With the desire to conduct research on a global basis comes the need for multi-institutional cooperation. To this end, UTIG scientists often work on teams in large, collaborative research programs. Beyond the participation of its scientists in national and overseas programs as necessary for individual field projects, UTIG is directly involved as an institute in the activities of several international and U.S. academic research alliances.

• Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP)
• IODP Management International, Inc. (IMI).
• The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)
• The Joint Oceanographic Institutions Inc. (JOI).
• The Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling (JOIDES)
• The Consortium for Ocean Research and Education (CORE)
• The University-National Laboratory System (UNOLS)
• The International Seismological Centre (ISC)
• The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)

Many UTIG scientists participate as individuals in national and international geoscience initiatives that correspond to their particular focused disciplinary interests.

• InterRidge (the Initiative for International Cooperation in Ridge-Crest Studies)
• MARGINS
• STRATAFORM (Stratal Formation)
• GEOCLUTTER