InterRidge

InterRidge is a non-profit organisation that promotes interdisciplinary, international studies in the research of oceanic spreading centres, including mid-ocean ridge and back-arc basin systems. It does so by creating a global research community, planning and coordinating new science programs that no single nation can achieve alone, exchanging scientific information, and sharing new technologies and facilities. InterRidge is dedicated to reaching out to the public, scientists and governments, and to providing a unified voice for ocean ridge researchers worldwide. It was launched in 1992, and in 2011 InterRidge has 6 principal, 3 associate, and 21 corresponding member nations and regions. InterRidge has more than 2500 individual member scientists in disciplines ranging from marine geology to chemistry, biology, and ocean engineering. The InterRidge Office rotates every 3 years. During 2013-2015, InterRidge is being hosted by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Geophysics , Peking University, Beijing, China. InterRidge is governed by a steering committee consisting of delegates from the principal and associate member nations and regions.

InterRidge is a non-profit organisation that promotes interdisciplinary, international studies in the research of oceanic spreading centres, including mid-ocean ridge and back-arc basin systems. It does so by creating a global research community, planning and coordinating new science programs that no single nation can achieve alone, exchanging scientific information, and sharing new technologies and facilities. InterRidge is dedicated to reaching out to the public, scientists and governments, and to providing a unified voice for ocean ridge researchers worldwide. It was launched in 1992, and in 2011 InterRidge has 6 principal, 3 associate, and 21 corresponding member nations and regions. InterRidge has more than 2500 individual member scientists in disciplines ranging from marine geology to chemistry, biology, and ocean engineering. The InterRidge Office rotates every 3 years. During 2013-2015, InterRidge is being hosted by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Geophysics , Peking University, Beijing, China. InterRidge is governed by a steering committee consisting of delegates from the principal and associate member nations and regions. ==Development== === Second decade (2004 - 2013)=== Source: Two functions of InterRidge were developed more fully in the second decade (2004-2013) of the organisation: The scientific working groups Education and outreach Scientific working groups are a key metric for success as to how InterRidge is delivering on its mission. These working groups are proposed by an international group of scientists, usually following a call for proposals issued by the InterRidge Office. Working groups in 2011 are Hydrothermal Energy and Ocean Carbon Cycles, Long-Range Exploration, Mantle Imaging, Seafloor Mineralisation, and Vent Ecology. In 2008, InterRidge began offering fellowships for student research projects, and in 2009¹ InterRidge began a partnership with the International Seabed Authority Endowment Fund to expand the programme into the InterRidge Student and Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. In 2010, v2.0 of the InterRidge Vents Database was released, intended to be "comprehensive for active and inferred active (unconfirmed) submarine hydrothermal vent fields discovered through the end of 2009". Version 3.0 was released in December 2012¹, hosted on servers of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution prior to transfer to InterRidge China. In 2011, InterRidge began a "Cruise Travel Bursary" scheme to enable early-career scientists to participate in research cruises. ==Associated research== In 2009, scientists from USA, Japan and the UK laid the foundations for finding the deepest-ever hydrothermal vents, in a research cruise to the Mid-Cayman Rise, in April 2010. Ridge-crest scientists are also exploring the East Scotia Ridge in the Southern Ocean, part of a 3-year programme, as well as the Russian branch of InterRidge which has studied hydrothermal clusters along part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. As economic growth puts pressure on resources, new sources of minerals and materials are needed, and licences are being sought for the exploration of seafloor massive sulphides. InterRidge coordinates neutral scientific input to these discussions. ==Code of conduct== Starting in 2000 with a workshop on "Management and Conservation of Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystems," the InterRidge Biology Working Group developed a set of six guidelines which was published in 2006¹ as "Responsible Science at Hydrothermal Vents". By 2011, 180 people had signed to support this statement. == Further reading== Oceanography Vol. 20, No. 1, March 2007, "Special Issue: InterRidge" IMarEST Scientist, No. 23, 2008, "Keeping an eye on the deep-sea", p. 20-23 Science News Article by Janet Raloff, 7 Oct. 2006, "Venting Concerns: Exploring and protecting deep-sea communities" IMarEST Marine Scientist, No. 8, 3Q, 2004, "InterRidge moves to northern Germany", p. 29 British Mid-Ocean Ridge Initiative (BRIDGE) InterRidge Third Decadal Plan

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