Magellan³ workshop: Zero age drilling at mid-ocean ridges

The community is invited to register for the Magellan³ workshop “Zero-age drilling at mid-ocean ridges”. Mid-ocean ridges (MOR) are a major component of the plate tectonic cycle. Newly formed ocean crust at MOR (‘zero-age’) undergoes significant changes soon after formation (e.g. the onset of hydrothermal alteration, hosting microbial life, changing physical and magnetic properties). Despite these fundamental changes, our sampling of ‘zero-age’ crust is very limited, particularly in the sub-surface. This workshop will explore the scientific rationale and locations for a zero-age drilling proposal using seabed drilling technology to be submitted to IODP³. The workshop will also explore opportunities to link any potential drill sites with other seagoing experiments to maximise the scientific return, as such we encourage communities who may not have engaged with scientific drilling before to participate.

Workshop logistics:

Where: The workshop will be held at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, with online hybrid participation possible.

When: Thursday 8^th January – Friday 9th January 2026

Registration deadline: Friday 5^th December 2025

Link to registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/ZhMrHnWNjC?origin=lprLink

Travel support: Limited support is available to attend the workshop in person, ECRS will be prioritised. Please indicate during registration if you would like to be considered for travel support.

Workshop Programme: Full programme to follow, includes keynote talks to stimulate discussion and discussion sessions.

For further information or if you have any questions, please contact either Michelle Harris (michelle.harris@plymouth.ac.uk) or Aled Evans (a.evans@soton.ac.uk).