Tales of Ocean Science: 100+ Interviews on the History of Scientific Ocean Drilling
Tales of Ocean Science is an oral history project hosted at JAMSTEC (Japan) that documents the personal stories of the people behind international scientific ocean drilling – from researchers and program managers to technicians, onboard crew, directors, and national organization representatives – spanning from the late 1960s to the present day. The aim is to preserve these voices and make space for reflection, while also providing valuable resources for research, education, and outreach.
Through in-depth interviews, the project captures the lived experiences behind the science: life on board and the relationships forged at sea; the challenges and rewards of cross-disciplinary and international collaboration; the motivations behind technological innovation; key decisions that shaped the direction of the programs; and the shifting vision of Earth that emerged through decades of seafloor drilling.
Hosted at www.talesofoceanscience.com, the growing archive features transcripts and videos of over 80 interviews, with new content added regularly from more than 100 interviews conducted to date.
We invite the IODP3 community to explore and help expanding this collective memory: by sharing your own story, suggesting colleagues, or spreading the word.
To find out more about the project, or how you can get involved, please contact project lead Beatriz Martinez-Rius bmrius@jamstec.go.jp