J-DESC 3JNEWSESSCVol.

Japan Drilling Earth Science Consortium--The J-DESC Core School: Developing human resources
to fill the ranks of young earth science researchers ーーー 1----Basic Core Analysis Courseー ーーーーーーーーーーーー 2----Core Isotope Analysis Course----Core Description Expert Course----Micropaleontology Courseーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 3----TATSCAN Non-destructive Analysis Course----Paleomagnetics Course ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 4

NEWSJapan Drilling Earth Science Consortium Newletter Vol. 3
Issue: November 1, 2009

2009----Logging Basic Course----Chikyu Onboard Research Schoolーーーーーーーーーー 5----ICDP Training Course--Support for Japan-based participants in IODPーーーーー 6--Book Review: The 0.1-millimeter time machine by Itsuki
Sutoー ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 7--IODP SAS Panel Members (April 2008 to May 2009)--J-DESC Annual Schedule (April 2009 to March 2010)--Map of J-DESC Member Organizations

The J-DESC Core School: Developing human resources
to fill the ranks of young earth science researchers
The J-DESC Core School opened in 2007 is
one of several approaches taken by J-DESC
to develop young researchers in drilling earthscience. Besides teaching and enhancing
research skills and measuring techniques,
its objectives are to broaden the researcher
base and provide opportunities for member
organizations to interact. The J-DESC Core
School offers a variety of courses ranging
from introductory courses teaching the basic
skills required for core analysis to more
specialized courses providing applied skills.
To promote active participation in the Core
School, J-DESC contributes up to 10,000 yen
to the travel expenses of all participating
students of member organizations.
Good results were achieved up to now withthe following courses:
・ Core analysis basic course
・ Core isotope analysis course
・ Core description expert course
・ TATSCAN non-destructive analysis course
・ Micropaleontology course
・ Paleomagnetics course
・ Logging basic course
J-DESC also organized and handled
applications for the Chikyu Onboard
Research School sponsored by the Center for

Deep Earth Exploration(CDEX), and the
ICDP Training course
offered by the German
Research Center
for Geosciences,I n t e r n a t i o n a lContinental Scientific
Drilling Program. In
the future, J-DESC will
expand its scope byadding new courses
and other activities
to provide a broader
coverage of the many
fields related to earth Photo at Chikyu Onboard Research School on 2008.
science.
In this 3rd editionof the J-DESC newsletter, we would like tobe organized within the framework of theintroduce you to the courses held up to now
J-DESC Core School.
by the J-DESC Core School, one of J-DESC’s
Further information such as the date for filingkey approaches to the development of young
applications for enrollment in the courses
researchers, and let you listen to the voices
will be posted on the J-DESC website (www.
of those who participated in these courses.
j-desc.org) and will be sent to those on the
Please also note that, in addition to the
Earth Drilling Science Mailing List. Pleasecourses held so far, J-DESC is always willing
contact the J-DESC Secretariat (info@j-desc.
to examine proposals on lectures/coursesorg) if you would like to enroll in the J-DESC
related to drilling earth science that canCore School or propose a new course.

J-DESC Mailing List
The J-DESC Secretariat maintains mailing lists related to IODP,
ICDP, micropaleontology and the Mohole Project, which it uses todisseminate and share information as necessary. For inclusion inthese mailing lists, please e-mail the J-DESC support（info@j-desc.

org), indicating 1. your e-mail address, 2. name, 3. affiliation, and 4.
the mailing list(s) you wish to be added to (make the subject of youre-mail: Earth Drilling Science Mailing List).

3

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8

J-DESC NEWS 2009
Core Analysis Basic Course

Minoru Ikehara
Advanced Marine Core Research Center, Kochi University

The core analysis basic course, theof the world, both with the unaided eye andcontinental drilling core. Up to now, more
cornerstone of the Core Analysis School
under the microscope, Since the Kochi Core
than 100 young researchers and students
started in 2006, provides an introduction toCenter, the school venue, serves both ashave participated in the courses and arecore analysis techniques. Its objectives are
IODP repository and as analysis base mainly
now practically applying their newly gained
to offer students an opportunity to learn,
for core samples, young researchers andknowledge and techniques to their respective
through lectures and practical training, in a
students can also get a virtual experience
research tasks.
systematic manner as is rarely offered by aof the core flow onboard the Chikyu or theuniversity curriculum, how to macroscopically
JOIDES Resolution and the flow of analyzingclassify the lithofacies of core samples,
prepare and view smear slides, and perform
non-destructive measurements
using a multi-sensor core logger andspectrophotometer. Practical training
is designed to let students observe
the variations of sediment in core real
samples collected in the Sea of Japan,
as well as different types of sedimentcore from the seafloor of other parts
Smear Slides being
Participants larning basic Group photo on March 2009
prepared by participantsvisual core description

