The U.S. continues to support scientific ocean drilling (SciOD) research and related activities, primarily through the NSF U.S. Sub-Seafloor Sampling Program (S3P), the Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordination Office (SODCO), and the Gulf Coast Repository (GCR).

NSF S3P now handles most U.S.-based scientific ocean drilling-related proposals. NSF S3P accepts proposals for U.S.-led expeditions, U.S. involvement in international expeditions, legacy projects using existing cores, and projects to advance SciOD-related technology. For more on NSF S3P proposals, see the Proposals section.

SODCO provides operational and science support to the U.S. scientific ocean drilling community. The GCR stores and curates cores from the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and the Southern Ocean.

The term “US SciOD” is used to refer to all scientific ocean drilling and drilling-related activities that involve the United States. US SciOD may refer to U.S.-led expeditions, SODCO-supported workshops, trainings held at the GCR, and other activities involving the US SciOD community.

Although the U.S. is not formally part of an international drilling program, we continue to work closely with our international partners to advance shared scientific objectives. For example, the U.S. is part of the Scientific Drilling Forum, which aims to share knowledge and explore opportunities for collaboration across programs. The other Forum members are the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3), China’s Deep Ocean Drilling Program, and the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP). Through the Forum and other mechanisms, the U.S. is exploring ways to continue international participation in expeditions, workshops, and other research activities.

The term “US SciOD” is used to refer to all scientific ocean drilling and drilling-related activities that involve the United States. The SODCO Advisory Board wrote the following definition:

“US SciOD encompasses all U.S. scientific ocean drilling and drilling-related activities around the globe. The NSF Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordination Office (NSF SODCO) and the Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) are the primary U.S. managers of scientific ocean drilling activities and are funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. These entities are advised by the community through the SODCO Advisory Board and GCR Advisory Board.”

SODCO and the Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) are both NSF-funded entities that support U.S. scientific ocean drilling. SODCO’s focus is on supporting U.S.-led expeditions and related activities. The GCR is responsible for operating curatorial and analytical facilities.

SODCO supports the science community with planning and implementing expeditions, developing new technology, and holding workshops to advance new ideas in scientific ocean drilling. SODCO also provides annual graduate student fellowships (Schlanger Fellowship) and summer undergraduate internships. Scenarios where you may work with SODCO include:

• Operational planning for drilling proposals. When preparing a drilling proposal to submit to NSF, work with SODCO to develop a mandatory supplementary document on operations.

  If your drilling proposal is successful, you will also work closely with SODCO throughout expedition planning and implementation. SODCO’s focus is ensuring that an expedition is feasible and accomplishes its scientific goals.

• Exploring new ideas in scientific ocean drilling (e.g., for a new proposal, to develop new technology, or to expand engagement). These may be a good fit for our Workshops, Innovation Grants, or other programs.

• Communicating updates and opportunities to the U.S. scientific ocean drilling community. Get in touch if you have an announcement you would like us to share.

The GCR is one of three scientific ocean drilling core repositories, along with the Bremen Core Repository (BCR) and Kochi Core Center (KCC). In addition to refrigerated core storage facilities, the GCR also contains newly renovated laboratories that hold most of the instrumentation from the JOIDES Resolution and more. Key activities of the GCR include:

• Fulfilling scientific ocean drilling sample requests.

• Analyzing geologic cores and discrete samples (sediments, waters, rocks) from scientific ocean drilling expeditions and other projects.

• Hosting the yearly CORE (Cores for Research and Education) School to maintain community expertise in scientific ocean drilling methods and subseafloor core analysis.

• Holding the Expedition Onshore Phase (EOP) of US SciOD expeditions in the instrumented laboratory space.

In addition to these activities, the GCR is available to support a wide range of projects, workshops, and meetings such as ocean drilling legacy projects (i.e. SPARCs or LEAPs) and outreach events. For more information, visit the GCR website.

The NSF U.S. Sub-Seafloor Sampling Program (S3P) accepts proposals to support research with the following scope: 

• Scientific ocean drilling projects that will be implemented by NSF SODCO. These projects use contracted vessels or platforms with capabilities aligned to the specific project. 

