Maria Bianca Cita Sironi passed away on August 12 2024 at the age of 99. She will remain forever in our hearts, in our memories, and she will accompany forever our professional life as marine geoscientists.
Maria Bianca Cita Sironi was Emeritus Professor at the University of Milan since 1998. Formerly she was a professor of Micropaleontology (1955-1973), Full Professor of Micropaleontology(1973-1978), Geology (1978-1994) and Marine Geology (1994-1997) at the University of Milan.
In 1942, Maria Bianca Cita Sironi was the first student to enroll in the newly established Degree Course in Geological Sciences at the University of Milan obtaining (first graduate) the degree in July 1946 with a maximum score of 110/110 cum laude. She later began an outstanding scientific career as geologist, micropaleontologist, stratigrapher and sedimentologist that led her to become the first woman President of the Italian Geological Society (1989-1990), Director of the Department of Earth Science of the University of Milano, and Member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. In 1994, she was awarded the F.P. Shepard Medal of the Society for Sedimentary Geology for “Excellence in Marine Geology”. From 2004 to 2008 she was President of the International Subcommittees for Neogene Stratigraphy and Stratigraphic Classification, within the International Commission on Stratigraphy of the IUGS.
Maria Bianca Cita Sironi engaged with scientific ocean drilling in 1968 when she was invited to participate (first non-US scientist and one of the first two women scientists onboard) as a Paleontologist in DSDP Leg 2 on the Glomar Challenger contributing to the confirmation of the theory of sea-floor spreading in the central Atlantic Ocean.
Later she joined DSDP Legs 13 and 42 in the Mediterranea Sea, where she contributed together with Bill Ryan and Ken Hsu to the formulation of the theory of Mediterranean desiccation during the Messinian salinity crisis by documenting studying the deep marine depositional environment of the foraminiferal microfaunas contained in the sediments deposited immediately after the end of the salinity crisis. The milestone publication ‘Late Miocene Desiccation of the Mediterranean’, By K.J.Hsu, W.B.F. Ryan and M.B.Cita (Nature, Vol. 242, 1973) introduced in the scientific debate two extraordinary processes in the recent geological evolution of the Mediterranean Sea that are still not universally accepted today: 1) that the level of the Mediterranean Sea has dropped well beyond the eustatic variations during the evaporitic phase,  and 2) that the end of the salinity crisis occurred abruptly due to a flood across the Gibraltar Strait. A theory that has left its mark on the scientific community, on future generations of researchers, and on public opinion.
With the opening of DSDP to international participation (International Phase of Ocean Drilling (IPOD) in 1975, Maria Bianca became one of the most active players in promoting the participation of European countries beyond France, Germany and UK. The opportunity came with the birth of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), when the so called ‘small European countries’ formed the European Science Foundation (ESF) Consortium for Ocean Drilling (ECOD), gathering five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden) and seven other countries (Belgium, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey). Maria Bianca Cita succeeded in identifying the financial resources of CNR that made Italy the largest contributor of ECOD. She was the Italian representative in ESCO (ESF Science Committee for the ODP) from 1986 to 1996,  ESCO Chair  from 1989 to 1992, with the Secretariat located at the University of Milano, member of PCOM (the ODP Planning Committee) from 1989 to 1992. If the Italian scientific community had and still has the privilege to participate in scientific ocean drilling programs, it owes it largely to Maria Bianca Cita.
We will miss Maria Bianca’s skills, passion, dedication, and unselfish support of the careers of many young scientists.

Maria Bianca Cita Sironi, 1924 – 2024. In this photo on board research vessel Gelendzhik in the Mediterranean Sea in the year 1993, participating in the Training Through Research (TTR-3) Program. Photo R.G. Lucchi