Core Isotope Analysis Course
The core isotope analysis course
aims to provide small groups of postgraduate students (including thoseslated to enter graduate school in
April) with applicable technical skills inisotope analysis of geochemical samples
a n d i n c o r e a n a l y s i s . T h e va r i o u s
isotopic compositions of geochemical
samples are put to wide use in datingbased on variations in the origin of
their constituent materials, and in theenvironment and processes leading to
the formation of sediment. To be able
to apply this method, however, it isnecessary to acquire
analytical techniques andknow-how, in addition
to textbook knowledge.
This course is designed
to teach the skills
necessary to analyze
actual samples using the
Kochi Core Center’s highprecision isotope analysis equipment,
including preprocessing of samples
using specialized equipment, operationof various equipment systems, andevaluation and analysis of data. We

Core Description Expert Course

Hiroyuk i Kikuta
Kochi Institute on Core Reserach, JAMSTEC

Snapshot in the course

are waiting for enthusiastic graduate
students and researchers to participate
in this course.

Tatsuhiko Sakamoto
JAMSTEC

This course is designed to provide
p r e - c r u i s e t ra i n i n g t o p r o s p e c t i ve
onboard scientists who plan to apply
for IODP expeditions. The first course,
targeting mainly sedimentologists whose
participation in an IODP expedition had
been approved, whose applications toparticipate as onboard scientists werebeing processed, and who wished to join
as onboard scientists in the near future,
was a special 3-day training course
dealing with onboard description of coresamples (Visual Core Description: VCD)
and was held from March 19 to 21, 2008
at the Kochi Core Center. There were atotal of 15 participants. As part of theassistance rendered to onboard scientists,
J-DESC provided approved participants inan IODP expedition with full participationand travel expenses.
The course consisted of a combinationof lectures and practical training andclosed with a presentation meeting inEnglish. The following lectures wereo f f e r e d : “ To b e a s e d i m e n t o l o g i s t
onboard”, “Using smear slides to observe
sediment and classify lithofacies”, “Anintroduction to Corelyzer”, “IODP core
curation and handling of legathy cores”,“Preparation of core summary andidentification of lithofacies units”, “Thework of an onboard sedimentologist – byexample of Exp. 303”, “Core strata andcorrection of structural orientation”, “Coredescription onboard the Chikyu and useof J-CORES”, "Role of research section
onboard the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel
Chikyu”, “Improve your English skills”,“Methods of stratigraphic correlation”, and“Integrated logging of core samples andboreholes”. As part of practical training,participants formed groups of 2 to 3 byexpedition and practiced on real core
specimens how to examine lithofacies andsmear slides. To prepare them for onboard
VCD, they received practical training in

preparing VCD schemes, VCD procedure,
terminology, viewing of smear slides,
assigning lithological names, preparationof core and site summaries, etc. Practicaltraining further included training in thebasics of core description using IODP
legathy cores, sampling of legathy cores
under guidance of the IODP curator
to collect specimens for smear slides,
learning how to assign lithological names
based on representative smear slides,
time trial training in core description
within a fixed period of time, andpreparation of lithological summaries (coresummaries). Practical training concluded
with data analysis, report preparation, etc.
within the framework of an onboard site
summary meeting. At the meeting, eachgroup summarized its practical training
and measurement results and announced
these in English at a presentation meetingand subsequent Q&A session.

3

Micropaleontology Course

Noritoshi Suzuki
Tohoku University

real specimens according to the motto

were given a chance to observe real

wa s t o t ra i n s t u d e n t s a n d n o v i c e s“Seeing is believing”.

This was a rare

specimens to enrich their understanding

interested in microfossils, as well as

chance to attend content-based lecturesof taxonomic groups. During the morning

researchers in micropaleontology togiven by leading researchers in the field.

of the third day, there was special lab

carry out research work onboard IODP

It was moreover an opportunity to take a

training and a Q&A session. We hope thatvessels. The microfossil course had its

look at top grade specimens from Tohoku

when students and researchers are backbeginnings in the J-DESC sponsored

University’s microfossil collection. The

in their respective organizations, they

Microfossil Summer School held in 2004,

course covered three days of lectures andwill be able to explain to others whatand since the J-DESC Core School waspractical training in the lab. The number

they have learned, for example, what an

set up, the Microfossil Course and theof participants was limited to aroundXX microfossil actually is. In cooperation

Microfossil Summer School have been

12 to 15 persons per taxon to ensurewith about a dozen micropaleontolgists

held in parallel, with Tohoku and Akita

that each researcher has full use of thefrom all over Japan, the school offered

universities as venue. 2009 marked

facilities. On the morning of the first day,the opportunity to study foraminifera,

the third year of the Microfossil Course.

participants were given a basic lecture on

calcareous nannofossils, radiolaria,

Special about this course was thattaxonomic groups and on how research indiatoms and ostracoda. Discussions are

students were exposed to team teaching

micropaleontology ties in with the work

currently in progress as to the possibility

by experts called in for the purpose, andof the IODP. Starting in the afternoon andof letting different universities take turns

were given an opportunity to practice oncontinuing on the second day, students

in hosting the school.

