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doi:10.2204/iodp.sp.342.2011

Sample and data sharing strategy

Shipboard and shore-based researchers should refer to the IODP Sample, Data, and Obligations Policy (www.iodp.org/program-policies/). This document outlines the policy for distributing IODP samples and data. It also defines the obligations incurred by sample and data recipients. All requests for data and core samples must be approved by the Sample Allocation Committee (SAC). The SAC is composed of the Co-Chief Scientists, Staff Scientist, and IODP Curator on shore and curatorial representatives in place of the Curator on board the ship.

Every member of the science party is obligated to carry out scientific research for the expedition and publish. For this purpose, shipboard scientists are expected to submit sample requests (at smcs.iodp.org:8080/smcs/) detailing their science plan ~3–4 months before the beginning of the expedition (exact time line will be established when staffing is complete). On the basis of sample requests (shore based and shipboard) submitted by this deadline and input from the scientific party, the SAC will prepare a tentative sampling plan that will be revised on the ship as dictated by recovery and cruise objectives. The sampling plan will be subject to modification depending on the actual material recovered and collaborations that may evolve between scientists during the expedition. This planning process is necessary to coordinate the research to be conducted and to ensure that the scientific objectives are achieved. Modifications to the sampling plan and access to samples and data during the expedition and the 1 y postexpedition moratorium period require the approval of the SAC.

All sample frequencies and sizes must be justified on a scientific basis and will depend on core recovery, the full spectrum of other requests, and the expedition objectives. Some redundancy of measurement is unavoidable, but minimizing the duplication of measurements among the shipboard party and identified shore-based collaborators will be a factor in evaluating sample requests. Success will require collaboration, integration of complementary data sets, and consistent methods of analysis. Substantial collaboration and cooperation are highly encouraged.

Shipboard sampling will be restricted to acquiring ephemeral data types and to low-resolution sampling for shipboard data acquisition (e.g., biostratigraphic sampling, pore waters, and shipboard geochemistry) so that we can rapidly produce age-model data critical to the overall objectives of the expedition and plan for higher resolution sampling postcruise. Sampling may also include “toothpick” (~0.5 cm³) samples for preliminary shore-based stable isotope investigations where they are likely to materially aid the identification of critical intervals for the sampling party, as long as they do not threaten the integrity of the core. The bulk of sampling for scientists’ personal research will be postponed until a shore-based sampling party to be implemented ~4–5 months after the expedition at the Bremen Core Repository (BCR) in Bremen, Germany. The BCR houses cores collected from the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

There may be considerable demand for samples from a limited amount of cored material for some critical intervals. Critical intervals may require special handling, a higher sampling density, reduced sample size, or continuous core sampling for a set of particular high-priority research objectives. The SAC may require an additional formal sampling plan before critical intervals are sampled, and a special sampling plan will be developed to maximize scientific return and scientific participation and to preserve some material for future studies. The SAC can decide at any stage during the expedition or during the 1 y moratorium period to identify recovered intervals as “critical.”

All collected data and samples will be protected by a 1 y postexpedition moratorium, during which time data and samples are available only to the Expedition 342 Science Party and approved shore-based participants. Because of the decision to hold a sampling party ~4–5 months postcruise, the moratorium will in fact extend to 1 y following the completion of the sampling party.

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