The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an international scientific research program. It is a successor to two highly successful legacy programs--the Deep Sea Drilling Program and the Ocean Drilling Program. IODP utilizes two drill ships, the Japanese drill ship, the Chikyu, and the U.S. drill ship, the Joides Resolution as well as Mission Specific Platforms, organized by Europe. The combined facilities enable IODP to carry out drilling in all the world's oceans including the Arctic. The scientific program is based on three themes: (1) The deep biosphere and sub-oceanic gas-hydrates (2) Environmental Change, Processes and Effects (3) Solid Earth Cycles and Geodynamics The three themes are further developed through eight forward looking initiatives. The actual drilling expeditions are based on proposals sent in by scientists from all parts of the world and which are ranked in a painstakingly thorough process by a number of scientific panels. Brief descriptions of the expeditions carried out so far by IODP in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans are given and India's entry into IODP is welcomed.