Right now, I’m in Kobe, Japan at the invitation of the Chikyu IODP Board, where I am an observer at the annual meeting overseeing activities related to the impressive JAMSTEC-operated Chikyu riser-capable drilling vessel.  

It’s the first in a series of international meetings where the future of IODP beyond the current program’s conclusion in 2024 will be firmly on the agenda; in September, I will represent ANZIC at the IODP Forum in New York and at the ECORD Facility Board in France. I’ll also take the opportunity to visit the ICDP office in Germany to discuss closer ties with ANZIC in the coming years. 

These meetings present an ideal opportunity to emphasise ANZIC’s desire for a fully international scientific drilling program into the future and highlight the value of our region’s continued contribution to IODP. We are also growing our strategic connections closer to home, and I have recently had my first meetings as ANZIC representative to the National Marine Science Council and the Coastal Research Vessels Working Group, with lots of synergies to explore. 

Lastly, we continue to progress our efforts towards funding security beyond 2022 – and while it remains early days, I am pleased to report that what we’re hearing thus far gives us cause for optimism. 

I look forward to reporting back on the outcome of my international travels in next month’s Bulletin. In the meantime, read on to learn more about the whirlwind of activity in our ANZIC community.  

Dr Ron Hackney 

Director, ANZIC-IODP 

•  Mission-Specific Platforms: MSP expeditions are planned to operate once a year to drill/core targets that are inaccessible by the other facilities (e.g., shallow water, enclosed seas, ice-covered seas) in any ocean basin until the end of 2024. After that date, MSP expeditions might be implemented in all drilling environments. New and revised MSP proposals for any ocean basin are welcomed.
• Chikyu: New Complementary Project Proposals (CPPs) are encouraged, but other new riser and riseless proposals for the Chikyu may not be submitted at this time. Revisions and addendums to any proposal that is already in the system will be accepted.
• JOIDES Resolution: revisions to proposals already under consideration by SEP and the facility boards can still be (re)submitted.

CONASTA 69: Science Revealed
25-28 September
Session, CD8: Oceans, climate and Earth systems
CONASTA is the annual science education conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA). ANZIC will provide a two hour learning experience that will include exploring a variety of freely available IODP teaching resources and activities, plus a live ship-to-shore with the JOIDES Resolution.
 
Registration is still open. Please share this ANZIC-IODP session with your science teachers, school laboratory technicians/managers and others with an interest in science education.
Find out more

Geoscience Society of New Zealand Annual Conference 2022
29 November – 1 December
Massey University, Palmerston North
Abstracts close 2 September. GeoDiscoveryNZ and ANZIC will host a booth; please drop by if you are intending to attend.
Find out more

Australian Earth Sciences Convention: AESC 2022
27-30 June 2023
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Registration and abstracts open 1 September. ANZIC plans to host a session, a booth, and a Town Hall meeting for our community.
Find out more

2022 Monsoon Seminar Series
Weekly lectures resuming 31 August 
Find out more

Aware of a recent publication by an ANZIC member author not listed below? Please let us know at pr.anzic@anu.edu.au so we can include it in the next edition. Be sure to tag us on Twitter (@anzic_iodp) or Facebook (@ANZICIODP) when you share your publications so we can assist with promotion.

August 2022 ANZIC Member Publications