Although the oceans have been the subject of intensive research for over 50 years as a part of major ocean drilling programmes, many questions still remain unanswered. Some of these are of great social and economic significance. The growing global population, climate change, the rising demand for raw materials, and the major risks posed by natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis call for a better understanding of the Earth system. The IODP³ helps to achieve this.

IODP³ Structure

IODP³ is being managed by two core members, Japan and ECORD. Germany is one of currently 14 member countries of ECORD. Further information on ECORD can be found here. Furthermore, negotiations with other countries and consortia are in progress to secure new partners as partners as associate members. Recently the ANZIC-Consortium comprising Australia and New Zeeland has become the first associate member of IODP³The new structure of the new IODP³ is shown in the figure below. The overall IODP³ Structure is steered by the IODP³ Executive Board (ExB) which oversees major strateic matters related to the drilling programme and defines the responsibilities of other bodies. Responsibility for managing the IODP³ budget lies with the IODP³ Managing Agency.

The crucial basis for IODP³ expeditions is the drilling proposals submitted by IODP³ scientists around the world. These drilling proposals are evaluated by the joint, independent advisory body within the IODP³ Science Office, the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP) with the aim to create a pool of potential expeditions. The evaluation process is backed up by another committee that checks the environmental aspects of the proposed expedition (Safety & Environment Advisory Group, SEA).

The scheduling of the expeditions is managed by the MSP Facility Board (M-FB). This body decides which drilling proposals will be carried out, determines the timing, and selects the platform to be used.

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© IODP3

Scientific Goals of IODP³

The objectives of IODP³ are summarized in the “2050 Science Framework”, which is highly relevant to society. It focuses on processes that control the various components of the Earth system and on the interactions between these processes.

2050 Science Framework

In order to achieve the scientific goals, two already established mechanisms are given a prominent position in the new IODP³:

1) Scientific Projects using Ocean Drilling Archives (SPARCs) provide a mechanism for the community to develop large projects and maximize the scientific output of legacy assets (i.e., cores, samples and data) from current and past oceanic drilling programs without new drilling or other work at sea. Proposals for future SPARC projects can address all aspects of the 2050 Science Framework. This could include, for example, the generation of new large data sets from existing and new samples and cores, the integration of data from multiple expeditions and/or multiple drillings, and/or the application of new methods or technologies (e.g. AI, “big data” approaches) that were not yet available at the time the old cores and data were collected.

2) Land-to-Sea (L2S) drilling projects are essential to fully achieve the objectives of scientific drilling initiatives at both onshore and offshore locations or in shallow marine areas. The procedures and guidelines for the submission of L2S proposals have recently been optimized and aligned between ICDP and IODP³ to further promote scientific exploration land-ocean transition.

Drilling Platforms in IODP³

IODP³ platforms are operated by the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) and the Japanese Institute of Marine and Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3). As in the two previous IODP programmes, ESO conducts Mission Specific Platform (MSP) expeditions by chartering suitable research vessels or commercial vessels/platforms tailored to the specific requirements of each expedition. These include geotechnical vessels with wave-compensated wire-towed drilling rigs, liftboats, and research or multi-purpose vessels that deploy alternative drilling rigs directly on the seabed (e.g. RockDrill or Mebo). MarE3 remains responsible for the operation of the riser-equipped drilling vessel DV Chikyu. In addition, MarE3 operates other oceanographic research platforms, such as the RV Kaimei, which was deployed as part of IODP Expedition 386 ‘Japan Trench Paleoseismology’ (conducted jointly by ESO and MarE3).

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© IODP

Core repositories in IODP³

As in the preceding programmes, the drilling core repositories at MARUM in Bremen and JAMSTEC in Kochi will continue to be available in the new program. . Access to cores from previous drilling programmes for research work on legacy material is also guaranteed for an initial period of five years; some of these cores are also stored in the Gulf Coast Repository an der Texas A&M University in College Station.

German participation in IODP³

The German IODP³ is funded by the DFG in two ways: (1) through Germany's contribution to ECORD as one of the two core members of IODP³ and (2) through the Infrastructure Priority Program (SPP) 527, which makes it possible for Germany's universities to conduct reseach related to one of the ocean drilling programs. Research projects within the framework of SPP 527 serve to carry out high-impact research projects (based on the new and previous scientific ocean drilling programs) as well as to support scientists in committee work, expedition participation and workshops. The IODP³ Coordination Office coordinates national initiatives and projects, ensures the flow of information within the scientific community and supports scientists in their activities. SPP 527 serves to carry out highly effective research projects (based on the new and the previous scientific ocean drilling programmes) and to support scientists in committee work, expedition participation and workshops. IODP³Coordination Office implements national initiatives and projects, ensures efficient flow of information within the scientific community, and supports scientists in their activities. The SPP 527 IODP³ also fosters closer cooperation between IODP³ and ICDP at the national and international levels.

Germany’s scientists are able to participate in the IODP³ in several ways: by joining expeditions, conducting research on drill‑core samples, serving on panels, or submitting proposals for future drilling projects. Calls for expedition participation and committee events are announced on the websites of IODP³ and/or ECORDand communicated by the Coordination Office through direct mailing. Applications for expedition participation and panel work are submitted via the IODP³-Gateway. The Coordination Office and the DFG can provide you with information how to submit a proposal in the DFG Priority Program (see grant proposals within SPP 527).

Further information on the organisation and a list of IODP³ committees and committee members can be found here.

Expeditions in IODP³ and already completed drilling programs

IODP³ expeditions (link)

#	Name	date	Drilling Platform/SPARCs
501	New England Shelf Hydrogeology	May-Aug. 2025	L/B Robert
502	Impact of Petit-Spot Magmatism on Subduction Zone Seismicity and the Global Geochemical Cycle	Oct.-Nov. 2025	D/V Chikyu
503	Hadal Trench Tsunamigenic Slip History	Nov.-Dec. 2025	D/V Chikyu
504S	The Volcanic Ash Record from the Ontong Java Plateau	2026	SPARCS
505S	Enigma: Exploration into a Global Early Miocene Anomaly	2026	SPARCS
506S	Signals: Stratigraphic Integration of North Atlantic Legacy Sites	2026	SPARCS
507	GLACE-NS: Late Cenozoid Glaciers, Lanscapes, Climates, and Ecosystems of the North Sea	2027	ESO

Past ocean drilling programs

International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP-2, 2013-2024) and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP-1, 2003-2013)

List of expeditions IODP-2

List of expeditions IODP-1

Ocean Drilling Program (ODP, 1985-2003)

List of expeditions ODP

Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP, 1968-1983)

List of expeditions DSDP