COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Texas A&M University officials expect a newly launched $450 million ocean drilling program to open new vistas in deep sea exploration.
The 10-year Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, is the largest research contract in the university's 125-year history. It continues research conducted at the university under another program for 20 years.
"This amazing program is changing our interpretation of the history of the world," President Robert M. Gates said during the official launch of the new program Wednesday.
Texas A&M will partner with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. The research areas will include climate changes, natural hazards, gas hydrates, and microbes.
Jeff Fox, director of the IODP, compared core samples stored in the Texas A&M archives to items preserved at the Smithsonian for preservation of the nation's history.
"These core samples are the history of the world and Texas A&M can be a world leader in uncovering Earth's secrets," he said.
