IRIS programs contributed to scholarly research, education, earthquake hazard mitigation, and the verification of a Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

[8] In 1959, the United States Government launched a research effort aimed at improving national capabilities to detect and identify foreign nuclear explosions detonated underground and at high altitudes.

The resultant World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN) was a program successful beyond its original remit.

It provided seismological data for its intended purpose as well as for the emerging concept of plate tectonics.

A collaboration with the IRIS Consortium began in 1984 as a result of a need to expand and succeed the WWSSN with the Global Seismographic Network (GSN).