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Technical Assistance Board

Successful 2025 Technical Assistance Board Meeting Held in Madison

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The NSF Ice Drilling Program (IDP) convenes a Technical Assistance Board (TAB) of experts on the subject of drill innovation, design, and operation. The TAB meets in-person biennially but are available regularly via email for ongoing assistance with specific technical tasks as needed. The biennial TAB meeting was held on March 5-6, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin (WI). Discussions included updates regarding recent and upcoming IDP fieldwork, discussion of IDP drill system electronics and shallow wet drill development, an update regarding IceCube upgrade activities, an open discussion of many drilling topics (e.g., pumps/chip transport/fluids, drill tents, driller staffing issues), drilling and technology updates from the TAB members, and a tour of the IDP-WI facility. Twenty-five people participated in-person and three joined via Zoom. As with each TAB meeting, IDP gained very valuable feedback from board members on equipment development projects, ideas regarding new technologies in ice drilling and other fields, as well as input on field project logistics. The agenda and notes from the meeting are available on the IDP website.

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Images of IDP engineers/drillers (Barb Birrittella (top, left), Elliot Moravec (top, right), Jay Johnson (bottom, left), and Tanner Kuhl (bottom, right)) presenting at the 2025 Technical Assistance Board (TAB) meeting held March 5-6, 2025, in Madison, WI.
Images of IDP engineers/drillers (Barb Birrittella (top, left), Elliot Moravec (top, right), Jay Johnson (bottom, left), and Tanner Kuhl (bottom, right)) presenting at the 2025 Technical Assistance Board (TAB) meeting held March 5-6, 2025, in Madison, WI. Discussions during the meeting included updates regarding recent and upcoming IDP fieldwork, discussion of IDP drill system electronics and shallow wet drill development, an open discussion of many drilling topics (e.g., pumps/chip transport/fluids, drill tents, driller staffing issues), and drilling and technology updates from the TAB members.

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Requesting Field Support

If you are preparing a NSF proposal that includes any kind of support from IDP, you must include a Letter of Support from IDP in the proposal. Researchers are asked to provide IDP with a detailed support request six weeks prior to the date the Letter of Support is required. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

Program Information

The U.S. National Science Foundation Ice Drilling Program (IDP) is a NSF-funded facility. IDP conducts integrated planning for the ice drilling science and technology communities, and provides drilling technology and operational support that enables the community to advance the frontiers of science.