The objective of the microfossil course

Man-to-man style lecture by specialists

Snapshot in the course

TATSCAN Non-destructive
Analysis Course
This course was co-sponsored with
JAMSTEC’s Institute for Research on
Earth Evolution, Past Global Changes
Research Program, and held at the lattervenue from June 20 to 22, 2007. Its
main objective was to familiarize small
groups of participants with the principles
and methods of, and impart basic knowhow in non-destructive analysis of seabedsediment core, core samples, etc. usingstate-of-the-art analyzing equipment.
The course, targeted at Chikyu onboard
researchers and engineers as well asother researchers, engineers, graduate
students and students engaged in orinterested in non-destructive analysis,
had six participants. The lecturers
w e r e Ta t s u h i k o S a k a m o t o , Ko i c h i

Iijima, and Yuko Sugano (JAMSTEC).
The course consisted of lectures andpractical training. The lectures covereds u b j e c t s f r o m b a s i c t o a d va n c e d
non-destructive core analysis andequipment development, operationof an X-ray fluorescence core logger
and sample preparation, etc. Practicaltraining included various quantitative
experiments using the preparedspecimens, and evaluation experiments
to show the influence of water content
on quantitative X-ray fluorescenceanalysis. In addition, specimens brought
in by the participants were subjected tovarious analyses such as non-destructive
analysis of alterations in granite core,
analysis of element distribution on the

Tatasuhiko Sakamoto
JAMSTEC

surface of stalactite, and analysis ofelemental distribution, color distribution
and structural distribution in freshwaterlake core. Practical training concluded
with everyone announcing the results of
their measurements followed by a Q&A
session, and the writing of reports wasgiven as homework.

J-DESC NEWS 2009
Paleomagnetics Course
As IODP considers paleomagnetic
measurements an important part oft h e n o n - d e s t r u c t i ve m e a s u r e m e n t
routine, any expedition will definitely
have researchers in this field onboard.
The first thing expected of an onboard
paleomagnetics researcher is todetermine the magnetostratigraphyof core. The next steps are to developa r e s e a r c h s t ra t e g y b a s e d o n t h emeasurement results obtained onboard,t a ke s a m p l e s u s i n g U - c h a n n e l s o r
the like, and follow this up by more

Snapshot on August 2008

detailed research on land. On an
expedition where sediment is cored,
core sections are measured while
being moved through the pass-throughsuperconducting magnetometer (SQUID)
installed onboard. Different frommeasuring individual samples (cubesamples), performing pass-throughmeasurements on core sections andU-channels and interpreting the results
poses certain challenges, which requirea fair amount of knowledge. For thisreason, the foremost objective of thepaleomagnetics course was to impart theknowledge required for onboard researchby training students in paleomagnetic
measurement at the Kochi Core Centerusing the same pass-through SQUID
system as is installed on the Chikyu andJOIDES Resolution drilling vessels. At
the same time, the Kochi Core Centerboasts state-of-the-art equipment formeasuring rock magnetism, including
a low temperature magnetic property
measurement system (MPMS) anda v i b ra t i n g s a m p l e m a g n e t o m e t e r(VMS), which it is hoped will be usedToshitsugu Yamazaki
Geological Survey of Japanafter expeditions for joint research andachieving results. Course participants
were also trained in the basic use of thisequipment and what it can be used for.
The course, a three-day school for
novice students and other young talentinterested in paleomagnetics, comprised
lectures delivered by a number ofexperts and training in measuring actual
samples, and is planned to be held
every other year (next in the summerof 2010). It is hoped that the course
w i l l m o t i va t e s t u d e n t s a n d y o u n g
researchers to take up onboard andmarine core research within the IODP
framework.

Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)

Logging Basic Course
OutlineYa s u y u k i N a k a m u ra
ORI, the University of Tokyo

The introductory logging course deals
with geophysical logging, a method
used to obtain rock property values,for example, when the core recovery
rate is low. Its objective is to introduce
students to the basics of logging by
providing them with basic knowledge ofthe tools and measuring methods usedin standard logging, and letting them
practice data analysis using real dataand software.The first school session
held for two days in July 2008 had 12
participants, the majority of them postgraduate students.It is planned tocontinue this program on a once-a-yearbasis.

