All IODP Proposal Deadlines Have Passed

Drilling Proposals

The International Ocean Discovery Program uses the program's drilling platforms for hypothesis-driven science in line with the themes and challenges outlined in the program's Science Plan Illuminating Earth's Past, Present, and Future. Proposals frequently involve collaborations between international researchers from the multiple geoscience disciplines and the lead proponent need not be from an IODP member country. Because proposals will not result in a financial arrangement (contract) with the proponent's institution, they are submitted by the individual investigator and not through the investigator's institution. 

A Call for Drilling Proposals is agreed upon between the IODP Facility Boards and released by the IODP Science Support Office, usually for two proposal submission deadlines (April and October) per year. The deadline for submitting site data is one month after the proposal submission deadline. Proposed drill sites must be supported by site characterization data that builds confidence that the targets are correctly identified, achievable, and safe.

Drilling proposals are peer-reviewed within the IODP framework by the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP) aided by anonymous external reviewers in a process facilitated by the Science Support Office. SEP typically meets in January and June and reports containing the outcome of the review are sent to the lead proponent by the Science Support Office within one month of the panel meeting. 

At annual scheduling meetings, the IODP Facility Boards consider drilling proposals that have been forwarded by SEP. Once a proposal is with a Facility Board for consideration, the Board may ask for further refinements/changes or may change the scope of a proposal to be compatible with the platform capability or operating budget. When a proposal is scheduled or close to being scheduled, the Facility Board will request a safety review by the Environmental Protection and Safety Panel or an equivalent panel. 

Proposals are developed into research expeditions by the platform science operator in accordance with the IODP Principles of Scientific Investigation. Recent examples of successful proposals can be found on the expedition pages. Detailed guidance on proposal contents is found in the IODP Drilling Proposal Submission Guidelines.

Ocean Drilling Legacy Assets Projects (LEAPs)

Ocean Drilling Legacy Assets Projects (LEAPs) are a new type of project for international and interdisciplinary collaborations under the umbrella of the scientific ocean drilling programs. LEAPs are standalone research endeavors that: (1) address at least one aspect of the 2050 Science Framework, and (2) have objectives that maximize the return on the legacy assets of current and past scientific ocean drilling programs without new drilling. Examples of legacy assets are cores, samples, data, open boreholes, and downhole observatories from current and past scientific ocean drilling programs.

The IODP Science Support Office expects to release subsequent Call for LEAP Proposals twice per year, with deadlines matching those for drilling proposals (April and October). Because proposals will not result in a financial arrangement (contract) with the proponent's institution, they are submitted by the individual investigator and not through the investigator's institution.

LEAP proposals are peer-reviewed within the IODP framework by the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP). SEP typically meets in January and June and the outcome of the review is sent to the lead proponent by the IODP Science Support Office within one month of the panel meeting. Detailed guidance on proposal contents is found in the IODP LEAPs Proposal Submission Guidelines. 

All IODP Drilling Proposal Deadlines Have Passed

The Proposal Database System (PDB) is the web-based interface for completing and submitting IODP proposals. PDB offers specific guidance and many proposal components are created interactively; proponents are advised to begin working with PDB as soon as a proposal is planned. Please note that simultaneous users are not supported; generally, the proposal lead is the most appropriate person to access PDB and submit a proposal. Complete proposal preparation guidance, format requirements, and review policies are explained in the IODP Drilling Proposal Submission Guidelines.

A Call for Scientific Ocean Drilling Proposals is usually published at least two months in advance of the deadline with specifics about what types of proposals are being sought. Proponents are strongly encouraged to contact the Science Operators to discuss platform-specific operational and fiscal constraints before developing proposals. The IODP Proposal Manager has sole authority to accept proposals or grant exceptions to deadlines and policies.

To submit a drilling proposal:

• Log in to PDB to create a new proposal or manage existing proposals
• Download the IODP Drilling Proposal Submission Guidelines for detailed information on proposal contents 
• Read the Standard IODP Confidentiality Policy

Most types of proposals also require the submission of site characterization data to the Site Survey Data Bank. 

Proponents with questions about submitting proposals can contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance.

All Data Submission Deadlines Have Passed

The Site Survey Data Bank (SSDB) is the system through which site characterization data supporting IODP drilling proposals, such as seismic profiles, are submitted. Data files submitted to the deadline immediately following a drilling proposal submission deadline are reviewed together with the drilling proposal by the Science Evaluation Panel. While the SSDB is considered an open resource for those developing drilling proposals, proponents have the option of restricting access to their proprietary data as discussed in the Standard IODP Confidentiality Policy. 

After a drilling proposal is accepted, the Science Support Office will set up the proposed sites in the SSDB and contact the lead proponent when the system is ready for data uploads. Data submissions must then be submitted by the deadline. Data submissions must follow the format policies and other regulations specified in the IODP Site Characterization Guidelines. Due to the time required for quality control procedures, data files uploaded after the deadline will be reviewed at the discretion of the IODP Science Support Office. 

To submit data:

• Log in to SSDB to upload and manage site survey data
• Download the IODP Site Characterization Guidelines
• Read the Standard IODP Confidentiality Policy
• See additional Information for Proponents in SSDB

Proponents can contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance. 

IODP drilling proposals are considered Active when they are under review by the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP), being considered for scheduling by the program's Facility Boards (JRFB, EFB, CIB), or in the SEP Holding Bin (HB). Proposals that have been unresponsive for 5 years are subject to deactivation. This table is updated after SEP reviews are released and after each Facility Board meeting, and you can download graphs and pie charts of proposal statistics. (last updated July 19, 2024)

This table is a quick reference of required components of the different types of IODP drilling proposals; complete information is found in the Drilling Proposal Submission Guidelines. Note: Site Forms are generated interactively through the online proposal submission system, PDB. For Ocean Drilling Legacy Assets Projects (LEAPs), please see the LEAPs Proposal Guidelines.

* Full Proposal also includes the sub-types of Multi-phase Drilling Project (MDP), Complementary Project Proposal (CPP). See separate table in the IODP Proposal Guidelines for Land-2-Sea proposals. 

** Figures and Tables are part of the user-uploaded Main Text pdf. They are not uploaded as separate documents. 

*** Detailed site descriptions are not required for MDP, but general site identification is encouraged.