All IODP Proposal Deadlines Have Passed

Drilling Proposals

The International Ocean Discovery Program used 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 did not result in a financial arrangement (contract) with the proponent's institution, they were submitted by the individual investigator and not through the investigator's institution.

A Call for Drilling Proposals wass 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 was one month after the proposal submission deadline. Proposed drill sites were be supported by site characterization data that built confidence that the targets were correctly identified, achievable, and safe.

Drilling proposals were 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 met in January and June and reports containing the outcome of the review were 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 considered drilling proposals that had been forwarded by SEP. Once a proposal was with a Facility Board for consideration, the Board was allowed to ask for further refinements/changes or change the scope of a proposal to be compatible with the platform capability or operating budget. When a proposal was scheduled or close to being scheduled, the Facility Board requested a safety review by the Environmental Protection and Safety Panel or an equivalent panel. 

Proposals were developed into research expeditions by the platform science operator in accordance with the IODP Principles of Scientific Investigation. 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) were a new type of project for international and interdisciplinary collaborations under the umbrella of the scientific ocean drilling programs. LEAPs were 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 released a Call for LEAP Proposals twice per year, with deadlines matching those for drilling proposals. Because proposals did not result in a financial arrangement (contract) with the proponent's institution, they were submitted by the individual investigator and not through the investigator's institution.

LEAP proposals were peer-reviewed within the IODP framework by the Science Evaluation Panel (SEP). SEP typically met in January and June and the outcome of the review was 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) was the web-based interface for completing and submitting IODP proposals. PDB offered specific guidance and many proposal components were created interactively; proponents were advised to begin working with PDB as soon as a proposal is planned. Please note that simultaneous users were not supported; generally, the proposal lead was 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 was usually published at least two months in advance of the deadline with specifics about what types of proposals were being sought. Proponents were strongly encouraged to contact the Science Operators to discuss platform-specific operational and fiscal constraints before developing proposals. The IODP Proposal Manager had sole authority to accept proposals or grant exceptions to deadlines and policies.

The process to submit a drilling proposal included:

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

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

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

All Data Submission Deadlines Have Passed

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

After a drilling proposal was accepted, the Science Support Office set up the proposed sites in the SSDB and contacted the lead proponent when the system was ready for data uploads. Data submissions were then submitted by the deadline. Data submissions had to follow the format policies and other regulations specified in the IODP Site Characterization Guidelines. 

The process to submit data included:

• Logging in to SSDB to upload and manage site survey data
• Downloading the IODP Site Characterization Guidelines
• Reading the Standard IODP Confidentiality Policy
• Reading Information for Proponents in SSDB

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

IODP drilling proposals were considered Active when they were 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 had been unresponsive for 5 years were subject to deactivation. This table was last updated on March 2025 and represents active proposals at the end of IODP. You can download graphs and pie charts of proposal statistics.

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.