ANZIC Call for two new representatives on the IODP Science Evaluation Panel.

by

Call Opens: Friday 9th October

Webinar: Thursday the 22nd October (9:30am Perth; 11:30 Queensland; 12 noon Adelaide; 12:30pm ACT/NSW/Vic/Tas; 2:30pm New Zealand). Duration ~45 mins.

EOIs close: Wednesday 28th October.

The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) addresses fundamental questions about Earth’s climate, deep life, geodynamics, and geohazards and is driven by a flow of drilling proposals provided by the scientific community.

The IODP Science Evaluation Panel (SEP) is an advisory body of the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB), and is also used by the ECORD Facility Board and Chikyu IODP Board to review scientific drilling proposals. SEP is central to the success of IODP and is responsible for the evaluation and selection of the best and most relevant proposals, based on both scientific excellence and completeness and quality of the site survey data package. Members on SEP represent domain experts from IODP member countries who volunteer their time and expertise.

SEP’s work is organized by the panel Co-Chairs (currently Gail Christeson and Lisa McNeill). Aided by the IODP Science Support Office, SEP meets twice a year (January and June) to consider IODP proposals submitted to the April and October deadlines and conducts inter-sessional work via email. SEP follows the proposal review process described in the IODP Proposal Submission Guidelines and the IODP Standard Confidentiality Policy, and adheres to the Terms of Reference for SEP and the IODP Code of Conduct and Anti-harassment policy. Once SEP decides to forward a proposal, its future path toward possible implementation is determined by the relevant Facility Board.

ANZIC has two representatives on SEP, with one role aligned to the Site subgroup and the other within the Science subgroup. A representative’s term on SEP is normally 2-3 years. ANZIC has been invited by the JOIDES Resolution Facilities Board to advertise for two new representatives to commence in 2021, as outlined below.

ANZIC supports the attendance of their SEP representatives at the 3-4 day SEP meetings. Currently, in the pandemic situation, meetings are being held virtually, and ANZIC is investigating alternative support for the new representatives. The next meeting is anticipated to be held between the 12-14/15th January. ANZIC also identifies alternates for each representative, however, it is expected that ANZIC selected representatives will attend all meetings.

Call 1. Science subgroup.

An ANZIC representative with expertise in hard rock or tectonics and/or hydrates for the Science subgroup of SEP.

Call 2. Sites subgroup.

An ANZIC representative with expertise in conventional multichannel seismic data for the Site subgroup of SEP. Additional expertise in hard rock or tectonics and/or hydrates is welcomed.

Interested – have Questions?

If you are interested in either of these roles, ANZIC will hold an information webinar on the 2nd October (12:30pm Aust Eastern Summer Time) where previous ANZIC SEP representatives (Chris Elders (Curtin University) and Ron Hackney (Geoscience Australia)) and the Program Scientist (Leanne Armand) will cover what’s involved and answer any questions raised. Please contact the ANZIC administrator (iodp.administrator@anu.edu.au) to be sent an invitation to the Zoom webinar.

EOI Application.

Scientists interested in volunteering for these opportunities should send a cover letter and a two-page CV to iodp.administrator@anu.edu.au by October 28th, 2020. (details below)

The roles are extremely rewarding and a significant boost to broadening your knowledge, skills and international network across IODP. We are looking for representatives that are willing to embrace the collaborative, collegiate and constructive ethos of the review process; are able to commit to the meeting times and have experience in the fields identified. The JRFB and ANZIC are looking to promote diversity within SEP, therefore applications by women and minority groups are welcome to apply for these roles. Applications are open to all ANZIC members. We encourage the involvement of early- and mid-career scientists on SEP, as well as those with more experience.

Cover letters should clearly indicate your primary field of expertise, briefly document previous committee experience, describe your interest in the scientific ocean drilling programs (now and in the future), and identify your preferred panel assignment.

Curriculum Vitae should include:

A) Academic/ Professional Qualifications

B) Employment History

C) Selected recent publications or relevant Government/Industry reports or outputs

D) Recent Synergistic Activities (e.g. service, committee, reviewer)

E) Relevant Field experience (last 5 years)

EOIs close: Wednesday 28th October. Submit your EOI to: iodp.administrator@anu.edu.au

Selection Process.

Applications will be administratively processed by the ANZIC Office and provided to the ANZIC Science Committee Chair who will convene a sub-committee to assess the applications. A short list will be provided to the ANZIC Program Scientist for consideration, and subsequent ANZIC Governing Council approval. The ANZIC endorsed candidates will be provided to the JOIDES Resolution Facility Board (JRFB) Chair who will have them assessed by the Board and SEP Co-chairs. Once approved by the JRFB all ANZIC applicants to the opportunity will be informed of the outcome. This outcome is anticipated to be announced in December, 2020.

Comments on the 2050 Science Framework have closed! Read more here!

by

Thank you to those who provided input and comments on shaping the future of scientific ocean drilling by commenting on the 2050 Science Framework. We would also like to thank the ANZIC working group, Mike Coffin, Stuart Henrys and Anais Page.

The second, fully designed draft version of the 2050 Science Framework titled Exploring Earth Through Scientific Ocean Drilling can be viewed here >>> Click here to view the document <<<

The expected completion date of the framework is by 1 September 2020 and the final version will be presented to the IODP Forum in their meeting of 22-24 September 2020. 

LIEF BID UPDATE

by

The ANU Research Office formally submitted the ARC LIEF Grant lead by Prof. Eelco Rohling on the 31st March.

Through February-March 2020, an 18-month ARC LIEF proposal has been proposed to cover IODP subscription and ANZIC organisation of Australian-New Zealand IODP interests. 13 Universities and 2 Partner Institutions have taken part. The bid was led by Prof. Eelco Rohling from the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, and concerns a total value of $4.74M, of which $3M is requested from the ARC.

If awarded, the project start date will be 1 January 2021.

ANZIC is offering travel bursaries to attend IODP Workshops for 2020

by

ANZIC Governing Council are pleased to announce that they will be offering a maximum $3K AUD/NZD travel bursaries to attend IODP Workshops in 2020. Support will be made available to successful Australian & New Zealand applicants approved to attend workshop by organisers. ANZIC will select applicants based on the basis of ANZIC Science Committee ranking of applications.

APPLICATION FORM: Travel Bursary Application.pdf

Ancient ‘mirror image’ of Great Barrier Reef discovered off northern Australia

by

Jackson Mccaffrey a University of Melbourne PhD student (supervised by A/Prof Stephen Gallagher and A/Porf Malcolm Wallace) has used detailed subsea seismic data and information from cores obtained from IODP Expedition 356 to discover an ancient great barrier reef off Australia’s coast.

Our research shows that a 2000 km long reef similar to the present east coast Great Barrier Reef persisted and expanded for millions or years around 15 million years ago off North West Australia and pretty much disappeared by 10 million years ago.

Nevertheless, the modern “less great” remnants of this reef are still present today as smaller patches off the Kimberley coast, the Rowley Shoals, Ningaloo Reef and the Houtman-Abrolhos reefs.

What could have led to the death of the North West Australian Great Barrier Reef?

We suggest that a combination of ocean/climate change and subsidence (the region started sinking at a very fast rate just prior to reef demise) caused the drowning of this huge feature, leaving a few small modern reefs today.

Published in the journal Global and Planetary Change

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/ancient-great-barrier-reef-discovered-off-northern-australia-20191030-p535rx.html