Hisashi Oiwane

Attendance report
On July 26-27, 2008, the J-DESC Core
School’s two-day introductory logging
c o u r s e wa s h e l d a t t h e Yo ko h a m a
Research Institute of JAMSTEC. As I am
researching seismic reflection for mydoctoral course, logging was of greatinterest to me, so I decided to join
instantly when I heard of this course
being held.
During the tightly packed two-day
schedule, I filled a 1-cm thick notebook
with lecture notes.The lectures givenby the dedicated team of lecturers took
place in an enthusiastic atmosphere,accompanied by frequent questions fromthe participants as well as comments byother lecturers.
In the afternoon of both days,
participants formed groups of 3 to 4
to practice reading in and interpretingdata.Using data obtained by ODP and
IODP, the participants made extensive
use of the knowledge they had justSnapshot of the course

Snapshot of presentation



The University of Tokyo

gained and took on the challenge ofdata interpretation. Each group, latchedon to a lecturer, and while asking
plenty of questions, was preparing
for the research presentation meetingscheduled at the end of the course.
On the evening of the first day,an informal get-together was held.
Nearly everyone attended, and after
discussing a wide range of topics, theassembled participants and lecturers
quickly warmed up to each other. With
everyone having loosened up, evenmore questions were asked during thelectures and practical training sessions
on the following day, lending the venue
a lively academic atmosphere.
At the research presentation meetingscheduled at the end of the course,a spirited debate took place, while
the audience and lecturers wereasking pointed questions. Following
the meeting, each participant washanded a certificate of completion.
The two days of the course flew by
quickly, but participants were able toboth acquire a lot of knowledge andenjoy the fascinating aspects of logging
t o t h e f u l l e s t , m a k i n g t h i s a ve r ysatisfying experience. I would definitely
be interested in an intermediate(advanced?) course if one were to beoffered in the future.

3

Reporting on the Chikyu Onboard
Research School
I had become engaged in a generalproject investigating submarine
volcanoes in my third year at university.
The senior researchers around me being
specialized in ocean floor geotectonics,“I’d like to get onboard the Chikyu"
naturally often was a hot topic when
discussing future survey plans. In thiskind of environment, I myself started
thinking that one day I’d like to getonboard the Chikyu and see with myown eyes what kind of super-ship thisis.That’s why I decided on the spot tojoin when I saw the invitation to apply
for the Onboard Research School.
In the short period of only three days,
the course offered all kinds of practicaltraining that turned out to be a richand rewarding experience, especiallyfor having a chance to do analyses in afield other than my own. What kind of
information can be derived from multiple

analyses of the same data carried out
by different people? What conclusions
can be drawn from a comprehensive
discussion of this information? –Although I did my research work in myown field of specialty, this course helped
me to realize my role within the teamand how my field of specialty ties in withthe overall project.
I was also very surprised at how muchconsideration had been given to all
aspects of the training process from theequipment layout to the technicians who
participated in the work, to make surethat research would proceed smoothlyand systematically. The Chikyu, I felt,
offers everything one needs to pursue
effective scientific study. I am convincedthat this was a valuable experience thatwill help me in the future to become afull-fledged onboard researcher and do
research work on an interdisciplinary

Ayu Takahashi
The University of Tokyoteam.
I would like to thank the team at
J-DESC and all the others involvedin this effort for making this valuable
opportunity possible.

