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IODP E-News Special Edition |
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 | | | * SPECIAL EDITION * SPECIAL EDITION * SPECIAL EDITION * |
| Leadership changes in the IODP USIO announced today Message from Dean Kjerfve at Texas A&M Research Foundation
Dear IODP Colleagues:
On 18 June, I met with scientists and staff at 1000 Discovery Drive and announced leadership changes at IODP, which had been vetted with our USIO Alliance partners (Consortium for Ocean Leadership and LDEO), submitted to NSF, and approved and supported by the Provost and President of Texas A&M University. I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Jeff Fox and Dr. Jack Baldauf for their leadership to scientific ocean drilling, IODP, and Texas A&M University for the past 13 and 20 years of service, respectively, and I am sure you will join me in thanking them for their many contributions to scientific ocean drilling and the research community.
Effective immediately, I have appointed an IODP Transition Leadership Team to serve 18 June-31 July 2008. It consists of: Dr. Mitch Malone - Acting Director of Science Operations; Dr. Ethan Grossman - Acting Deputy Director of Science Operations; Ms. Ann Klaus - Deputy Director of Data Services (who thus continues in her present role); and Dr. Jay Miller - Acting SODV Project Manager. The team will work closely with our USIO Alliance partners, and for the next six weeks Drs. Sean Higgins, David Divins, and Dave Goldberg will alternately be in College Station to help with the transition. The team will also work closely with Dr. Jack Baldauf in his role as resource consultant, Bill Wasson, Vice President for Special Programs TAMRF, and Guy Bear, TAMRF manager in Singapore who provides the primary interface to ODL during the SODV phase.
On 1 August 2008, I have negotiated with Dr. Steve Bohlen to become Interim Director of Science Operations at IODP/TAMU and serve in that role until approximately 31 May 2009. Dr. Bohlen has been charged to develop a new vision and structure for IODP, work closely with the USIO Alliance partners and the drilling community, build academic bridges, and position IODP/TAMU to take advantage of current and future research opportunities in climate change, sea-level rise, energy security and other relevant national issues and start planning for ocean science drilling beyond 2013. Late in 2008 or early in 2009, Texas A&M will advertise internationally for a new and permanent Director of Science Operations at IODP. The present challenge remains to (1) complete the SODV successfully; (2) resume ocean drilling operations in Canterbury Basin by mid November, follow by Wilkes Land and other expeditions; and (3) engage commercial partners to use the JOIDES Resolution for ~4 months per year as a means of cost-sharing.
With best regards,
Björn Kjerfve, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Geosciences & Professor of Oceanography Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A. |
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