The Mandates and Terms of Reference
for the
JOIDES Science Advisory StructureThe entire document is available from JOIDES office
JOIDES Science Advisory StructureScience Steering and Evaluation Panels
General Purpose.
The Science Steering and Evaluation
Panels (SSEPs) are established by the Science Committee to interact with
proponents and Program Planning Groups in nurturing selected drilling proposals
to maturity, evaluating those proposals, and then recommending mature proposals
for external comment. The Science Steering and Evaluation Panels advise
SCICOM on thematic development within the Ocean Drilling Program. Based
on the 1996 ODP Long Range Plan there shall be initially two SSEPs.
The interests of Dynamics of Earth's Environment SSEP are explained in detail in the ODP Long Range Plan. In particular, important themes of investigation are:
Understanding Earth's changing climate: this explores the causes, effects, and interrelations between climate change and oceanic circulation patterns which is essential to understanding our climate system and predicting its response to such factors as global warming from greenhouse gases.
Causes and effects of sea-level change: this investigates the complex interactions between climate, orbital dynamics, and the vigor of thermal convection within the Earth's asthenosphere and their effects on the timing, rates and magnitude of sea-level changes.
Sediments, fluids and bacteria as agents of change: this examines the complex interactions between organic and inorganic material from the continents, deposition from the marine biosphere, and circulation of fluids through the deposited material.
Dynamics of Earth's Interior SSEP: Area of Interest
The interests of Dynamics of Earth's Interior SSEP are explained in detail in the ODP Long Range Plan. In particular, important themes of investigation are:
Exploring the transfer of heat and materials to and from Earth's interior: this attempts to quantify and model the physical and chemical processes involved in the solid Earth geochemical system through exploration of mantle dynamics, the formation and structure of oceanic crust, hydrothermal processes and sulfide mineralization, crustal aging, and recycling of material at subduction zones.
Investigating deformation of the lithosphere and earthquake processes: this investigates deformation along extensional, translational and convergent boundaries, and examines earthquake mechanisms.
Mandate.
Each Science Steering and Evaluation Panel
is responsible to the Science Committee, and will respond directly to requests
from it, as well as reporting to it on a regular basis. Each Science Steering
and Evaluation Panel will be responsible for: nurturing to maturity and
evaluating the scientific merits of selected drilling proposals by interaction
with Program Planning Groups and proponents providing Program Planning Groups,
proponents, and SCICOM with written evaluations and comments on the proposals
through the JOIDES Office; selecting proposals for external comment, suggesting
reviewers, and providing SCICOM with external comments and a written evaluation
of those comments before SCICOM ranks the proposal; alerting the Site Survey
Panel to proposals that will require initial site survey evaluation; advising
and interacting with SCICOM on thematic development with ODP; advising SCICOM
on initiatives and themes that need further development (formation of Program
Planning Groups); facilitating communications between SCICOM, Program Planning
Groups, and proponents; providing SCICOM with the names of possible Co-Chief
Scientists.
The Science Steering and Evaluation Panels will also act to disseminate and correlate information in the appropriate areas by:
- monitoring the progress made by ODP cruise participants and other scientists on the results from shore-based research on samples; encouraging shore-based laboratory work on samples recovered through ODP drilling;
- encouraging its members to contribute to symposia at which the results of drilling will be discussed;
- publishing progress reports in the open literature to inform and encourage participation in the project;
- providing input to SCICOM for the summary of scientific achievements of ODP for inclusion in the ODP Program Plan.
These mandates are guidelines and do not restrict panels. The Science Committee may ask Panels to take up topics not in their original mandates.
Meetings.
Science Steering and Evaluation Panels meet
at least twice a year, but may meet more frequently as requested by SCICOM.
They will always endeavor to meet at the same time and location, and have
overlapping sessions as overlap in thematic coverage is expected to continue
to evolve. The SCICOM Chair approves their meeting dates, locations, and
agendas.
Membership.
Science Steering and Evaluation Panels
are composed of 10 or fewer appointees from US institutions and one appointee
from each full non-US member. SCICOM will advise member committees of its
preferred SSEP membership, based on maintaining scientific balance of expertise.
Panel members will serve a maximum of three years, with one-third of the
panelists being replaced each year. Members of the Science Steering and
Evaluation Panels will not be members of any Program Planning Group. Invitation
to any guests must be issued by the SCICOM Chair.
Liaison.
The Director of ODP at JOI, or nominee thereof,
and the Directors, or nominees thereof, of the Science Operator and the
Wireline Logging Services Operator and the Wireline Services Operator, the
Site Survey Panel, and a member of the JOIDES Office, are permanent, non-voting
liaison observers.
Vote and Quorum.
A quorum shall be two-thirds of the
panel membership and decisions shall be reached by majority voting.
Chair.
The Chairs are appointed by SCICOM.
General Purpose .
Program Planning Groups (PPG) are
small focused planning groups formed by SCICOM when there is a need to develop
drilling programs or technological strategies to achieve the goals of the
Long Range Plan.
Mandate.
PPGs will advise upon drilling/technology
strategies and proposals for major scientific objectives that are not adequately
covered by existing drilling strategies or proposals. Drilling proposals
arising from PPG meetings must be submitted to the JOIDES Office by individual
proponents or groups of proponents. PPGs will also foster communication
between the ODP and other major geoscience initiatives. PPGs will report
to the appropriate panel in the JOIDES Advisory Structure as directed by
SCICOM.
Meetings.
These will be on an as-required basis, determined
by SCICOM and approved by the SCICOM Chair, who will also approve dates,
locations, and agendas.
Membership.
Members of PPGs will be focused groups
of specialists and proponents, chosen by SCICOM through consultation with
the SSEPs and community programs. Each full member of ODP will have the
right of representation. A maximum number of 16 members is suggested based
on current MOUs. The number of PPGs will be determined by SCICOM's need
to fulfill the Long Range Plan objectives, subject to budgetary constraints.
The normal term length will be three years, but is renewable by SCICOM.
Liaison.
SCICOM establishes liaison with PPGs by the
appointment of non-voting liaisons. A liaison from the appropriate SSEP
may also be established.
Chair.
The PPG Chairs are appointed by SCICOM.
Adopted by JOI Board of Governors: 13 February, 1997
Wiring diagram of the JOIDES science
advisory reporting structure.
