Relations to international programs

• IODP
  - Involved in 5 drilling program applications
• Neptune program
• ICDP
  - Involved one drilling program
• InterRidge program

Sampling and investigation of the deep biosphere requires drilling platforms. The exploration of the deep biosphere therefore depends on international cooperation. The exploration of the deep, subseafloor biosphere has become one of three major scientific themes in the international Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), which operates three drilling platforms.

UiB is a key institution in the Norwegian IODP effort. It hosts the NFR-funded Norwegian IODP-office headed by the CoE Director. CGB researchers will play a central role in the program being represented in several of the key panels and being involved in several research/drilling proposals. CGB, in cooperation with its international partners, will actively use the opportunity the ocean drilling program provides. A major aim of the centre will be to contribute to the development of experiments and research strategies needed to make significant advances in the understanding of the deep biosphere through the IODP.

CGB has been invited by the University of Washington to participate in the NEPTUNE program as an international partner. The $250M Neptune program will deploy a regional cabled ocean observatory on the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the west coast of USA and Canada. In collaboration with UW we aim to design geochemical and geomicrobiological experiments to conduct on the cable and to use the cable for outreach and educational purposes. The Neptune program will be important for technology exchange between USA and Norway and will provide UiB with important experience and know-how for the planning and deployment of a future European cable off the coast of Norway.

The centre will also target the opportunities provided by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) to address important research objectives concerning the deep biosphere and early earth environments. Members of the centre are actively involved in the FARDEEP drilling project in Fennoscandia - Arctic Russia to investigate the Palaeoproterozoic earth. Several of our international collaborators are involved in the ICDP projects. The centre also plans to take part in ICDP-drilling of the Achaean rocks of the Barberton Greenstone Belt to address issues on early life.

The centre will also have close links to the InterRidge program where the proposed centre leader is a member of the steering committee. Through US and Canadian partners, the proposed centre will also have close links to the Ridge 2000 program.