• Ocean drilling legacy assets projects. These projects make use of legacy scientific ocean drilling assets such as cores, samples, data, open boreholes and downhole observatories. Projects are intended to facilitate collaboration at large scales, such as integrating data across multiple expeditions with multiple approaches. 

• Projects that focus on technology and instrument development. These projects support innovative sub-seafloor sampling approaches. 

• Projects involving international engagement. These projects involve U.S. scientists' participation in ocean drilling research activities led by international scientific ocean drilling organizations. Proponents should contact NSF S3P program officers at S3P@nsf.gov prior to submitting proposals of this type.

Proposals for U.S.-led scientific ocean drilling expeditions should be submitted to the NSF U.S. Sub-Seafloor Sampling Program (S3P). Proposals may be submitted at any time via research.gov:

1. Select "NSF 24-1 - Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide - PAPPG" as the funding opportunity.

2. Select "NSF U.S. Sub-Seafloor Sampling (NSF S3P)" as the program.

Drilling proposals must include a supplementary document on operations prepared jointly by the PIs and SODCO. Please contact SODCO at least one month prior to your expected submission date. SODCO will work iteratively with PIs to construct a draft drilling, coring, and measurement operations plan that can accomplish the scientific goals of the proposal. Learn more about operational planning for drilling proposals.

Proposals for workshops to plan drilling expeditions may be submitted to the SODCO Workshops Program. SODCO supports workshops that advance knowledge within the field of scientific ocean drilling. In addition to planning for future expeditions, workshops may explore scientific questions that can be addressed with SciOD, focus on a specific theme or region, assess available data sets to identify sites for future drilling or gaps in data where site surveys may be required, or synthesize preliminary results to maximize the scientific achievements from previous drilling.

Proposals for Workshops should be submitted to SODCO via our Application Portal during an open call. Calls for Workshop proposals are held twice a year. Learn more about the workshop proposal process.

SODCO will charter a platform depending on the specific needs of an US SciOD expedition. These can be liftboats, geotechnical vessels, research vessels, or drillships. Details on their capabilities and specifications can be found here.

SODCO is prepared to operate worldwide. When an expedition falls within the territorial waters or Exclusive Economic Zone of another country, SODCO will work with U.S. and international permitting agencies.

All SODCO laboratories will be containerized in standard 20’ x 8’ shipping containers. Which mobile laboratories are deployed will depend on the expedition’s needs. Available mobile laboratories include physical properties, chemistry, and microbiology as well as several support and office containers. A full list and equipment details can be found here.

Coring and downhole tools will be rented from third-party contractors depending on the mission needs and platform.

Absolutely, though the use of third-party tools or instrumentation requires coordination with SODCO. Contact the SODCO-TAMU group for more information (sodco@tamu.edu).

Unlike previous IODP expeditions, US SciOD expeditions have no prescribed length and can range from a few weeks to several months.

The timeline to expedition implementation depends on many factors and includes time for permitting and clearance, operational planning, identifying and securing a vessel, community staffing, etc. SODCO aims to implement an expedition approximately 18 months after a drilling proposal is approved by NSF.

There will be community staffing. Staffing will depend on expedition requirements and vessel limitations.

SODCO welcomes opportunities to collaborate with international scientists and programs. To participate in U.S. activities, international scientists will need to obtain support from external organizations (e.g., IODP³) and should begin working with them early.

SODCO is working with NSF on the best mechanism for post-cruise research support.

Yes. Learn more and request samples from past expeditions here.

Following the previous IODP approach, the Gulf Coast Repository will store cores collected in the Pacific (east of the Pacific Plate’s W boundary), Caribbean Sea, Gulf, and Southern Ocean S of 60º (except Kerguelan Plateau). The Bremen Core Repository will store cores collected in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans (north of Bering Strait), Mediterranean, Black, and Baltic Seas. Cores collected in the western Pacific (west of the Pacific Plate’s W boundary), Indian Ocean (N of 60ºS), all of Kerguelan Plateau, and the Bering Sea will be stored at the Kochi Core Center.

SODCO is working on a data management plan for storing and making available expedition data.