Group photo of participants

Introduction to the ICDP Training
Course and Attendance Report

Kentaro Omura

National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention

One important pillar of the activitiesof the ICDP (International Scientific
Drilling Program) is to invite participantsfrom the ICDP member countries toattend annual training courses. The
intent of these courses is to teachthe fundamentals of drilling related
techniques and methods, and introduce
the different technical terms usedby scientists and drilling engineers
at the drill site in order to minimize
communication problems, thus laying
the groundwork for successful scientificdrilling and achieving of maximum
results. Through lectures and field trips,
the training courses aim to provide a
better understanding of drilling andmeasuring techniques used in scientificdrilling, as well as data interpretation. In
the interest of practical experience, thecourses are sometimes integrated withan ICDP drilling project in progress andheld near a drill site. The ICDP Training
Course is open not only to scientists
and engineers in charge of drilling
projects, but also welcomes those whowill be planning drilling projects in the
future. The responsible organization for
the training course is the Operational
Support Group of ICDP (OSG). The
program itself is free, and the OSG also
subsidizes travel and accommodation
expenses.
Let me share with you some of myexperiences from participating in lastyear’s course. The course was heldat the former drill site of the German
deep drilling project KTB (Kontinentales
Tiefbohrprogramm (Continental Deep
Drilling Program)). Although the project
itself is completed, the drilling rig wasleft standing and the KTB GEO Center(Geo-Zentrum an der KTB, http://www.
geozentrum-ktb.de/) has been using
the drilling well for research purposes,
including water injection experiments,
and turned the site into a base foreducational, public relations andpromotional activities. The five-day
schedule was filled with lectures, using
mostly slides, to deal with subjects suchas drilling technology, mud circulation
technology, borehole measurements
and interpretation, borehole stability,
hydraulic testing, analysis of cores andcuttings, and data management in a
concrete manner that gave participants
the feeling of actually being at thedrill site. We also took a field trip to adrill site where a project todevelop geothermal energy
using the latest type of rig
is underway, and where wewere overwhelmed by thesheer power of super-deep
drilling.
The most importantcharacteristic of the ICDP
Training Course is that it
takes an overall approachto everything one needs toknow to participate in a real

drilling project, from proposing a projectto drilling related technologies andmeasurements, and all the way to data
management. The fact that this course
has been held annually ever since
foundation of the ICDP makes one sense
the passion with which the ICDP views
heritage, education and enlightenment
in the field of drilling related technology.
On the Japanese side, it is J-DESC whichis inviting and organizing participants.
There were also many participants fromJapan, and I hope that ever more willtake advantage of this kind of valuable
opportunity to swell the ranks of peopleinterested in and becoming active in thefield of scientific drilling.
Further details about this training
course are available at the URLs given
below.
http://www.icdp-online.org/
http://www.j-desc.org/m3/
coreschool/ICDP_drilling.html

Snapshot of lecture on 2008



J-DESC NEWS 2009
Support for Japan-based paritipants in IODPJ-DESC assists participants in IODP research projects with travel and research expenditures andgrants funds. Assistance covers the period from before going onboard for research to the time after
deboarding. The details are as follows.

Assistance with preparing
an IODP proposal
IODP assistance related to the
preparation and revision of an IODP
proposal covers the following: (A)investigative research including theentire series of activities from setting up
a workshop to performing a feasibility
study (1 million yen or more per case:disbursed at the start of the fiscal year),and (B) the cost of some activities suchas meetings and proposal preparation(less than 1 million yen per case:disbursed as needed, but subject tobudget restraints).
More concretely, it covers the holdingof preparatory meetings and workshops
to consolidate the proposal, thefeasibility study covering the preparationof the proposal (travel expenses, cost ofanalyses, etc.), miscellaneous expenses
incurred in preparing an IODP proposal(cost of meetings, revision of English
documents, etc.), as well as items suchas revision of the English version of the
ED (Engineering Development) proposal.

Pre-cruise training
Pre-cruise training (PCT) refers to
the process of providing technicalcourses for Japanese IODP participantsprior to a drilling expedition andholding a wrap-up meeting covering
the objectives, responsibilities andstrategy of the expedition. Venue andperiod of these events are left up to therespective scientific party. The actual
expenditures for travel between thevenue and the member organization,
and accommodation will be covered.

IODP expedition support
Travel expenses (transportation,accommodation, per diem) from themember organization to the pointof embarkation, and from the pointof disembarkation to the member
organization, will be covered according
to the rules. Not covered is the period
spent onboard the vessel. Also covered
are the expenses of obtaining a visa, a
medical checkup and immunization as
applicable. In addition, we will cover
the travel expenses (transportation,accommodation) of persons having toparticipate in the mandatory helicopter
evac uat i on drill, HUET (Helicopter
Underwater Escape Training), in order
to board the deep-sea drilling vessel,
Chikyu.

After-cruise works
After-cruise work (ACW) refers toanalyses not completed during an IODP
drilling expedition, analyses found tobe necessary after an expedition, andpost-expedition analyses planned inadvance. The actual expenditures fortravel between the member organizationand the point of execution, andaccommodation will be covered forafter-cruise work meeting the following
conditions:・ The applicant is a member of an
IODP drilling expedition scientificparty (including onshore parties)
recommended by J-DESC.
・ The application is filed within the postcruise moratorium.
・ The subject is data that will be
used for a research project adopted
during an IODP research expedition(excluding independent research).
・ The analysis concerns core samples
and measuring data collected while
onboard an expedition vessel.
・ The work will be carried out at an
institution in Japan, such as the Kochi
Core Center.
※	The applicant will be informed of thedecision made by a subcommittee

IODP research flow and timing of supports
Science Planning
Supports
Pre-research/Site Suevey
Proposal submission

Assistance with preparing an
IODP proposal

Evaluation of proposal
Pre-cruise training
Drilling expedition

Expedition support

Post-drilling research

After-cruise works
Sampling party/Post Expedition(Cruise) meeting

Publish and outreach

Assistance with publishing
IODP resultsfor evaluations of J-DESC. Please file
your application at least two weeks inadvance as the screening process may
take some time.
※	There may be cases where the cochief, etc. of the respective expedition
is consulted before funds are madeavailable.

