<> LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

I remain in Bermuda, on the last day of a marathon set of meetings - the last meeting of the JOIDES ExCom, a joint meeting of ExCom with the ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) Council and a day-long meeting of the JOI Board of Governors. Most importantly the departure of the drill ship JOIDES Resolution on Leg 210  (Newfoundland Margin), the last drilling Leg of ODP.  The target is to drill the deepest hole the program has ever achieved. Co-Chief Scientist is Lamont alumnus Brian Tucholke, supported by an extraordinarily strong team of international scientists including our own Garry Karner.  The previous Leg (209), led by Peter Kelemen had been extraordinarily successful, drilling on the flanks of the Mid Atlantic Ridge near 15N, obtaining results that promise to substantially change thinking about upper mantle dynamics beneath slow spreading ridges.

The Ocean Drilling Program has been a momentous activity - since its inception in 1985 (as the successor to DSDP), it has drilled over 1700 holes in the ocean floor recovering over 215km of core.  Over 2700 scientists from more than 40 nations have sailed.  In total substantially more than $0.5B of funding has been provided by agencies from more than 20 nations.

But now the focus is upon the future - the establishment of the international agreements and implementation structures necessary to build the new drilling program - IODP.

The new corporation that will manage the new program, IODP Management International (IMI), has been established with a set of Governors from both the US and Japan.  LDEO is a member of the Corporation.  But most importantly for us at Lamont, we are weeks away from hearing the result of NSF deliberations concerning the selection of the implementing organization for the US-led non-riser drilling vessel.  We are competing to win the contract to provide downhole logging services for the new program, and both Dave Goldberg, the PI, and I are optimistic that our proposal will be successful.

I fly home on Saturday - next week will be dominated by planning for a two-day workshop downtown on Morningside on Thursday and Friday.  We are running a small workshop to plan a Symposium in 2004 as part of CU's 250th celebrations - the Symposium is targeted at addressing the modest question:

"What limits our ability to control earth's climate?".  This will be a challenge!

It has been an enjoyable few days in Bermuda - it is an idyllic spot - with the added advantage of having steak and kidney pies on most restaurant menus!

Have a great weekend,


- Mike

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