News Archive

  • Apply for 2012 InterRidge and ISA Student and Postdoctoral Fellowships
    Friday, January 20, 2012
    The InterRidge Office is pleased to announce the launch of the 2012 Student and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. As part of InterRidges mission to promote international, collaborative, and interdisciplinary studies of oceanic spreading centers, we invite proposals for InterRidge Student and Postdoctoral Fellowships of up to $5000 US each.

    We expect to offer a number of Fellowships in 2012. Those funded by InterRidge are open to graduate students or postdocs from any nation. There are also three Fellowships being funded by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Endowment Fund, with the requirement that the graduate student or postdoc is either from a developing country or will assist in training those of a developing country.

    Deadline: 31 March 2012
    Contact: Debbie Milton: coordinator@interridge.org More information...

  • Goldschmidt Conference 2012
    Thursday, January 12, 2012
    Goldschmidt Conference in Montreal, Canada, 24-29 June 2012 Deadline for abstract submission: February 1, 2012 More information...

  • lists of all cruises to R2K ISS's posted online
    Monday, December 12, 2011
    The R2K office has posted lists of all U.S. funded research cruises to the 3 ISS's.
    These lists, which include dates, ship, and PIs/project numbers, are posted at:
    EPR ISS:
    http://www.ridge2000.org/science/iss/epr/projects.php
    Lau ISS:
    http://www.ridge2000.org/science/iss/lau/projects.php
    Endeavour ISS:
    http://www.ridge2000.org/science/iss/endeavour/projects.php

    Please contact the R2K office (ridge2000@whoi.edu) if you would like to add/edit a cruise listing(s).

  • Request for images for cover of Ridge 2000 special issue of Oceanography magazine
    Friday, October 28, 2011
    For the cover of the Ridge 2000 special issue of Oceanography magazine, to be published in Feb. 2012, we would like to select an image, or display a collage of images, to capture the spirit of the Ridge 2000 program.

    We are particularly interested in people/action photos as the program brought together people from diverse disciplines, both in the field and laboratory, as well as nurtured many students in their careers. We know many of you have 'best hits' from various cruises - including deck shots as well as seafloor images and images of important data plots/maps/figures.

    A selection of images not chosen for the cover will be interspersed throughout the issue, especially to show people working together.

    Please submit your images by November 11th to the Ridge 2000 office (ridge2000@whoi.edu). Please include a brief caption so that we know the context of the image.

  • Forum on InterRidge website for Third Decadal Plan 2014-23
    Friday, September 16, 2011
    A meeting to discuss the InterRidge Third Decadal Plan 2014-23 is scheduled for Saturday, December 3, 2011, in San Francisco prior to the AGU Fall Meeting. For agenda and registration: http://www.interridge.org/third_decade
    A Forum is now on the InterRidge website, for discussion about "IR: Third Decadal Plan 2014-23". Add your views on the major challenges InterRidge should be addressing in the next decade: More information...

  • C-DEBI Deep Biosphere Education and Outreach grants
    Friday, September 16, 2011
    The Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI) is pleased to announce grants (up to $50,000) are available to fund research or education and outreach projects on any area of marine deep biosphere topics. The C-DEBI Education and Outreach Grants Program will fund the development of educational opportunities and materials that are pertinent to deep biosphere research in the sedimentary or igneous ocean basement. The next deadline for this semiannual call is October 31, 2011. More information...

  • Mid-Cayman Rise Expedition 2011
    Wednesday, August 10, 2011
    NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research launched the Mid-Cayman Rise Expedition 2011 website. This Expedition posting includes daily logs, videos and images, an Ocean Explorer Expedition Education Module, lesson plans, an Ask an Explorer feature, a Digital Atlas to follow along with the expedition and more. More information...

  • Eruption at Axial Volcano
    Tuesday, August 2, 2011
    R/V Atlantis with ROV Jason II just returned to port yesterday (August 1st) after a cruise led by Dr. William Chadwick to Axial Volcano, a large submarine hotspot volcano on the central segment of the Juan de Fuca spreading center. There are many indications of a new eruption. The last eruption occurred in 1998. Details will be posted soon to the "Latest TCS News" page on the R2K website.

    A team of MBARI scientists led by Drs. Dave Clague and Dave Caress will also be conducting ROV and AUV dives at Axial Volcano over the next month and will further investigate and sample the new flows. Expedition website: http://www.mbari.org/expeditions/Northern11/index.htm

    An upcoming OOI-RSN cruise to Axial Volcano with R/V Thompson (August 20 - Sept 1), led by Drs. John Delaney and Deb Kelley of UW, will be streaming live from an HD camera mounted on ROV ROPOS:
    http://www.interactiveoceans.washington.edu/visions11

  • Call for articles for InterRidge News 2011
    Friday, July 22, 2011
    The InterRidge Office is calling for articles to be included in this year's InterRidge News, Vol. 20, published in November 2011. Suitable material includes preliminary results of research related to ridges, back-arc basins and ophiolites. Also, we are looking for general articles on shipboard or immediate post-cruise results, new equipment, opinion articles and workshops reports. InterRidge News is intended for the rapid publication of preliminary results and cruise reports that do not appear in other publications. All articles and images must be submitted by email to the InterRidge Office (coordinator@interridge.org) by 7 September 2011. Please see the following webpage for formatting guidelines: More information...

