Sampling the Subsurface: Future opportunities for Australia in international scientific drilling
Channel: GeoscienceAustralia
Date: 11/04/2023

Scientific drilling through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) is a key contributor to understanding the Earth’s lithosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere. As the highly successful IODP collaboration prepares for renewal, community interest in scientific drilling remains high, with numerous proposals under consideration throughout the world ocean. Commissioning of new dedicated scientific drilling vessels and planning for expanded Mission Specific Platform capabilities are underway globally. This infrastructure will continue to complement ICDP infrastructure for scientific drilling on land, in lakes and near the coast.

The Australian and New Zealand IODP Consortium (ANZIC) is working with AuScope to build comprehensive long-term opportunities for Australian researchers to access this crucial international research infrastructure. This strategic and integrated approach will not only expand opportunities to access subsurface samples from around the world, but also across the Australian continent, the coastal transition zone, our extensive continental shelf and out into the deep abyssal plains—thus ensuring Australian researchers continue their historically significant contributions to scientific drilling around the world.