Sampling Party / Post
Expedition (Cruise)
meeting(As a general rule, limited to cases
where a formal request is received fromthe organization that carried out thedrilling)
Travel expenses (transportation,accommodation, per diem) between themember organization and the site will becovered according to the rules.

Assistance with publishing
IODP results
This refers to a program that assists
with publishing research results derived
from data and samples obtained on
an IODP expedition in international
scientific magazines. To be eligible
for this assistance, both the applicant
and the scientific paper must meet thefollowing conditions:Applicants: The applicant has at sometime been affiliated with a member
organization participating in IODP
activities (onboard research, physical/
chemical analysis, writing of scientificpapers). (If this affiliation dates backto the past, the assistance may be
extended to the former member
organization, but the amount may be
reduced in this case.)
Scientific papers: The paper has
been written* on the basis of dataor samples obtained on a drilling
expedition later than Exp. 301 and has
been, or is scheduled to be publishedin scientific magazines registeredon Web of Science and [or] in the
Scientific Drilling Journal put out by
the IODP/ICDP.
* The fact that the paper was written
on the basis of data or samples
obtained on an IODP expedition must
be explicitly specified in the title,
keywords, or acknowledgment, etc.

3Book review

The 0.1-millimeter time machine
Nagoya University

Yasufumi Iryu

I think, nothing is more important than an encounter with a good book. The late 1960s,
when I was a primary school student, were the days when the Japanese economy expanded
year after year. Each household owned a TV, washing machine and refrigerator, and people
were moving on to the next stage, buying encyclopedia and complete works of literature. My
father bought for me an encyclopedia published by S company under the title, An illustrated
learner’s guide to primary colors, from a friend who worked as a book salesman. Living on
top of the volcanic ash of Kagoshima, this encyclopedia conducted me away to different times
and places. If I had not encountered this encyclopedia, I probably would not have become ascientist and instead embarked on a different road.
A recently published earth science book targeting primary school (higher grades) to juniorhigh school students falls into this category of books. I am talking about Itsuki Suto’s (Graduate
School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University) book The 0.1-millimeter time machine,which earned him the 56th Sankei Juvenile Literature Prize. The book is divided into sevenchapters. In chapters 1 to 3, the author explains what diatoms and dormant diatoms (dormant
spores) are and describes the twists and turns that led up to the classification of dormant
diatoms. Chapter 4 describes the important role diatoms play by letting us derive information
about the times and environment in which they once lived, followed in chapter 5 to 7 by anaccount of the author’s experiences during the Arctic Coring Expedition (ACEX) and the results
obtained. When researchers try to explain their field of specialty to the general public, theyeither talk above people’s head or make things too simple at the expense of academic rigor.
This book, however, maintains a miraculous balance between these two extremes: while
kept simple, its scientific contents are not lost. And for the visual enjoyment of the reader,
the author has placed a drawing of a dormant spore in the top left corner of odd number
pages. Make sure to recommend this book to any primary school students around you. I am
convinced the day will come when a researcher will board the Chikyu No. 2, saying that he/she
was motivated by this book to take up earth science. The author, a researcher himself, also
gives advice on how to learn the ropes of ontogenesis and onboard research, which shouldmake it of interest even to graduate and postgraduate students.

The 0.1-millimeter time machine- Fossils show us the past and future of
our earth
Author: Itsuki Suto
Publisher: Kumon Publishing
Publication date: November 2008
ISBN: 4-7743-1436-6

IODP SAS Panel Members (April 2008-August 2009)■ Re t i r i n g I ODP SAS Panel Members
SASEC

SSEP

( ～ Jun. 2008): Gaku Kimura (Univ. of Tokyo) （～ May 2008): Toshiya Fujiwara(JAMSTEC)（～ Jun. 2009): (Chair) Masaru Kono

(Tokyo Institute of Technology) （～ Nov. 2008): Mio Takeuchi (AIST): Ryo Anma (Univ. of Tsukuba): Hodaka Kawahata（～ Aug. 2008): Katsumi Marumo (AIST):Yoshihiko Tamura (JAMSTEC)（～ May 2009): Hiroshi Nishi (Hokkaido Univ): Atsushi Suzuki (AIST): Jun-ichi Kimura (JAMSTEC)（～ Mar. 2009): Takeshi Matsumoto

