2020 Virtual Campus Cyberinfrastructure Program Seminar Series

When: July – October 2020
Where: Virtual via Zoom

The Online Resource:
Our 2020 NSF CC* Seminar Series has concluded. Recordings of the seminars, slide presentations, and associated seminar materials are now available as an online resource. Please contact your Quilt member organization for access. If you are uncertain about which member organization to contact, you are welcome to contact Tracey Norris [tracey at thequilt dot net] and she’ll get you connected.

Introduction:
Our Quilt Virtual Campus Cyberinfrastructure Seminar Series will allow Quilt member organizations to get a head start on understanding science drivers and research cyberinfrastructure needs in preparation to participate in an upcoming National Science Foundation Campus Cyberinfrastructure Program solicitation. This seminar series will address the different facets of preparatory work that will build the foundation for major grant proposal areas.  The seminar content will use prior NSF CC* solicitation areas as context enabling regional networks to submit their own grant(s) as well as supporting their member institutions submissions. Virtual seminar series participants will take away a list of tangible actions preparing them to construct a proposal and develop specific ideas on how to support member institutions’ grant submissions.

Seminar Details:
Since Quilt members have a range of knowledge and experience working within the NSF CC* program, each seminar is designed as a stand-alone session with a separate registration.

Quilt members seeking more information in a specific area or a topic refresh may select to attend specific sessions tailored to their interests.  Organizations who may consider themselves novices at grant writing and the CC* program may opt to attend most or all of the seminars. Seminars that are designed for Quilt members only are labeled as “RENs” under participants.  Seminars designed for Quilt members plus invited member institutions are labeled as “RENs + Members”.


Seminar #1Determining Your Desired Role within Your Community and Submitting a Regional or Planning Grant 

Regional Networks play a vital role in our R&E cyberinfrastructure ecosystem, not only from an infrastructure standpoint, but also as a trusted technology expert for member institutions, particularly for under-resourced institutions.  This seminar will introduce regional network organizations on how to enhance their leadership position within their communities by facilitating meaningful engagement with member institutions around the opportunities offered by the NSF CC* program.
Targeted Participants: RENs
When: Tuesday, July 14th – 3:00-4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed

Seminar #2Identification of Scientific Research and Education Application Drivers
A compelling narrative for Campus Science Research and Application Drivers is the foundation of a CC* proposal.  Discovering these drivers and applications are among the most challenging tasks in developing a proposal.  The narrative must include concrete science or engineering research and/or educational interests and components conducted by faculty, researchers, staff or students that would be improved and/or accelerated by infrastructure investments funded through the CC* program.  Each campus participating in a regional proposal must have its own set of applications and drivers.  This  seminar will discuss methods for engaging campus faculty, researchers and staff for identifying these drivers.
Facilitator: Greg Monaco
Targeted Participants:
RENs + Members
When: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 – 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed


Seminar #3Identifying Campus Infrastructure Needs
Identifying strategic cyberinfrastructure resources needed to support a core set of science research and education applications and drivers is a critical component of putting together a responsive proposal. The proposal narrative must include a specific set of cyberinfrastructure infrastructure, technologies or services that will be integrated into the campus or regional network environment in support of the identified science applications and drivers.  Quantitative and qualitative information should be provided to justify the requested infrastructure. This seminar will cover methods for matching cyberinfrastructure and network technologies with science application drivers within the context of current campus or regional network environment; specific technologies that are considered responsive to the proposal; and quantitative or qualitative measures that can be collected in advance of submitting the proposal.
Facilitator: Jason Zurawski, ESnet
Targeted Participants:
RENs + Members
When: Thursday, August 13, 2020 – 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed


Seminar #4Develop a CI Plan
Every regional network and campus should have a current cyberinfrastructure plan regardless of interest in participating in the CC* program.  A cyberinfrastructure plan informs a campus or regional infrastructure strategy and helps to prioritize needs and investments.  This seminar will present the important features of a cyberinfrastructure plan for regionals as well as campuses and share ideas on how to overcome challenges in creating plans.
Facilitator: Paul Schopis
Targeted Participants:
RENs, RENs + Members
When: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 – 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed


Seminar #5Campus Compute Components
This program area, new in 2019, promotes a coordinated approach in scientific computing at the campus level.  With 23 awards given to date, this area incentivizes new and shared computing resources at the campus level.  An important aspect of the project is a coordinated approach to multi-campus and national resource sharing. While regional networks themselves are not eligible to submit a Campus Compute grant, they can provide support to member organizations in a manner similar to the Network Infrastructure area grants by helping to identify science and research application drivers or providing connections to regional and national computational resources that could be leveraged.  This seminar will go over the fundamental aspects of a Campus Compute award focusing on matching the campus resources requested to the identified science and application drivers as well as mechanisms for developing a multi-campus and national resource sharing plan.
Facilitator: Wendy Huntoon
Targeted Participants: RENs + Members
When: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 – 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed


Seminar #6 – Preparing to Submit a Grant
This final seminar is designed to build a general understanding of the grant components and which components can be prepared in advance.  This session is designed for organizations who have not submitted grants previously.
Targeted Participants: RENs, RENs + Members
When: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 – 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
Duration: 90 Minutes
Registration Closed