In 1996, the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) was established with the aim to coordinate and facilitate continental drilling projects worldwide. The program provides financial and operational support for research dealing with a variety of scientific objectives. All proposed drill sites are carefully screened for their scientific value and technical viability, and a large number of projects has since been successfully carried out. 

Since 2011, the Netherlands has become a full member of ICDP. Membership, financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), has given scientists and scientific consortia from the Netherlands the possibility to participate at the highest level in ICDP as Principal Investigator or co-proponent, but also in strategic decision bodies such as the Executive Committee (EC) and the Assembly of Governors (AOG). While not strictly related to membership, also a Dutch scientist became member of the Science advisory group (SAG) that evaluates the proposals.

Training courses and workshops

ICDP Training measures include annual courses that cover all relevant aspects of scientific drilling, including fundamentals of drilling technology, borehole measurements and interpretation, data management, sample handling and storage, and project  management. Usually the training courses last one week and are free of charge for the attendees.

Calls for application will be announced on the ICDP website and published in EoS several months before the training course takes place.