  • InterRidge Third Decadal Plan 2014-2023 discussion meeting
    Friday, July 22, 2011
    The InterRidge Office warmly invites all to a discussion meeting on InterRidge's Third Decadal Plan 2014-2023. We have planned a full day, 3 Dec. 2011, in San Francisco prior to the AGU Fall Meeting to identify the science challenges for mid-ocean ridge research in the next decade. We will be asking participants to identify priorities in research and to propose how InterRidge can enable new scientific goals to be met. More information...

  • Upgraded DSV Alvin slated for operations in 2013 - proposals encouraged
    Friday, July 8, 2011
    DSV Alvin is slated to be operational in 2013. DSV Alvin will be readily available for operations in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and of course the Pacific Ocean. Given the typical duration required for scheduling ship and submersible time, you are highly encouraged to submit your DSV Alvin-oriented proposals to NSF for the July/August, 2011 and January/February, 2012 deadlines. As always, the DSV Alvin is available to those with other support, such as from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. More information...

  • Science Planning for the OOI Regional Scale Node at Axial Seamount, 5-7 October 2011, Seattle, WA
    Friday, June 24, 2011
    There have been many developments since the science community last gathered to discuss plans for the cabled observatory on the Juan de Fuca ridge. This is your opportunity to learn about the research opportunities of OOI-RSN and provide ideas for how to maximize the scientific return on this important investment in research infrastructure.
    We are seeking broad representation from the scientific community, but must limit the number of participants to 50 scientists. All participants must apply and submit a Letter of Interest (limited to one page) describing their ideas for the science they would like to do at the Axial RSN and how they will contribute to the workshop. Partial travel support will be provided if applications are received by the deadline: August 26. More information...

  • Ridge 2000 Tour on Google Earth
    Friday, June 10, 2011
    In recognition of World Oceans Day on June 8, the MGDS Global Multi-Resolution Topography Synthesis was published in Google Earth. Along with this publication, two Google Tours were released highlighting Seafloor Features and Ridge 2000 Science. Please visit these Tours at: More information...

  • New search interface for the Ridge 2000 Data Portal
    Friday, June 10, 2011
    A new search interface has been launched for the Ridge 2000 Data Portal. We need your help to ensure that we are serving the needs of you, our user community. In the next three weeks, please try out the new search interface, and complete the short (3-minute) survey that is available here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GTFQZ36 More information...

  • Juan de Fuca Ridge theme now open at G-cubed
    Friday, June 10, 2011
    The following new G-cubed Journal theme is open for submissions now and until spring 2013:
    Towards an Integrated View of Volcanic and Hydrothermal Processes on the Juan de Fuca Ridge
    Theme Editor(s): W. S. D. Wilcock, J. F. Holden, J. B. Gill, E. Baker
    Description: Volcanoes at oceanic spreading centers are responsible for resurfacing two thirds of the Earth's surface and may have played an important role in the origin of life on our planet. The Juan de Fuca Ridge is one of the most intensively studied mid-ocean ridges in the world and is often cited as an archetype of an intermediate spreading rate ridge. Two sites in particular, the Endeavour Segment and Axial Volcano, have been the focus of intensive studies of mantle melting, crustal formation, and linkages between seafloor volcanoes and chemosynthetic-based biological communities. These same sites are now being instrumented for long-term cabled observatories. This theme provides an avenue for papers that cumulatively synthesize our current knowledge of the tectonic, volcanic, and hydrothermal processes on the entire Juan de Fuca Ridge including ongoing efforts to expand the scope and duration of time series investigations. More information...

  • Volunteer for an IODP Panel or Committee
    Wednesday, May 25, 2011
    The Consortium for Ocean Leadership, in association with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), is seeking new members for the U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling (USAC) and the new Science Advisory Structure (SAS), specifically the Science Implementation and Policy Committee, Proposal Evaluation Panel, Site Characterization Panel, and Technology Panel. New members will serve three-year terms beginning in October 2011. U.S.-based scientists interested in volunteering for these opportunities should send a cover letter and a two-page CV to Emily Powell (epowell@oceanleadership.org) by June 24, 2011. For more information, visit: More information...

  • Last chance: Consider submitting a proposal for a new Gordon Research Conference
    Wednesday, May 25, 2011
    Last fall we held the final Ridge 2000 Community Meeting. As a potential option for our community to meet together in the future to discuss frontiers and breakthroughs in ridge science, the R2K Steering Committee would like you to consider submitting a proposal for a new Gordon Research Conference.

