News
Request for Community Input — DRAFT 2023 Long Range Science Plan
Each year in the spring, the Ice Drilling Program (IDP) works with its Science Advisory Board and the research community to update the Long Range Science Plan. This Plan identifies the science in the coming decade that will require the use of ice drilling technology and expertise for the community. This also drives the formation of other plans, for example, the Long Range Drilling Technology Plan. The plans provide the basis for multi‐annual planning for the actions and drill development projects of IDP and others, and the plans give the funding agencies advance notice of upcoming community science needs.
If you need an ice core or a hole drilled in a glacier or ice sheet in the coming decade or a rock core from under shallow glacial ice, please make sure that the high‐level articulation of your science is captured in the current draft update of the Long Range Science Plan!
Please read through the draft Long Range Science Plan and send corrections, updates, or additions to Icedrill@Dartmouth.edu ASAP or not later than May 26, 2023. When sending corrections/updates, please also reference the appropriate line number in the draft Long Range Science Plan where the correction/update is needed.
Submission deadline: May 26, 2023
To download the working draft, visit: https://icedrill.org/long-range-science-plan
Call for Nominations: Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Ice Drilling Program
The Science Advisory Board (SAB) of the U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) invites nominations, including self-nominations, from the scientific community to fill four open positions on the IDP-SAB. The SAB seeks to maintain expertise in subglacial science, glacial geophysics, ice borehole science, and cryomicrobiology. Nominees must be U.S.-based scientists whose research relies on analysis of evidence from within and below ice sheets and glaciers. The primary purpose of the SAB is to represent the research community in providing advice and input on scientific issues affecting drilling and coring efforts of the IDP. SAB members typically serve for four years, participate in the annual SAB meeting, and collaborate remotely as needed. SAB members work with the standing working groups to prioritize community needs.
* Please send nominations and expressions of interest to Icedrill@Dartmouth.edu by November 17, 2022. *
Call for Nominations: Ice Core Working Group of the U.S. Ice Drilling Program
The Ice Core Working Group (ICWG) of the U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) invites nominations, including self-nominations, from the scientific community to fill two open positions on the ICWG. The ICWG seeks to maintain expertise in understanding ice core evidence from trapped atmospheric gases and from volcanic records. Nominees must be U.S. based scientists whose science relies on analysis of ice or firn cores. The ICWG is one of three working groups of the IDP Science Advisory Board (SAB). The primary purpose of the ICWG is to provide advice and input on scientific issues pertaining to ice cores to the SAB and to the IDP. ICWG members typically serve for three years, attend the annual ICWG meeting, and collaborate remotely as needed.
* Please send nominations and expressions of interest to Icedrill@Dartmouth.edu by November 8, 2022. *
2022 Long Range Science Plan and Long Range Drilling Technology Plan Now Available
The purpose of the plans is to articulate goals and make recommendations for the direction of U.S. ice coring and drilling science, as well as for the development of drilling technology, infrastructure, and logistical support necessary to enable the science.
Request for Community Input — DRAFT 2022 Long Range Science Plan
Each year in the spring, the Ice Drilling Program (IDP) works with its Science Advisory Board and the research community to update the Long Range Science Plan. This Plan identifies the science in the coming decade that will require the use of ice drilling technology and expertise for the community. This also drives the formation of other plans, for example, the Long Range Drilling Technology Plan. The plans provide the basis for multi‐annual planning for the actions and drill development projects of IDP and others, and the plans give the funding agencies advance notice of upcoming community science needs.
If you need an ice core or a hole drilled in a glacier or ice sheet in the coming decade or a rock core from under shallow glacial ice, please make sure that the high‐level articulation of your science is captured in the current draft update of the Long Range Science Plan!
Please read through the draft Long Range Science Plan and send corrections, updates, or additions to Icedrill@Dartmouth.edu ASAP or not later than May 27, 2022. When sending corrections/updates, please also reference the appropriate line number in the draft Long Range Science Plan where the correction/update is needed.
Submission deadline: May 27, 2022
To download the working draft, visit:
https://icedrill.org/long-range-science-plan
Field Support Manager Job Opening at IDP Madison, WI, USA
The U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) is seeking a Field Support Manager!
This position is based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and supports field work funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The team in Madison is small and is composed of engineers and support staff who design, assemble, test, and ultimately operate ice and rock coring drills in polar and glacial environments all over the world! The Field Support Manager works closely with IDP customers (U.S. scientists) and with NSF polar logistics contractors to plan for support of field science projects and to coordinate cargo shipments to and from the polar regions. In this exciting and fulfilling opportunity, you will find yourself busy coordinating and executing exciting field projects in both the Arctic and Antarctic and anywhere in between! For more information about the U.S. Ice Drilling Program, please visit us at https://icedrill.org/!
The selected candidate will be required to periodically deploy to remote camps in the polar regions for 1-3 month periods to provide technical support and field operation of equipment.
To understand our world and the universe, the IDP group within the UW-Madison Space Science & Engineering Center develops and deploys drilling systems to support the U.S. scientific community's research across the world in polar and glacial regions. IDP's history of deploying ice drilling and coring systems, rock drills, and associated support equipment ranges from small hand-held drills to rigs that drill through thousands of meters of ice to retrieve rock cores.
