ICDP will hold its annual training course at the KTB deep drilling site in Windischeschenbach, Germany — a location of great historical significance for the program. This year marks the 30th anniversary of ICDP, celebrating the Memorandum of Understanding that officially established the initiative.

This six-day training course offers a unique, end-to-end learning experience in scientific drilling. Participants will explore the full lifecycle of a drilling project, from understanding the foundational legacy of the KTB and its role in shaping the ICDP, to the hands-on design of their own proposals.

The course serves as a key instrument to support current and upcoming ICDP projects with trained personnel and to build a pipeline of early-career scientists familiar with ICDP concepts and workflows.

Join the Course

Led by experts from the ICDP Operational Support Group (OSG) and GFZ, the course combines theoretical fundamentals with practical application. Topics cover drilling engineering, the full spectrum of borehole logging (from tool theory to data interpretation), core and data management following FAIR principles, and the intricacies of ICDP project planning and proposal writing. Interactive group work, including a mini-proposal design challenge ensures participants directly apply new knowledge. The course also features an outreach photography workshop and a session led by the ICDP Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network, fostering collaboration and skill development within the global scientific drilling community.

Preference is given to applicants who are involved in active ICDP drilling projects, affiliated with institutions in ICDP member countries, developing nations or countries considering ICDP membership.

Participation is free, with ICDP providing financial support to cover travel, visa costs, accommodation, and meals for successful applicants.

To apply, candidates must submit the following documents:

• A letter of interest
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• At least two letters of support

The call for applications will be announced soon on this page and through ICDP’s official social media channels, stay tuned!

Stay Connected

Mark your calendars! The ICDP 2026 Training Course is now in development, and we will be opening the application period in the coming weeks.

You are welcome to contact us at icdp-outreach@icdp-online.org