New Cooperative Agreement

JOI has finalized the U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) 2007 – 2013 budget for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). As JOI President Steve Bohlen explained in JOI News (Spring 2007), JOI and IODP currently face a tough financial situation due to new NSF budget realities.  NSF is decreasing all ocean drilling facility-related programs by 20-35%.  USSSP’s new budget is no exception.  Due to these cuts, the new cooperative agreement will no longer support instrument development or undergraduate research awards, and supplemental science support funding was also reduced.

Despite the challenges, JOI, with extensive consultation and guidance from the U.S. Advisory Committee for Ocean Drilling (USAC), was able to minimize the impact of these cuts on the program. USSSP will continue to support the full complement of U.S. scientists aboard each IODP expedition, and the base support for scientists that participate in expeditions remains intact. Expedition co-chief salary was slightly increased and new salary support will be available for Chief Project Scientist and Mission Support.

Support for Scientists on Expedition Platforms

USSSP staff worked closely with IODP-MI and implementing organization program staff to determine the most accurate estimate of future expeditions. We anticipate supporting four SODV expeditions and four Chikyu expeditions per year in 2008 and beyond. We also anticipate supporting a total of four Mission Specific Platform expeditions between 2008 and 2013.

Based on these estimates, USSSP will provide salary for each participating scientist for a period of 1.5 n, where n is the allotted expedition time. In addition, USSSP has increased the co-chief salary from 6 to 8 months. Each participating scientist will be eligible for a portion of approximately $72,000 available for science support after each expedition. Proposals for additional science support should be included in initial applications, and updated after the expedition based on cores recovered.  USSSP will continue to fund travel to and from the platform for the U.S. science party as well as one pre-expedition meeting and two post-cruise meetings.

We encourage expedition participants to compete for NSF funding for post-cruise science support outside of USSSP, by submitting Expedition Objective Research (EOR) proposals to NSF, Division of Ocean Sciences. Scientists should also seek NSF funding to support instrument development (NSF-OCE Instrumentation Grants) and undergraduate research awards (NSF – Research Experience for Undergraduates Program).

Program Development and Planning

In accord with plans to streamline the IODP Science Advisory Structure (SAS), beginning in 2008, USSSP anticipates supporting only five instead of seven members on each SAS panel and committee (SPC, SSEP, SSP, EPSP, STP, EDP). USAC will also reduce its membership in 2008, from 15 to 12.   USSSP will continue to fund Planning Workshops and support the work of Thematic Working Groups.   The new cooperative agreement will also continue to support pre-drilling activities, including support for participation of U.S. scientist on non-U.S. site surveys and acquisition of data on ships-of-opportunity. 

Education and Outreach

USSSP will support approximately five Schlanger Graduate Fellows per year, and continue to support the Distinguished Lecture Series.  In addition USSSP will continue to support education coordination activities, communication efforts, and diversity programs.  Education programs will include support for a teacher sabbatical to create curriculum materials and a configurable pool of $25,000 for workshops and other activities. In 2007, USSSP will use these funds to support several follow-up activities from the School of Rock and, for the first time, support a teacher-research experience during a site-survey expedition.  In the future, the funds from this pool will be leveraged with USIO education funds to expand programs that have been in the pilot phase.

Upcoming Expeditions

Information about upcoming expeditions, including New Jersey Shallow Shelf, NanTroSEIZE, Equatorial Pacific, and Bering Sea, can be found through IODP-MI. The USSSP staff is available to answer questions about support for these expeditions and to assist you in leveraging program funds to achieve the broad goals of USSSP.

USAC

As JOI, with guidance from USAC, implements the new Science Support Program, we welcome your feedback.  The message from Christina Ravelo, the USAC Chair, describes discussions planned for the upcoming USAC meeting. During these tough financial times for IODP, the community needs to work together. JOI will be communicating with you as the situation develops.

Catherine O'Riordan, USSSP Director
coriordan@joiscience.org
June 18, 2007