wedge. The scientific objectives of drilling at Site C0006 are to clarify the function of the frontal thrust with respect to large earthquakes, investigate the evolution of this thrust fault and the relationship between fault slip and deformation. Recovery has been excellent in finer grained sediments. In situ temperature measurements are currently being evaluated.
Expedition 318 will focus on the Pliocene-Pleistocene paleoceanography and climate history of the Bering Sea. The expedition’s co-chief scientists are Kozo Takahashi of Kyushu University, Japan, and Ana Christina Ravelo of University of California, Santa Cruz. The expedition is currently scheduled to sail in July 08. Find the prospectus online at http://publications.iodp.org/scientific_prospectus/318/ The expedition web page is at http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/bering_sea.html
JOI Learning, the U.S education program centered on scientific ocean drilling, has changed its name. Since becoming part of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, JOI Learning has evolved into the Deep Earth Academy. In collaboration with CDEX, the Deep Earth Academy has initiated “Ask-a-Scientist,” a web-based learning opportunity linked to IODP Expedition 316 (see news above). Designed for elementary through high school students, “Ask-a-Scientist” explains the third NanTroSEIZE expedition in simple terms and invites students to submit their questions. Share “Ask-a-Scientist” with budding scientists in your own community: Check it out by surfing to the New Visitors page of the IODP web portal, or visit www.oceanleadership.org/learning/askascientist. This feature is continuously updated as new answers are uploaded from Exp. 316 science party members.
Deep Earth Academy’s newest staff member is Teacher Fellow Lynne Pacunas. Lynne recently visited Pennsylvania State University to present information to primary school students about ocean drilling science in a special on-campus program called “Shake, Rattle & Rock.” Lynne presented a learning activity to 75 pupils on paleomagnetism, an activity written by a School of Rock alumnus from 2007. Find Deep Earth Academy at its new web address, www.oceanleadership.org/learning for more information.
The first international lecture series on scientific ocean drilling, DRILLS, begins Feb. 2008, in France. Three speakers, Ted Moore of University of Michigan, Yoshiyuki Tatsumi of IFREE/JAMSTEC, and Bo Barker Jørgensen of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany, will split up and tour 11 countries in Asia, Europe, and North America to participate as IODP’s first speakers in the Distinguished Researcher & International Leadership Lecture Series. The lecture series is supported by IODP-MI and hosted by numerous IODP partner institutions. The full schedule of lectures (full color downloadable pdf), all cost-free to attend, is posted online, with information about each of the distinguished lecturer’s topics. See www.iodp.org/drills.
IODP has generated a good deal of media attention since it began operating in 2004. In addition, many IODP partners create news "buzz" nationally and regionally. And many more articles—editorials and features—focus on subjects related to scientific ocean drilling and issues important to the discipline. All this ink is routinely monitored in the mass and special-interest media, is collected and collated into Weekly News Updates posted online, and which now form impressive archives of media coverage for IODP. A link has been added to the Scientists’ Page of the IODP web portal, under the Resources section to help you access the archives and stay abreast of the coverage. Click on www.iodp.org/weekly-news-clippings to peruse the latest program news.
The International Geological Congress, known as IGC 33, is scheduled for Oslo, Norway, from August 6-14, 2008. During the first week of the meeting (Aug. 6-10), a symposium on scientific drilling will be held, jointly supported by IODP and ICDP. Scientists worldwide are encouraged to submit abstracts for the symposium and to participate in oral and poster sessions. The scientific drilling symposium will highlight IODP and ICDP projects over the last four years that have made significant contributions to the understanding of Earth structure, climate change, and environmental evolution. These projects have required drilling and novel experimentation in locations that include the Arctic, coral reefs, meteorite impact craters, fault zones, and fast-spreading oceanic crust. Abstracts will be reviewed for acceptance by Manik Talwani (IODP-MI), Susan Humphris (IODP/SASEC), and Uli Harms (ICDP). Abstracts should be submitted through the IGC 33 web site by Feb. 29, 2008, at 24:00. Click here for submission page. Please specify that your abstract is for Scientific Drilling, code SDD-01.
To see a program chart that illustrates all the elements of the IGC 33 scientific program click here.
2007 proved to be a very successful year for the launch of the IODP-MI engineering development proposal submission and review process. Several proposals were selected for inclusion into IODP’s 2009 draft Annual Program Plan. The second season for engineering development proposal submission is now underway. IODP-MI will be accepting proposals for FY 2010 funding consideration until April 15, 2008. Targets for technology development within IODP are listed in the IODP Technology Roadmap and in the one-page list of higher-priority developments identified during the July 2007 Engineering Development Panel meeting, downloadable at www.iodp.org/eng-dev. Prospective proponents are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible to benefit from the proposal nurturing process integrated into the submission and review procedure. Proposal submission guidelines, processes, templates, and online submission service can all be accessed from www.iodp.org/eng-dev.
If you have questions on any aspect of the engineering development proposal generation, including submission, routing, review, or implementation, please contact Greg Myers,
; or Kelly Oskvig,
. It is recommended that proponents contact IODP-MI as early as possible to discuss their proposal and ensure that the idea is within the purview of IODP-MI.
Please note the following additions to IODP-MI staff: Colleen Cox joins IODP-MI as Executive Assistant. Colleen earned a degree in Communications from Catholic University, Washington, DC. A former early childhood educator, Colleen’s nonprofit experience includes several years at the International Center for Journalists.
. Raesah Et’Tawil joins the DC office as Program Assistant. Raesah earned a BA at the University of South Alabama where she studied public and international relations. Her most recent work experience was at Norton Lilly International, the largest shipping agency in North America.
. Jackie Gosby is the new Finance and Administrative Officer. Jackie earned an MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. As a certified public accountant, she has served at a number of DC-based nonprofit organizations, including American Farmland Trust and Special Olympics.
. Hiromi Ishizuka joins IODP-MI in Sapporo as Executive Administrative Assistant. Hiromi-san graduated from Nihon University, Tokyo, and has worked in public administration in Japan, in translation services, and at a travel company in British Columbia, Canada.
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Young photographers, ages 15 to 20, are urged to enter the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) Photography Contest sponsored by UNESCO’s International Geoscience Programme (IGCP). The contest’s theme, “The Changing Face of the Earth,” aims to raise awareness of the state of the planet. The deadline for photo entries is Jan. 31, 2008. Shutterbugs will compete for 40 prizes. Each winning entry will receive a copy of two UNESCO books: Explaining the Earth and The Changing Face of the Earth. Details about how to submit an entry are www.unesco.org/science/photo_contest_entry_details.shtml.
From February 2007 to December 2009, IYPE explores new and exciting ways Earth science can help future generations meet global challenges. IYPE is a joint initiative by UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences. For more information on IYPE, visit http://yearofplanetearth.org/index.html.
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IODP E-News is a bimonthly publication of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International (IODP-MI). It is produced and distributed by IODP-MI for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program under the sponsorship of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Ministry of Culture, Education, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, and other participating countries. Its content is based upon research supported under NSF Contract OCE-0432224.
