IODP Bremen Core Repository

MARUM - University of Bremen
Leobener Strasse 8
28359 Bremen

Online tour BCR Reefer (in German)

The Bremen Core Repository - BCR, for International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), and Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) cores from the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean, Black and Baltic Seas and Arctic Ocean is operated at University of Bremen within the framework of the German participation in IODP. It is one of three IODP repositories (beside Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) in College Station, TX, and Kochi Core Center (KCC), Japan) and was established in the summer of 1994. The IODP-BCR has a 1100 sqm refrigerated storage area with a movable rack system and state-of-the-art laboratory and office space, and is located in the MARUM building on the campus of Bremen University.

BCR presently contains about 185 km of deep-sea cores from 104 expeditions in around 250,000 boxes (also see reports), which are sampled and analysed by national and international working groups. Around 200 scientists visit the repository annually, sometimes working on the cores in week-long sampling meetings (video). As many as 50,000 samples per year are removed from the cores by guests and by the repository staff. The repository is an important contact point for scientists from all over the world (more than 4,000 visitors so far) and therefore significantly contributes to the exchange and transfer of marine science knowledge in Bremen, leading to international co-operations and scientific interactions.

Land-based cores from ODP Legs 150X and 174AX are stored at the Rutgers/New Jersey Geological Survey (RU/NJGS) core repository in Piscataway, NJ.

Scientists may request samples from any International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) or Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) leg/expedition by filling out a sample request in the Sample and Data Request System, SaDR  (for all cores retrieved by all vessels/platforms).

To identify where samples have already been removed please search the Web Interface for BCR Curatorial Data (or here for samples taken (in all repositories) before the start of the IODP).

Samples can be taken by repository staff, or scientists can visit the repository to take their own samples. A variety of sampling tools and procedures are available.

One of the scientific goals of IODP is to research the deep biosphere and the subseafloor ocean. IODP has deep-frozen microbiological samples from the subseafloor available for interested researchers and will continue to collect and preserve geomicrobiology samples for future research. The list of available samples at BCR you will find here:

Onshore Science Party (OSP) for IODP Exp. 389 'Hawaiian Drowned Reefs', 6 - 26 February 2024

Sample Party for Exp. 400 NW Greenland Glaciated Margin, 18 - 24 March 2024

ECORD Summer School 2024 - September 2024!

next ECORD Training Course - stay tuned!

Founding Director BCR: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerold Wefer

Head of the 'Core repository' group at MARUM, ESO Curation & Laboratory Manager, IODP Curator:

Repository Superintendent, BCR:

Assistant Curation & Lab Manager:

Curatorial Specialists, Logistics & Procurement Experts, BCR:

Curation of Interstitial Water samples BCR:

Data Management BCR: