Internet2 has been supporting collaborative research since its founding in 1996, first through its national network, then by its work in federated identity and access management with InCommon, and more recently via its cloud solutions. The organization’s Research Engagement Team, led by Executive Director Dana Brunson, is working to close the access gap for research cyberinfrastructure, particularly for institutions with limited resources.
Dana Brunson’s team provides consulting and training for campuses to learn about research cyberinfrastructure and develop strategic plans, and offers support to bring institutions to realizing execution of those plans.
The team’s mission is to ensure that researchers and educators have access to the research computing and data tools, services, and resources they need, regardless of their discipline or type of institution. Brunson notes that this includes whatever might be already on campus, or what is available regionally and nationally as either federally funded or private-sector resources.
They facilitate a professional community for research cyberinfrastructure through CaRCC, the Campus Research Computing Consortium, to develop shared tools and best practices. The team also advocates for research computing and data professionals, to be seen as both research partners and as part of what makes a university a competitive entity.
The team’s central focus is closing the gap between the well-resourced R1 institutions and those that have faced greater limitations in accessing research cyberinfrastructure, such as teaching-focused undergraduate institutions, minority-serving institutions, and every type of campus in between. Dana Brunson’s team is working to provide these institutions with the resources and support they need to compete with their better-resourced counterparts.
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The team’s efforts are focused on providing support and resources to institutions that need them most, and on advocating for the importance of research computing and data professionals in higher education.
As research cyberinfrastructure continues to evolve, it is likely that the team’s work will become even more critical in supporting the research endeavors of institutions across the country. This is because institutions need to stay up-to-date with the latest tools and services to remain competitive.
The Internet2 Research Engagement Team’s work is not limited to providing support and resources to institutions. They also facilitate a professional community for research cyberinfrastructure, which brings together researchers and educators from across the country to share best practices and develop new tools and services, including those related to management and leadership.
By supporting the research endeavors of institutions across the country, the team is helping to advance our understanding of the world and to drive innovation in a wide range of fields.
It is likely that we will see even more exciting developments in the years to come.