SSP(Univ. of Tokyo)

SPC(Univ. of Ryukyus)（～ Jul. 2008): Sei-ichi Miura (JAMSTEC): Akihiko Maruyama (AIST)（～ Feb. 2009): Masaaki Shirai (Univ. of Tokyo): Toshiya Kanamatsu (JAMSTEC): Hiroaki Sato (Kobe University)Jul.
2009):
Hiroki Matsuda（～( ～ Aug. 2009): (Chair) MORI, James Jiro

STP（～ Mar. 2009): Takuro Nunoura (JAMSTEC)（～ Aug. 2009): Minoru Ikehara (Kochi University)

EPSP（～ Jun. 2008): Masami Hato (ERSDAC): Toshifumi Matsuoka (Kyoto University)（～ Jun. 2009): Sumito Morita (AIST)EDP（～ Jan. 2009): Masafumi Fukuhara(Schlumberger Moscow Research)（～ Jul 2009): (Chair) Makoto Miyairi (JAPEX)(Kumamoto University)(Kyoto University)■ Alternate members
SPC

Shuichi Kodaira (JAMSTEC)
Hiroshi Nishi (Hokkaido Univ.)
Makoto Okada (Ibaraki Univ.)
Toshiya Fujiwara (JAMSTEC)

Eiichi Takazawa(Niigata University)

Teruaki Ishii(Fukada Geol. Institute)Toshitsuku Yamazaki (AIST)

Hiroyuki Yamamoto (JAMSTEC) Hiroaki Sato (Kobe University)

SSP

Akiko Tanaka (AIST)EPSPXue Ziqiu (Kyoto University)

Seiichi Miura (JAMSTEC)

Toshiyuki Yokota (AIST)

STP

Nobuo Morita

Toshiro Yamanaka(Waseda University)(Okayama University)

3

J-DESC NEWS 2009
■ J-DESC Annual Schedule (April 2009 - March 2010)
J-DESC

Month

IODP

4

●J-DESC symposium(4 Apr., JAMSTEC Tokyo Office)●2009 J-DESC Annual plenary meeting(4 Apr., JAMSTEC Tokyo Office)5●2nd J-DESC Town Hall Meeting (19May, JpGU Makuhari, Chiba)

6

ICDP

7

●IODP campaign(22nd, 31 Jul.-2 Aug., Shinshu
University)

8●#9 STP (17-19 Aug., Korea)●Core school: Micropaleontology Course●OTF (24 Aug., Kiel, Germany)(19-21 Aug., Tohoku University)●#14 SPC (25-27 Aug., Kiel, Gemany)●#9 EDP (15-17 Jul., Sweden)●#11 SSP (27-29 Jul., Austin)●ICDP domestic committee (1Jul.)●AOG (27-29 Aug., Boulder)●IODP proposal submission deadline (1Oct.)●KJOD workshop (29-31 Oct., Korea)●IODP campaign(23rd Tohoku University)

10●AOGS (11-15 Aug., Singapor)●Annual meeting of GeologicalSociety of Japan (4-6 Sep.,
Okayama University of Science)●INVEST (23-25 Sep., Bremen)●JR ship tour (5-6 Sep., Yokohama)

9

Others●EGU(19-24 Apr., Vienna)●IODP-ICDP Euro FORUM 2009
[EGU](24 Apr., Vienna）●IODP proposal submission deadline(1 Apr.)●IODP-ICDP Townhall Meeting●IODP ED proposal submission deadline (15[EGU](23 Apr., Vienna）
Apr.)●Asian IODP Consortium
Meeting(22-24 Apr., Busan,
Korea)●ICDP Training course●JpGU(16-21 Makuhari, Japan)●#12 SSEP(25-28 May, Nethrlands)(11-15 May, Sweden)
Session on Earth Drilling Science●EC (17-19 May Odawara, Japan)(18-19 May)●#10 EPSP(11-12 Jun., Denver, USA)
●CONTINENTAL SCIENTIFIC●#8 SASEC (15-16 Jun., Washington, USA)DRILLING WS●School of Rock (23, Jun.-5, Jul.)●IODP domestic science planning(4-5 Jun., Denver, USA)
committee(29 Jun.)●#13 SSEP(16-18 Nov., Melborne）

11●IODP campaign(24th Ehime University)

12●ICDP domestic committee

1●#10 EDP (13-15 Jan., Sendai, Japan)●#9 SASEC (18-19 Jan., Korea)

2●#12 SSP (New Zealand)●AGU(14-18 San Fransisco, USA）
●IODP Townhall Meeting [AGU](15Dec.)●ICDP Townhall Meeting [AGU]●ICDP proposal submission
deadline (15 Jan.)SASEC: SAS Executive Committee, SPC: Science Planning Committee, SSEP: Science Steering & Evaluation Panel, SSP: Site Survey Panel, EPSP:
Environmental Safety & Protection Panel, STP: Science Technology Panel, EDP: Engineering Development Panel, IIS-PPG: Industry-IODP Science Program
Planning Group, OTF: Operations Task Force■ ICDP SAG: Science Advisory Group, EC: Executive Committee, AOG: Assembly of Governers* Please see the J-DESC web page for latest schedules.

