Scientific Direction

Science Advisory Structure

Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling (JOIDES) was responsible for establishing the scientific objectives through a Science Advisory Structure (SAS) that involved over 100 scientists and engineers on standing committees and panels, and almost 100 in the shorter-lived planning groups. The JOIDES SAS was restructured in 1996 to better undertake the initiatives and objectives contained in the 1996 Long-Range Plan, "Understanding our Dynamic Earth through Ocean Drilling."

JOIDES SAS consisted of an Executive Committee (EXCOM), and a science advisory structure (SAS) headed by a Science Committee (SCICOM). The SCICOM and the JOIDES science advisory panels were charged with the long-term science planning activities necessary to meet, and go beyond, the goals of the 1996 Long-Range Plan.

ODP Science Advisory Structure as of 2003 (PDF):

As shown in the diagram, the remainder of the JOIDES SAS consisted of

• A Budget Committee (BCOM, an ad hoc subcommittee of EXCOM)
• An Operations Committee (OPCOM)
• Two Science Steering and Evaluation Panels (SSEPs)
• Two service panels: Site Survey Panel (SSP) & Pollution Prevention and Safety Panel (PPSP)
• A Scientific Measurements Panel (SciMP)
• A Technology and Engineering Development Committee (TEDCOM)
• Ad hoc Detailed Planning Groups (DPGs)
• Program Planning Groups (PPGs)
• Working Groups (WGs)

Panels and committees that existed during the earlier years of ODP:

• Atlantic Regional Panel (ARP)
• Central and Eastern Pacific Panel (CEPAC)
• Downhole Measurements Panel (DMP)
• Indian Ocean Panel (IOP)
• Information Handling Panel (IHP)
• Lithospheric Panel (LITHP)
• Ocean History Panel (OHP)
• ODP Council (ODPC)
• Planning Committee (PCOM)
• Sedimentary and Geochemical Processes Panel (SGPP)
• Sediments and Ocean History Panel (SOHP)
• Shipboard Measurements Panel (SMP)
• Southern Ocean Panel (SOP)
• Tectonics Panel (TECP)
• Western Pacific Panel (WPAC)