Letter from the USAC Chair

December, 2011

Dear Colleagues,

As I begin my term as chair of the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC), I see an important year ahead for the U.S. scientific ocean drilling community. Next summer, the National Science Board will make a recommendation to NSF concerning a post-2013 IODP, and that makes this a critical time for the U.S. community to determine its scientific priorities within the international framework of the IODP Science Plan for 2013-2023.

Over the next several months, the U.S. community will develop a strategy for implementing the new IODP science plan. The principal step in this process is an online community survey. I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the survey before January 31st to demonstrate the breadth and vitality of U.S. community interests and the need for future resources.

We seek survey participants from all scientific disciplines, career stages, and levels of prior involvement in scientific ocean drilling, including those new to the program. The results from the survey will be forwarded to the National Science Foundation and used to plan a special workshop on “Building U.S. Strategies” scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2012.  You may apply to attend the workshop at the end of the online survey.

I invite you to share your comments, concerns, and suggestions about IODP and the renewal process with me and other USAC members. Send us an email or meet with us at the IODP Town Hall Meeting (Tuesday, December 4; Hilton Union Square) during the AGU 2011 Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

All the best,

Anthony Koppers
Chair, U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling