SC14 and SCinet just released a call for demos and papers inviting our network community to submit proposals on “Innovating the Network for Data-Intensive Science.” The accepted demos and papers will be presented at a half-day workshop on Friday, November 21, 2014.
Topics of interest for the demos include (but are not limited to):
· Optical networking
· Software-defined networking
· Network architecture
· Switching and routing
· Network monitoring and management, and control
· Security/encryption and resilience
· Scheduling and reservation
· Complexity and optimization
· Open clouds and storage area networks
For the papers, submissions can be on previous network research projects from the “SC13 Network Research Exhibition” or the “SCinet Research Sandbox”; or on a planned SC14 demo. Paper submissions will be peer-reviewed and selected by an SC14 Review Committee. Accepted full papers will be presented at the SC14 Workshop, “Innovating the Network for Data-Intensive Science,” and be published in the Future Generation Computer Systems Journal.
More information on the call for demos: http://sc14.supercomputing.org/blog/sc14-workshop-call-demos-innovating-network-data-intensive-science
More information on the call for papers: http://sc14.supercomputing.org/blog/sc14-workshop-call-papers-innovating-network-data-intensive-science
Deadline for demo and paper abstracts are July 11, 2014!
Submissions site: https://ssl.linklings.net/conferences/indis/
Questions: scinet-workshop@scinet.supercomputing.org
Helps to reduce and avoid increased costs by $9.2M for Higher Education
[Vancouver, May 15, 2014] BCNET, a not-for-profit, shared information technology (IT) services organization, led by and for its members, revealed today how sharing IT services is helping B.C.’s colleges, research universities and institutes reduce and avoid increased IT costs by over $9.2 million in fiscal year 2013/14. BCNET’s collaborative model enables the entire public, post-secondary sector in B.C. to leverage its buying power and share best practices for hardware and software procurements, IT services and advanced network services.
BCNET is continuing to collaborate with the sector to reduce costs and gain efficiencies by leading IT related initiatives in partnership with 25 post-secondary institutions and the Ministry of Advanced Education through the Administrative Service Delivery Transformation (ASDT) initiative. The ASDT project is a sector-led initiative aimed at gaining administrative efficiencies, reducing and containing costs and enhancing the quality of services for the sector.
“We have been effective at facilitating a unique, cooperative, inter-institutional environment to explore, evaluate and offer shared IT solutions,” claims Michael Hrybyk, President and CEO of BCNET. “Together with our members, we have operationalized four procurements, and realized efficiencies of over $6.1 million in fiscal year 2013/14. An additional five procurements and 11 IT services are in the development phase this year. Furthermore, we have measured $800,000 in cost avoidance for two operational IT services and avoided costs of $2.3 million for Internet transit, Internet peering and Advanced Network services.”
BCNET is a not-for-profit, shared information technology (IT) services organization led by and for our members, British Columbia’s higher education and research institutions. Owned, governed and funded primarily by our members, we facilitate a unique, collaborative, inter-institutional environment-one based on equality and common goals-to explore and evaluate shared IT solutions for mutual technology challenges.
We leverage our collective infrastructure, expertise and resources to provide shared IT services that cut costs, streamline processes, eliminate technology duplication and improve operational efficiency of our members that in turn helps better serve students, faculty, staff and communities.
Read More...Project increases and strengthens the statewide reach of the University of Missouri System
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet), a business entity of the University of Missouri System, today announced a partnership with Sho-Me Technologies to expand the fiber infrastructure for high capacity, low cost Internet access in the southeastern area of Missouri, an area underserved by existing broadband infrastructure. The new long-term commitment from MOREnet and the University of Missouri will spur economic development in all areas of Missouri, another example of the system’s significant influence on the entire state every day.
“The University of Missouri has a major presence in every region of our state, and is a driving force in the economic wellbeing of all Missourians,” said Tim Wolfe, president of the University of Missouri System. “MOREnet’s expansion in southeast Missouri will have a profound effect on the entire region, bringing greater technology to where it is scarce and improving the lifestyles of the area’s citizens.”
“By increasing the available bandwidth and helping to stabilize connectivity costs for years to come for our schools, libraries and government organizations in southeast Missouri, we are enabling education, health, cultural and social resources to reach more Missourians in a more efficient manner,” said John Gillispie, executive director of MOREnet.
The upgraded Internet infrastructure will further enable distance learning and ensure students receive equitable access as they prepare for college and career readiness. The capacity that will be available to each participating site will be able to grow beyond one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) and enable educators to accelerate the use of technology in their lessons, adopting innovative student-centered learning tools for both K-12 and lifelong learners.
“This proposed infrastructure project will ensure that Poplar Bluff Schools and other school districts in southeast Missouri will be prepared for expansion and growth without concerns about connectivity issues because of costs,” stated Jim Thomas, director of media services for Poplar Bluff R-1. “This allows school districts to focus on the mission of serving needs of students and not worrying about whether we will have enough bandwidth for adding or expanding programs.”
Bringing robust and reliable Internet access to this area of Missouri will benefit health care through the Missouri Telehealth Network, offering local communities greater access to healthcare specialists, while broadening remote educational opportunities for health care providers and clinicians wishing to learn and collaborate via technology. Local citizens who utilize public libraries for services such as genealogical research, adult literacy skills or career enhancement will also benefit from the upgraded infrastructure.
“The Sho-Me Technologies network is continually looking for new telecommunication opportunities for rural Missouri with the latest products and services to improve education and commerce through technology. This project continues our strong partnership with MOREnet and will provide numerous schools and local communities in southeast Missouri with high-speed broadband communications, “ said Gary Fulks, general manager for Sho-Me Technologies.
About MOREnet
The Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet) is a member-driven consortium serving Missouri’s K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, state and local government, teaching hospitals and clinics and other affiliate organizations. MOREnet, which operates as a separate business unit within the University of Missouri System, was created in 1991 to deliver secure, reliable and robust Internet connectivity to its members. Today, MOREnet has evolved from an Internet service provider to an organization deploying and supporting the technology resources its members need to be successful. MOREnet provides technical support, videoconferencing support, technical training, hosted and managed cloud services, disaster recovery services and network security. MOREnet is committed to supporting and enabling its members’ missions through the use of technology to enhance opportunities for public access, learning and research.
About Sho-Me Technologies
Sho-Me Technologies is a subsidiary of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative in Marshfield, Mo. Sho-Me Technologies operates an advanced optical network spanning electric transmission lines in Missouri that encompasses over 2,000 miles of fiber optic connectivity. With over 120 Points of Presence, Sho-Me Technologies boasts the highest coverage of optimal bandwidth in the area.
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