Scientific drilling is an indispensable tool of modern Earth science - search, as it provides the only means of obtaining direct information on processes operating at depth. Drilling allows for the determination of - situ properties of solid materials and fluids and permits testing of hypot- ses and models derived from surface observations. In addition, drill holes may be used as a natural laboratory for experiments and as observatories for long-term monitoring of on-going active processes. Earth drilling, therefore, plays a critical role in scientific research directed towards - proved understanding of the workings of our planet and has a key role in solving urgent socio-economic problems. As a rule, drilling projects are an integral component of major geosci- tific research programs, comprising comprehensive pre-site investigations, accompanying laboratory studies, the drilling phase itself, and consecutive measurements and tests in the drill hole. Such drilling programs are costly and thus only realizable to a limited extent. International cost sharing, the optimal utilization of all available resources, the incorporation of inter- tional leading experts, and the application of the existing know-how, as well as the selection of an optimal drilling location (¿World Geological Site¿), are thus essential elements of an international scientific drilling p- gram.

Reviews the successes of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program over the last ten years and highlights the possibilities and goals for the future.

History and Status of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program.- Climate Dynamics and Global Environments: A Community Vision for the Next Decade in ICDP.- Continental Drilling and the Study of Impact Craters and Processes - an ICDP Perspective.- The GeoBiosphere.- Active Volcanic Systems.- Scientific Drilling of Active Faults: Past and Future.- Hotspot Volcanoes and Large Igneous Provinces.- Convergent Plate Boundaries and Collision Zones.- Natural Resources.