Advancing Future Ocean Drilling in the United States (“FOCUS”)
Upon the conclusion of the International Ocean Discovery Program in 2024, the U.S. ocean science community lacked both a formal scientific ocean drilling program and consistent access to a U.S.-operated globally ranging riserless drilling vessel to implement the 2050 Science Framework. However, NSF has signaled its intent to continue supporting US scientific ocean drilling and has funded a coordinating office to facilitate US ocean drilling activities. Thus, it was clear toward the end of IODP that it was critical for the U.S. community to begin planning immediately for post-IODP subseafloor sampling efforts.
A steering committee to address Future Ocean Drilling in the US (“FOCUS”) was assembled in 2023 to coordinate this planning effort. It consisted of 17 members and as its main objectives intended to address the following questions:
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- Within the 2050 Science Framework and the current fiscal constraints, what are the scientific priorities for the U.S. scientific ocean drilling community over the next 5-7 years that are achievable with the tools that are anticipated to be available?
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- What subseafloor sampling options are available to address these priorities (e.g., U.S.-implemented MSP-type expeditions utilizing the JR, geotechnical vessels, or other platforms; seabed drilling technologies; ships with long coring capabilities, etc.)?
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- How can the U.S. scientific ocean drilling community advance the argument for a future, state of the art, globally ranging U.S.-operated drilling vessel?
The planning process incorporated broad community input and included a series of virtual (i.e., online) workshops and an in-person workshop that addressed components of the charges listed above. The in-person workshop took place in spring of 2024, with the intention of complementing recommendations on approaches for future US ocean science research from the National Academies Decadal Ocean Survey Committee. In addition, the community explored mechanisms to maintain the cohesion and strategic integrity of a U.S. scientific ocean drilling program, given the broad portfolio of research approaches that will likely be utilized (expeditions, international collaborations, LEAPs, and other research using legacy assets, etc.).
FOCUS Steering Committee
Stefanie Brachfeld (Montclair State University, Co-Chair)
Justin Dodd (Texas A&M University, Co-Chair)
- Chandranath Basak (University of Delaware)
- Isla Castañeda (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
- Beth Christensen (Rowan University)
- Jeremy Deans (University of Southern Mississippi)
- Peter Flemings (University of Texas Austin)
- Jessica Labonté (Texas A&M, Galveston)
- Chris Lowery (University of Texas Austin)
- Cecilia McHugh (Queens College, City University of New York)
- Steve Phillips (Woods Hole, U.S. Geological Survey)
- Pratigya Polissar (University of California Santa Cruz)
- Amelia Shevenell (University of South Florida)
- Evan Solomon (University of Washington)
- Jason Sylvan (Texas A&M University)
- Sonia Tikoo (Stanford University)
- Maureen Walczak (University of Washington)
Virtual Workshops
The virtual workshops provided community members with the opportunity to address high priority scientific and technology-related issues identified by the steering committee. Throughout the virtual workshop period, the steering committee continued to aggregate community input to hone the agenda for the in-person workshop.
FOCUS Introductory Virtual Workshop
December 4, 2023
Virtual Workshop 2:
Identifying key science questions within U.S. scientific ocean drilling priorities
February 14, 2024
Virtual Workshop 3:
Technology and platforms available for scientific ocean drilling
February 21, 2024
Virtual Workshop 4:
Science questions and goals for the next 5 years
March 8, 2024
In Person Workshop
The in-person FOCUS workshop was held in Denver, CO from May 21-23, 2024. A draft report of the FOCUS recommendations was shared with the community in the fall of 2025; comments were solicited and incorporated into the final FOCUS report, which was released in April 2026.
Questions?
Inquiries about the workshop can be sent to the steering committee co-chairs:
- Stefanie Brachfeld, Montclair State University ([email protected])
Justin Dodd, Texas A&M University ([email protected])