MagellanPlus Workshop series announcement
21st Century Drilling 
Building capacity in the digital domain using scientific ocean drilling legacy material
Applications open for Workshop 2. Deadline 2nd of September 2024
Website: https://le.ac.uk/iodp/events/21st-century-drilling
Application form: https://forms.gle/Kyky6bMkwrmQvevYA (deadline 2nd September 2024)
Dates for Workshop 2: 3-12 November 2024 at the BCR, MARUM in Bremen, Germany
Arrival expected on 3 November, departure expected on 13 November 2024
We are very happy to announce the upcoming ECORD MagellanPlus 21st Century Drilling workshop series. During two linked five-day workshops, hosted at the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Bremen Core Repository and MARUM (Germany), we will create new records (core descriptions, geochemistry) from digital core and evaluate this data with reassessment of physical cores using Miocene cores from the South Atlantic. Online syntheses will develop best practices for digital drilling of legacy materials while aiming to advance our understanding of the distribution of Miocene ice rafted debris.
Applications are currently open for Workshop 2 (3-12 November 2024) with the deadline for submissions on the 2nd of September 2024. We are looking for ~12 participants interested in joining this workshop as part of teams in Core Description, Biostratigraphy and Geochemistry-Physical Properties (roughly ~4 people per team). We invite applications from a wide range of specialties (including, but not limited to geochemistry, stratigraphy, sedimentology, palaeomagnetism, biostratigraphy [especially diatoms, radiolarians, planktonic foraminifera]). We’re keen to invite experienced researchers and ECRs alike, both with and without prior (shipboard) IODP experience. Some MagellanPlus funding is available for participants from ECORD countries. If you are interested in applying, please see the website for more details: https://le.ac.uk/iodp/events/21st-century-drilling. You will find a link there to the application form where you can upload a short motivation letter and CV.
 

Download the Workshop flyer

Link to ECORD MagellanPlus website

The International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³), inspired by the 2050 Science Framework (www.iodp.org/2050-science-framework), will start on January 1st, 2025 immediately after the conclusion of the current IODP. IODP³ offshore drilling and coring expeditions will be implemented by the IODP³ operators following an expanded Mission-Specific Platform (MSP) concept that will be applied to all drilling environments, as determined by scientific priorities, operational efficiency and better value for money.
MagellanPlus welcomes proposals for workshops aimed at generating MSP drilling proposals, either as stand-alone projects or as part of land-to-sea transects that integrate marine and continental coring. Proposals based on giant piston coring are particularly welcomed. Scientific themes must be aligned with the Strategic Objectives defined in the 2050 Science Framework, i.e.:
– Earth’s Climate System;
– Feedbacks in the Earth System;
– Tipping Points in Earth’s History;
– Global Cycles of Energy and Matter;
– Natural Hazards Impacting Society;
– The Oceanic Life Cycle of Tectonic Plates;
– Habitability and Life on Earth (e.g., deep biosphere).
MagellanPlus also welcomes proposals for workshops aimed at developing SPARCs that are international and multidisciplinary projects that have objectives originating from or that are based on ocean drilling archives.
Workshops may be either focused on specific scientific ideas and targets or be designed to explore a range of potential ideas related to the Strategic Objectives listed above.
The submission of MSP drilling proposals that consider the possibility of in-kind contributions is encouraged.
MagellanPlus workshops are normally expected to take place in ECORD/ICDP member countries, but exceptions can be made when justified. Workshops that combine virtual and face-to-face sessions, in order to both reduce our carbon footprint and allow for wider participation in workshops, can be considered.
The contribution of the MagellanPlus Workshop Series will not exceed 15,000 € per workshop. Proponents are encouraged to seek co-funding from other sources. Workshops will be held no later than 12 months after approval by the MagellanPlus Science Steering Committee.
Proposals must include:
1) a short summary (max. 500 characters) stating the purpose of the proposed workshop and
its expected impact;
2) a full description (max. 2 pages) of the proposed workshop outlining the goals, rationale,
expected outcome, involvement of early-career researchers, number of participants and
location;
3) a workshop programme;
4) a list of keynote speakers;
5) a flyer of the workshop;
6) a full budget for the workshop;
7) a CV (max. 1 page) plus a list of international, peer-reviewed publications for the last five
years, of main applicant.
Proposals must be submitted by email as a single, combined pdf document to
magellan.plus@uu.nl and to ema@cerege.fr
The deadline for applications is 15 September 2024
For further information, please contact MagellanPlus via magellan.plus@uu.nl
ECORD remains committed to a vigorous policy of broad participation and inclusion, and to
providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all programme participants and
staff.
Download the call HERE

Call for Outreach Officers
IODP Expedition 405: JTRACKTracking Tsunamigenic Slip Across the Japan Trench
21 May 2024
The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) & the Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3)are preparing to implement International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 405: JTRACK – Tracking Tsunamigenic Slip Across the Japan Trench, beginning on 6 September 2024.
Deadline: 15 June 2024

Expedition Scientific Objectives »Who Should Apply and what to prepare »Application Requirements and submission »Contact to ECORD PMO »Further information on IODP Expedition 405 JTRACK »