The selected candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel to organize and manage IDP support of NSF-funded fieldwork. The primary responsibility of the IDP Field Support Manager is to provide specialized technical support for U.S. Principal Investigators (PIs) funded by the NSF, including, but not limited to assistance with proposal documentation, project planning, and coordination of logistics with multiple organizations and freight providers. A secondary component of the position involves project management of anywhere from 5 to 15 individual field projects per year, including project planning and financial tracking and reporting. The position will also entail some level of personnel oversight and coordination with regard to IDP's equipment operations staff. While direct engineering or design experience is not required, a basic understanding of equipment designed and maintained by IDP must be achieved.
For more information, including how to apply for the position, read the complete job advertisement at:
https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/en-us/job/512105/field-support-manager
Mechanical Engineer Job Openings at IDP Madison, WI, USA
The U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) group located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking two Mechanical Engineers!
IDP supports ice drilling development and operations for the National Science Foundation (NSF). IDP is a small team, composed mostly of engineers that conceptualize, design, test, and ultimately operate drilling equipment in glacial environments in the polar regions and all over the world!
Selected candidates will be required to periodically deploy to remote camps in the polar regions for 1-3 month periods to provide technical support and field operation of equipment.
IDP's history of supporting ice drilling and coring systems, rock drills, and associated support equipment ranges from small hand-held drills to rigs that drill through thousands of meters of ice to retrieve rock cores. The challenge of operating drills and systems in these environments requires a broad set of disciplines and skills from the team of people involved. This dynamic environment requires us to learn about new scientific advances, systems, and technologies on a regular basis. This environment, coupled with meaningful research, provides an exciting career opportunity for any creative and motivated engineer!
The selected candidate(s) will work closely with multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and technicians to develop state-of-the art unique ice coring and drilling systems for use in the polar regions. The candidate will support the development of engineering requirements; system design; component procurement; part fabrication; and system assembly, test, and operational use. This includes defining and conducting trade studies and leading the development of mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical and thermal subsystems. Responsibilities may include leading test programs, procedure development, definition and development of unique test hardware, analysis of test data, and producing test reports. This position will also support the maintenance, problem resolution, and upgrade activities for legacy ice drilling systems and will maintain communications with internal and external partners.
For more information, including how to apply for the position, read the complete job advertisement at:
https://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/en-us/job/512023/mechanical-engineer
AGU Town Hall (Online Only): Scientific Drilling in the Polar Regions
The U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP) will hold the AGU Town Hall on Scientific Drilling in the Polar Regions on Tuesday, 7 December 2021, from 18:15-19:15 Central Time. This is an online only event. We hope to see you there!
Abstract: Ice sheets, glaciers, and the underlying bedrock, sediment, and permafrost hold crucial evidence of past conditions, ice sheet dynamics, and cratonic geology. National and international collaboration for drilling in the remote Polar Regions requires strategic coordination between science, technology, and logistics. This meeting will provide the research community with brief updates from the US Ice Drilling Program, Ice Core Young Scientists (ICYS), International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences (IPICS), GreenDrill, and Hercules Dome. In addition, opportunities for community involvement will be showcased, and input from the audience will be solicited.
Date: Tuesday, 7 December 2021. Online Only.
Time: 18:15-19:15 Central Time
AGU meeting website: https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm21/meetingapp.cgi/Session/121992
Presentations: 2021 Scientific Drilling in the Polar Regions presentations
Call for Nominations -- Technology Developments to Advance Antarctic Research
Seeking Experts: Technology Developments to Advance Antarctic Research
The Polar Research Board (of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) seeks your input for convening a workshop planning committee. This committee will organize a forum to explore how technological innovation can: advance, facilitate, and transform Antarctic research and facilitate improvements to science support logistics; can increase the reach of scientific investigations in Antarctica while reducing the logistics and environmental footprint of these operations; and can facilitate broader, more diverse participation in Antarctic research. The workshop will address specific disciplinary sciences as well as cross-cutting themes such as: autonomous sensors and platforms, communications and connectivity, transportation and logistics, and energy sources and consumption, including low power and battery developments.
We invite your suggestions for people to serve on the workshop planning committee, including people with expertise in the following areas: sensors and observing systems for geophysical research (geological, atmospheric, cryospheric, oceanic), biological research, and for astronomy, astrophysics, and space weather research; data and communications technologies; low-temperature electronics and batteries/power systems for cold-weather environments; remote logistics support; and robotics and autonomous instrument engineering.
The National Academies are committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in order to strengthen the quality of our work. Diverse perspectives contribute to finding innovative approaches and solutions to challenging issues. We encourage the nomination of volunteers who reflect the populations we serve and also welcome in particular nominations of candidates from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, women, and early- and mid-career professionals.
Submissions (including self-nominations) are welcome until September 15th.
Form to submit names: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6490084/Call-for-Nominations-Technology-Developments-to-Advance-Antarctic-Research-A-Workshop
DISC Drill - Request Regarding Community Interest
The U.S. Ice Drilling Program is planning use of its drills for the coming decade. If you intend to submit a proposal to the NSF that would require use of the DISC Drill, please send an email expressing your intent to Icedrill@Dartmouth.edu before August 15, 2021.
Additional information: Deep drilling at Hercules Dome will be conducted using the Foro 3000 Drill. A comparison of Foro 3000 Drill and DISC Drill capabilities and associated logistics requirements is available at https://icedrill.org/library/disc-drill-vs-foro-3000-drill-analysis (see Table 1, page 11).
Thank you for contributing to future planning for the U.S. Ice Drilling Program!