Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian and New Zealand IODP Consortium (ANZIC) regarding participation in the Chikyu Program over the next ten years from 2014 to 2024 under the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
The memorandum includes actions promoting cooperation between JAMSTEC and ANZIC such as providing ANZIC with access to board the D/V Chikyu for IODP expeditions. Under this partnership, the Chikyu Program will continue to address scientific challenges in IODP over the decade.
Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Consortium consists of 25 research institutions and universities in the two countries.
Following the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 2003-2013 (IODP), the International Ocean Discovery Program was launched in October, 2013, as a multinational cooperative program led by Japan and the U.S. At present, a total of 27 nations including the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) members, China, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, and Brazil are participating in it.
Multiple ocean drilling platforms such as the D/V Chikyu operated by Japan, the JOIDES Resolution by the U.S., and mission-specific platforms by ECORD are utilized for IODP expeditions. It highlights four main themes: Climate and Ocean Change, Biosphere Frontiers, Earth Connections and Earth in Motion.