2.2 Drilling/Science Liaison.

This season the drilling group and the science group worked well together at the drill site. Drilling decisions and options were discussed regularly (hourly) between the Drilling Manager (DM) and Science Support Manager (SSM) and changes in operations undertaken after consultation. When a major decision was required (eg casing) then options and strategy was discussed at the drill site then presented to the Chief Scientist and Project Manager for discussion and agreement.

Communications between the management at the Drill Site and Camp were difficult at times due in part to the lack of a secure phone line between the two sites and the long hours worked by personnel at both sites left little time for meeting after shifts. We are not prepared to detailed drilling discussions by public radio. A phone line of electronic data quality is requested to connect the two sites possibly via Scott Base to improve communication and daily reporting.

The high workload of the management personnel at the drill site is also of concern and a assistant Science Support Manager is proposed to share the drill site management and science support roles. I hope that this new position will also improve our ability to allow the core technicians a day off every two weeks.