    Proposal deadline: 1 June 2011 More information...

  • 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting: Session proposal deadline 16 May 2011
    Friday, May 13, 2011
    2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting, 20-24 February 2012, Salt Lake City, Utah
    Call for Session Proposals: The scientific planning committee invites proposals for sessions of interest to members of AGU, ASLO, and TOS. The Ocean Sciences Meeting is an important venue for scientific exchange across broad marine science disciplines, including physical, biological, chemical and geological oceanography, and multidisciplinary topics. We also welcome proposals that reflect new and emerging research on the global ocean and society, including science education, outreach and public policy. More information...

  • Ridge2000 collaborations highlighted in Eos
    Thursday, April 28, 2011
    Eos, the weekly newspaper from AGU, published a cover article that developed from the 2010 R2K Community Meeting. The article, by Ken Rubin and Dan Fornari, titled "Multidisciplinary Collaborations in Mid-Ocean Ridge Research," describes collaboration strategies used in the R2K program to facilitate efforts to better understand the role mid-ocean ridges play in Earth systems.

    VOLUME 92 NUMBER 17 26 April 2011 To access Eos online, AGU Member Login is required: More information...

  • Ridge 2000 Special Session proposal for the AGU Fall Meeting 2011 - deadline April 20, 2011
    Friday, April 1, 2011
    Laurent Montesi, a member of the Ridge 2000 Steering Committee, is seeking collaborators/co-sponsors for a Special Session proposal focused on Ridge 2000 and oceanic spreading center research results for the AGU Fall Meeting 2011. If you are interested in co-convening this session, please feel free to email Laurent: montesi@geology.umd.edu

  • Early career investigator oceanographic research cruise training opportunity
    Friday, April 1, 2011
    New to planning oceanographic field work? Wondering how to request research vessel time? Or to use a submersible or ROV? Needing samples or wire-time to initiate a research project? If so, take part in a “UNOLS Chief Scientist Training Cruise”. These cruises will instruct early career marine scientists including PhD students on how to effectively plan for, acquire, utilize and report on time at sea for multi-disciplinary research and education. A training cruise will take place from July 6-15, 2011 from Newport, OR, and be repeated for a second science party September 16-25, 2011. The cruise plan will be dictated by the science requirements of the participants. Participant travel costs are provided along with small stipends for research supplies. However, space is limited. More information...

  • Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area Management Plan
    Friday, March 4, 2011
    The Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area Management Plan is now available for download as a PDF. This management plan has been developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is intended to guide the management of the Marine Protected Area from 2010 to 2015. More information...

  • "Scientists as Stakeholders in Conservation of Hydrothermal Vents"
    Friday, March 4, 2011
    The above titled paper, authored by Godet, Zelnio, and Van Dover, has just been published in Conservation Biology. The paper reports the results of last year's survey of awareness and perception of the InterRidge Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents (the InterRidge 'Code of Conduct'). Survey respondents were from 26 different countries, with 39% from the U.S. More information...

  • Reminder: Project Summary for your Ridge 2000 -related proposal to NSF OCE
    Friday, February 18, 2011
    In order for the R2K chair and steering committee to stay apprised of community interests in ridge-related research and prepare a summary to NSF of ongoing R2K integration & synthesis priorities as well as other important oceanic spreading center research, please consider submitting a PDF to ridge2000@whoi.edu of the Title, Principal Investigators, and Project Summary of your proposal.

    Please let the Ridge 2000 office know if you would like for your project summary to be listed, and if listed - if you would like for the PDF to be posted at: http://www.ridge2000.org/science/proposals/projectsummaries.php

    Note that providing your summary is voluntary. NSF considers all proposal documents confidential.

  • Tool to help comply with the new Data Management Plan required for NSF proposals
    Friday, February 4, 2011
    The NSF-funded data management group (IEDA) at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory that operates MGDS, GfG and other marine geoscience databases and data discovery tools has developed a tool to assist PIs in complying with the data management plan requirement recently implemented by NSF. The form/tool is sufficiently generic to cover many data types. It includes fields and prompts for creating a robust data management plan in a wide variety of disciplines in the earth and ocean sciences.

    The filled out form can be used as one or more pages of your data management plan. The tool/form can be accessed at: More information...

  • URGENT: Opportunity to "Highlight" your NSF-funded research
    Friday, February 4, 2011
    NSF OCE is looking for “Highlights” for R2K research to send to Congress and post on the NSF website. These are short contributions (250-300 words) written for the general public about something interesting/intriguing/exciting in your NSF-funded research that happened in 2010 - early 2011. Highlights should have a gripping title and be accompanied by an eye-catching graphic.

    URGENT: The deadline for submitting Highlights to NSF OCE is Friday, Feb. 11th. Please contact the R2K office as soon as possible if you would like us to assist you in preparing a Highlight to showcase your research.

    As examples, please see: More information...