Focus Group:
Ocean Floor Geoscience

The Ocean Floor Geoscience focus group aims to promote research related to the keyword 'ocean floor' and contribute to the advancement of Earth science by providing new insights into Ocean Floor Geoscience. The 'ocean floor' is the most active region on Earth today and is closely related to plate tectonics, the structure of the Earth's interior, and the Earth's surface environment.  Additionally, the 'ocean floor' is a crucial place where records of past environmental changes and material cycles are preserved. Research and observation activities in this extreme environment are challenging, but overcoming these obstacles has historically led to significant advancements in Earth science. This focus group aims to advance ocean floor geoscience by employing a wide range of research methods, including observation, experimentation, theory, and technological development, targeting diverse ocean floor regions such as subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, and hotspots, regardless of traditional research fields such as geophysics, geochemistry, and geology. The focus group also seeks to establish a community where researchers from different disciplines can meet and discuss their work.

• To continue organising meetings where diverse researchers in the field can gather and discuss issues centred on the well-established 'Ocean Floor Geoscience' session at JpGU.

• To address initiatives and activities related to the ocean floor, including the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3), the Japan Drilling Earth Science Consortium (J-DESC), the InterRidge, and research plans for earthquake and volcanic observation aimed at mitigating disasters.

• To facilitate information the exchange of information and collaboration regarding large-scale research grant applications, as well as to provide opportunities to promote joint research.

• To address concerns such as the sustainability of resources supporting survey and observation activities, and to discuss policy recommendations to discuss policy recommendations that the 'Ocean Floor Geoscience' research community should collectively consider.

• To promote the cultivation of the next generation of researchers.