Expedition Scientific Objectives
The goal of IODP Expedition 405 is to establish the properties, processes, and conditions within subduction zones that promote large slip to the trench and lead to the generation of giant earthquakes and associated tsunamis. Therefore, Expedition 405 will follow a coordinated strategy of Logging While Drilling, coring, and borehole observatory installation to achieve the following objectives:

Determine the stress and strain conditions within and around the fault zone and their variation over space and time,
Constrain subsurface geology including the physical rock properties affecting fault slip behavior and strain localization, as well as the geologic record of past earthquakes and tsunami,
Understand the hydrogeology of the fault zone – including the hydrogeologic structure of faults, fractures, and permeable zones around the plate boundary and their influence on effective stress and earthquake mechanics and the variation of conditions over time.

Together, these objectives will allow a comprehensive description of the mechanical properties and conditions relevant to fault slip during giant earthquakes.
Secondary science objectives include carrying out other geological, geochemical, and microbiological observations to the greatest extent possible.
IODP Expedition 405 will visit two sites (see map) comprising a transect across the trench from undisturbed sedimentary rocks on the Pacific Plate (JTCT-02A) to a site within the overriding plate that will access the fault zone in the region of large, shallow slip during the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (JTCT-01A). Site JTCT-01A is located ~6 km landward of the trench, in the frontal prism, and is co-located with IODP Expedition 343 Site C0019 (see map). Site JTCT-02A is located on the incoming plate, ~8 km seaward of the trench. Logging While Drilling and coring operations at this site will provide critical information on the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of input materials to the subduction zone, as well as on the amounts of fluids entering the subduction zone. A detailed operation plan and schedule can be found below.
Please read the IODP Expedition 405 Prospectus for further details (http://publications.iodp.org/scientific_prospectus/405/ ).
 
Download PDF file of the call »

IODP Expedition 405 webpage:
https://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/e/exp405/
 
IODP Expedition 405 Scientific Prospectus
http://publications.iodp.org/scientific_prospectus/405/
 

Program Member Offices (PMO):https://iodp.org/about-iodp/program-member-offices
ECORD PMO:ECORD Science Support & Advisory Committeehttps://www.ecord.org/about-ecord/management-structure/essac/Angelo Camerlenghi (ESSAC Chair)Hanno Kinkel (ESSAC Science Coordinator)

e-mail: essac@inogs.com

 
Who Should Apply:
MarE3 is making an open call for Outreach Officers to take part in the expedition. We seek enthusiastic artists, videographers, teachers, media specialists, journalists, researchers, etc. with skills in storytelling, infographics, animation, photography, video production, podcasting, and other media. A background in Earth Science would be beneficial but is not required.
The successful applicants will have an interest in developing an outreach project about and aboard D/V Chikyu during the scientific ocean drilling expedition. They will work and learn alongside a team of international scientists and technicians aboard Chikyu for a period of 1–2 weeks during the expedition. Outreach Officers will need to be creative, flexible, friendly, and collaborative. The Outreach officers will operate under the Expedition Co-chief Scientists (CCs), Expedition Project Managers (EPMs), and MarE3.
Outreach Officers should create a plan(s) that will promote:

Scientific Ocean Drilling (SOD)
SOD data use (by researchers, students, and the interested public)
Understanding of the drivers and barriers to international cooperative research
DV Chikyu and other SOD platforms
Interest from the general public in natural hazard research
Earth Science & STEM learning
Fresh approaches to guiding, assisting and improving the engagement between scientists and a wide range of stakeholders

 
Application Requirements:

CV
Letter of Recommendation
Contact information for Referees
One-page proposed outreach plan that aligns with at least 3 of the concepts listed under the plan, above. Include any requirement for funding from your PMO, or if you have outside funding support for your proposal.

Submitting Your Application:
Please check the IODP website (https://iodp.org/about-iodp/program-member-offices) for details regarding to which Program Member Office (PMO) you should submit your application. Once received, all applications will be evaluated and reviewed for creativity, interest, scope, and practicality. Successful applicants will be contacted by their relevant PMO.
Support levels for successful applicants will be determined by the relevant PMO, which may include travel to/from the vessel, HUET certification, post-expedition production and/or research costs, and other ancillary costs. The commitment levels expected of Outreach Officers is dependent on their proposed program, and the level of support from their respective PMO. Applicants may need to source any additional funding that their project requires. Helicopter travel to the ship and all onboard costs (meals, Personal Protective Equipment, etc.) will be provided by JAMSTEC/MarE3.
Applications should be submitted to your PMO by (15 June 2024). Successful applicants will be notified by (30 June 2024).
For further information, please contact the appropriate PMO (https://iodp.org/about-iodp/program-member-offices)

