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doi:10.2204/iodp.sp.350.2013

Sampling and data sharing strategies

Every member of the science party is obligated to carry out scientific research for the expedition and publish that research. Shipboard and shore-based science party members must therefore submit sample requests detailing their science plan (web.iodp.tamu.edu/sdrm/). Shipboard and shore-based science party members 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. Any policy changes that may occur with the beginning of the International Ocean Discovery Program in October 2013 will be distributed to the Shipboard Scientific Party and interested shore-based scientists as soon as possible.

All requests for core samples and data must be approved by the Sample Allocation Committee (SAC). The SAC is composed of the Co-Chief Scientists, Expedition Project Manager, and IODP Curator on shore and curatorial representative in place of the Curator onboard the ship.

The sample and data request submission deadline for shipboard scientists is 30 November 2013. Shore-based scientists are not necessarily identified or informed at that time and may submit requests any time before or during the expedition. The earlier shore-based requesters submit their proposals, the better their chances to be integrated into the shipboard sampling plan. Shipboard requests have priority over shore-based requests if conflicts cannot be resolved through collaboration.

Based on sample requests submitted by 30 November and additional input from the scientific party as necessary, the SAC will prepare a tentative precruise sampling plan consistent with expedition objectives. The tentative plan will be subject to modification during the expedition depending upon 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.

All sample frequencies and sizes must be justified scientifically and address expedition objectives. Approval will depend on the full spectrum of other requests and final sample yield will depend on core recovery. Some redundancy of measurements among participants 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. The science party will also identify potential gaps in the overall research plan and seek shore-based collaborators if necessary. All shipboard scientists are expected to collaborate and cooperate within the framework of this plan.

Shipboard subsampling of cores will include samples for shipboard analysis and samples for postcruise studies. Whole-round samples may be taken for shipboard and shore-based pore fluid chemistry, physical property, and possibly microbiological experiments. Our intent is to take all subsamples needed by investigators for their first 2 y of postcruise studies on the ship (as opposed to holding a dedicated postcruise sampling party).

The SAC reserves the right to pause or defer sampling if critical intervals are recovered, or recovery drops to a critical level, so as not to yield sufficient material to meet the demands of the existing sampling plan. Critical intervals or very low recovery may require special handling, a higher sampling density, reduced sample size, or continuous core sampling for the highest priority research objectives. The SAC may require an additional formal sampling plan before such intervals to maximize scientific participation and to preserve some material for future studies.

Following Expedition 350, cores will be delivered to the IODP Kochi Core Center (KCC) in Kochi, Japan. All collected data and samples will be protected by a 1 y moratorium period following the completion of the expedition, during which time data and samples are available only to the Expedition 350 science party and approved shore-based participants. A limited number of samples may be taken on shore by core repository staff during the moratorium, if approved by the SAC.

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