“Billions of Years of Earth Evolution” is the overarching motto for the brand-new Science Plan of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, ICDP. This Science Plan outlines the scientific challenges to be addressed by continental scientific drilling for the coming decade and bundles them in four key topics: Geodynamic Processes, Geohazards, Georesources, and Environmental Change.

Within these areas, future ICDP projects will tackle scientific questions related to important aspects of the evolution of planet Earth (thermal evolution, tectonics, magnetic field, atmosphere, oceans, and life), past climates and the effects of large impacts and mass extinctions, the formation and wise utilization of our most significant resources, and in-situ monitoring of volcanoes and fault zones. These key themes are directly linked to wider societal challenges related to clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, mitigation of natural hazards, and climate action.

The science plan was developed in close cooperation with our offshore sibling, the International Ocean Discovery Program, IODP. ICDP aims to boost jointly with IODP the successful cooperation by implementing the new Land To Sea Drilling (L2S) initiative for projects that require combined onshore and offshore scientific drilling to fully address outstanding scientific challenges and operational goals.

We kindly invite you to discover our Science Plan and to start brainstorming about new drilling initiatives and to spread the word on ICDP in your science networks. Download and see here the Science Plan and an introductory video.

Scientific contact:
Dr. Thomas Wiersberg
Section 4.2 Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam, Germany
e-mail: wiers@gfz-potsdam.de
phone: +49 (0)331 288 1081

Media contact:
Josef Zens
Head of Public and Media Relations
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam, Germany
e-mail: josef.zens@gfz-potsdam.de
phone: +49-331-288-1040