Outreach Officer Routine:
The Outreach Officers will obey all rules and regulations and conduct aboard DV Chikyu. The Outreach Officers work closely with the expedition scientists, and report to the CCs and EPMs. Regular updates on project progress and milestones will be shared with them and with MarE3. All materials and outcomes will be held under the copyright of JAMSTEC/IODP, and will require a release from MarE3 before being made public.
Pre-expedition requirementsThe Science Party members and Outreach Officers will embark and disembark by helicopter, requiring OPITO-approved Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) certification for all onboard personnel.

 
For further information or questions to ECORD PMO, please contact the ESSAC Office:
ECORD Science Support & Advisory CommitteeAngelo Camerlenghi​ (ESSAC Chair)Hanno Kinkel (ESSAC Science Coordinator)Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGSvia Beirut n. 234151 Trieste – Italia
e-mail: essac@ogs.itwebsite: www.ecord.org

 
Further information on IODP Expedition 405 JTRACK Operational PlanThe operational sequence to be completed during IODP Expedition 405 consists of:

Drilling an 8-1/2-inch hole with logging while drilling (LWD)/measurement while drilling (MWD) to a planned total depth (TD) of 950 mbsf at Site JTCT-01A and 450 mbsf at Site JTCT-02A.
Coring a 10-5/8-inch hole with the Rotary Core Barrel (RCB) system to 950 mbsf at Site JTCT-01A and to 450 mbsf at Site JTCT-02A.
Jetting a 20-inch casing and wellhead, drilling 10-5/8-inch hole to 950 mbsf and installing 4-1/2-inch Tubing (TBG) with a multi-sensor temperature measurement string at Site JTCT-01A.

 
Expedition ScheduleCurrent plans have the expedition leaving the Port of Shimizu, Japan, on 6 September 2024, and upon finishing, returning to the same port on 20 December 2024. This schedule is subject to change. Updates and the latest information can be found on the MarE3 website:
https://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/e/exp405
The offshore operations are planned to total 106 days. While the Science Party will be divided into two teams of about 25 scientists each, and will be onboard around 8 weeks, the Outreach Officers will not be aboard the entire expedition, but instead during a series of shorter intervals (e.g. 1-2 weeks), to be determined.
 
Table 1. D/V Chikyu Schedule for FY24
 

Exp.#

Expedition
Name

Schedule
Duration
Co-chief Scientists
EPM

405
JTRACK -Tracking Tsunamigenic Slip Across the Japan Trench
6 Sept 2024 – 20 Dec 2024
106 days

Shuichi Kodaira
Marianne Conin
Patrick Fulton
Jamie Kirkpatrick
Christine Regalla
Kohtaro Ujiie

Lena Maeda
Natsumi Okutsu
Nobu Eguchi
Sean Toczko

 
Remarks:
(1) All expedition schedules are subject to change based on operation requirements, site conditions and budgetary constraints.
 
Download PDF file of the call »