■ IODP■ J-DESC members (As of Sep.,2009)
京都大学
大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻
大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻
大学院理学研究科附属地球熱学
研究施設
大学院人間・環境学研究科地球環境
動態論 ( 地球環境物質学 ) 分野
大阪市立大学
大学院理学研究科生物地球系専攻
神戸大学
理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻／
人間発達環境学研究科人間環境学専攻
同志社大学
理工学部環境システム学科

秋田大学
工学資源学部地球資源学科
応用地球科学教室
東北大学
大学院理学研究科
大学院環境科学研究科
山形大学
理学部地球環境学科

岡山大学
理学部地球科学科
岡山理科大学
島根大学
総合理工学部地球資源環境学科
広島大学
大学院理学研究科地球惑星システム学専攻
九州大学
大学院理学研究院
熊本大学
理学部
鹿児島大学
大学院理工学研究科
地球環境科学専攻／
大学院理工学研究科
物理・宇宙専攻／
総合研究博物館
琉球大学
理学部

会員募集中

愛媛大学
理学部生物地球圏科学科 /沿岸環境科学研究センター /地球深部ダイナミクスセンター
高知大学
海洋コア総合研究センター
海洋研究開発機構
高知コア研究所

正会員 （年会費10万円）
賛助会員（年会費一口5万円･二口から）個人会員（年会費3千円）

新潟大学
理学部 / 大学院自然科学研究科
信州大学
理学部
富山大学
大学院理工学研究部
金沢大学
自然システム学類地球学
教室 / 自然科学研究科
東海大学
海洋学部
静岡大学
理学部地球科学教室
名古屋大学
大学院環境学研究科
地球環境学専攻関連講座
日本原子力研究開発機構
東濃地科学センター

北海道大学
大学院理学研究院
低温科学研究所
北見工業大学
未利用エネルギー研究センター
筑波大学
大学院生命環境科学研究科
茨城大学
産業技術総合研究所
地質情報研究部門
地圏資源環境研究部門
活断層・地震研究センター
電力中央研究所
防災科学技術研究所
宇都宮大学
農学部地質学研究室 / 教育学部
地学教室 / 工学部岩盤工学研究室
国立科学博物館
東京大学
大学院理学系研究科
大学院新領域創成科学研究科
海洋研究所
地震研究所
東京工業大学
地球惑星科学専攻
国立極地研究所
地圏研究グループ
千葉大学
大学院理学研究科
地球生命圏科学専攻
横浜国立大学
大学院環境情報研究院
海洋研究開発機構
地球内部ダイナミクス領域
海洋・極限環境生物圏領域
地球深部探査センター
地球環境変動領域
物質循環研究プログラム
古海洋環境研究チーム

賛助会員
（入会順）
株式会社物理計測コンサルタント
エスケイエンジニアリング株式会社
シュルンベルジェ株式会社
帝石削井工業株式会社
日鉱探開株式会社
住鉱コンサルタント株式会社
ハリバートン・オーバーシィズ・
リミテッド
鉱研工業株式会社
株式会社クリステンセン・マイカイ
日鉄鉱コンサルタント株式会社
株式会社テルナイト
株式会社エヌエルシー
地熱技術開発株式会社
株式会社マリン･ワーク・ジャパン
株式会社グローバル オーシャン
ディベロップメント
日本海洋掘削株式会社
日本マントル・クエスト株式会社
日本郵船株式会社

J-DESC 事務局
財団法人 地球科学技術総合推進機構（AESTO）科学掘削推進室
E-mail: info@j-desc.org
TEL: 045-770-5357 FAX: 045-770-5360〒236-0001
神奈川県横浜市金沢区昭和町 3173-25
AESTO 横浜オフィス

J-DESC Newsletter■ Published by Japan Drilling Earth Science Consortium ■ Edited by Japan Drilling Earth Science Consortium officec/o Advanced Earth Science and Technology Organization, 3173-25 Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0001, Japan
Tel： +81-45-770-5357 Fax：+81-45-770-5360 e-mail：info@j-desc.org