Call for applications
ESSAC CHAIR
 
Deadline to apply: 1 September 2024
The European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) is currently a major contributor to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). As a platform operator, ECORD has developed a unique European-distributed research infrastructure that connects research facilities at multiple sites across Europe and Canada that are engaged in multidisciplinary aspects of subsurface scientific research and have a longstanding culture of cooperation in science, technology, and education.
The ECORD Science Support and Advisory Committee (ESSAC) is the IODP Program Member Office for ECORD and has a central role in coordinating and managing the participation of scientists from all ECORD members in all IODP expeditions.
The end of the current phase of IODP is now scheduled for 30 September 2024. After decades of unified international programmes, from DSDP to the current IODP, there will be major changes in the organization of international scientific ocean drilling activities. ECORD and Japan have agreed to build a joint scientific ocean drilling programme: The International Ocean Drilling Programme – IODP3 (IODP-cubed) by implementing jointly MSP (Mission Specific Platform) expeditions, inclusive of Chikyu, and further develop the MSP concept by diversifying drilling and coring technologies, as determined by scientific priorities, and operational efficiency (doi.org/10.5194/sd-33-89-2024).
IODP3 will begin immediately after the conclusion of the current IODP and will maintain the ESSAC Office as the ECORD Program Member Office.
ESSAC is now seeking applications from active senior scientists from ECORD member nations to act as ESSAC CHAIR for a three-year term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028 and host the ESSAC Office in the same period. This is an exciting opportunity to take on a leading role within IODP, and to contribute to the successful continuation of scientific ocean drilling into its next major phase.
Role of the ESSAC Office and the ESSAC Chair within IODP3:
The mandate of the ESSAC Office is to manage and be responsible for the scientific planning and coordination of ECORD’s contribution to and participation in IODP3.
Specific tasks of the ESSAC Office are coordinate expedition and SPARC (Scientific Projects using Ocean Drilling Archives) applications, nominating science party members, reviewing the quota of science party members with respect to national financial contributions, to advise ECORD member countries on IODP3 Issues, coordinate training and outreach programs, evaluating and nominating candidates to IODP3 entities such as Facility Boards, and the Science Evaluation Panel and other IODP3Advisory panels, initiating and monitoring workshops, providing stimulation and guidance for writing scientific drilling proposals, assisting and advising the ECORD Managing Agency  (EMA) and the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) on public outreach.
The ESSAC Chair reports directly to the ECORD Council and acts as a liaison to EMA, ESO and other IODP3 entities. The ESSAC Chair is responsible for running the ESSAC Office, coordinating nominations of ECORD members for IODP3 expeditions, SPARCS and advisory panels, and for organizing and leading biannual ESSAC meetings. The Chair represents ESSAC as a member of the MSP Facility Board, the IODP3 Outreach Task Force, the Vision Task Force, and the Scientific Drilling  Forum. The ESSAC Office coordinates the evaluation of applications and funding of ECORD Grants, ECORD Summer Schools, ECORD Scholarships and the Distinguished Lecturer Programme. The ESSAC Chair is also expected to propose and co-convene an IODP3/ICDP-related special session at the European Geosciences Union
(EGU) General Assembly each year.
(Detailed description of ESSACs role in ECORD and IODP3, can be found in the preliminary ECORD MoU download here)
Term, Conditions and Compensation:
The ESSAC Chair is appointed by the ECORD Council, based on nominations by ESSAC. The ESSAC Chair rotates every three years together with the location of the ESSAC Office.  In addition, the selected ESSAC Chair will serve as incoming Vice-Chair beginning on January 1st 2025  and outgoing Vice-Chair for 18 months after the end of the term.
The ESSAC Office is funded by ECORD with a budget that will be paid annually and administered by the host institution. The budget shall be sufficient to include: (i) the salary of a full-time Science Coordinator, to be selected and appointed by the Chair, who assists with day-to-day duties of the office; (ii) travel and subsistence costs to allow the Chair and Science Coordinator to attend essential ECORD and IODP3 business meetings; and (iii) funding for the various activities managed by the office (e.g ECORD Research Grants, Scholarships, Summer Schools, Distinguished Lecturer Program). The budget also provides an annual compensation for the time spent by the Chair on ESSAC business. The Chair is free to use this compensation for any purpose (subject to the regulations of the host institution). Previous uses have included the appointment of academic staff to cover most of the Chair’s teaching responsibilities or the hire of staff to maintain the Chair’s research activities during their term in office.
Please note that the ESSAC Chair also serves as an ESSAC delegate representing the ECORD member country. Therefore, candidates will need to demonstrate that they are endorsed by their respective national IODP3 offices when appropriate.
 
Application Process:
Potential candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the current ESSAC Office (essac@ogs.it) or the ESSAC Chair (Angelo Camerlenghi, acamerlenghi@ogs.it) for advice and guidance prior to applying.
Interested scientists from ECORD member countries should email the following documents (as pdf files) to the ESSAC Office:
1) a letter of interest including scientific expertise and previous involvement in scientific ocean drilling.
2) a two-page summary CV including the most relevant recent publications.
3) a letter from the head of their institute/department confirming that the home institution agrees to host the ESSAC Office.
4) a short letter (or email) from their national office or research council representative indicating that they are aware of and approve the application.
Deadline to apply: 1 September 2024
Applications will be assessed by ESSAC, with a final nomination submitted to the ECORD Council for approval in October 2024.
 
For further information or questions, please contact the current ESSAC Office:
ECORD Science Support & Advisory Committee
Angelo Camerlenghi (ESSAC Chair)
Hanno Kinkel (ESSAC Science Coordinator)
Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS
via Beirut n. 2
34151 Trieste – Italia
e-mail: essac@ogs.it
website: www.ecord.org