News

NSF Seeks Review Panelists for IRNC, ARI-R² Programs

The National Science Foundation is requesting merit review expertise in several upcoming programs from those with a background in network research, engineering, planning and deployment. These include the International Research Networks Connection (IRNC) program and the Academic Research Infrastructure - Recover and Reinvestment (ARI-R²) program. Each panelist will be asked to commit either 2 or 3 days to serve on a panel held in Arlington, Virginia. NSF will reimburse panelists for their travel. The deadline for contacting NSF with your interest to serve on a panel is 21 August 2009. Full details and contact information are available online.

Governance Updates

AMSAC

The Applications, Middleware, and Services Advisory Council (AMSAC) met with Pete Siegel, Chair of the Research Advisory Council (RAC), for an update on RAC activities and a productive discussion about joint areas of interest. The council is interested in input from the community about focus areas in the coming year, and encourages you to send your input to amsac-feedback@internet2.edu.

AOAC

The Architecture & Operations Advisory Council (AOAC) met on 22 and 29 July. On the first call, the council heard a report on Joint Techs, and received staff updates on several topics, including the schedule for router upgrades in New York City, Washington, DC, and Atlanta, and a summary of the new ION service. On the 29 July call, Harvey Newman (California Institute of Technology) described an NSF MRI-R2 proposal to be submitted by Internet2 in collaboration with scientists from the community, including Harvey, Shawn McKee (University of Michigan) and Paul Sheldon (Vanderbilt). The AOAC endorsed submitting the proposal and sent a letter to Internet2 staff indicating its support. The topic of NTIA BTOP was also covered on the second call. Although Internet2 has opted not to proceed with an infrastructure proposal, some background work was conducted. This work included the creation of the AOAC architecture principles document, which was presented to the AOAC for an early review. This work is consistent with one of the AOAC tasks from the Strategic Plan. The AOAC indicated the document is good progress toward that goal and plans to discuss formally adopting it at its 9 September meeting.

RAC

The Research Advisory Council (RAC) reviewed the next steps in the fiscal year 2010 budgeting process based on the input generated during the Strategic Planning process. It then discussed how best to inform community members that had been involved over the last six months. Partially as a response to this discussion, the top priorities of tasks forwarded by all councils will be publically posted, along with an initial rough ordering of all the priorities. The RAC also reviewed recent Network Research Review Committee (NRRC) activity (mentioned in the last update) and near-term plans. Finally, the RAC discussed the ION announcement made at Joint Techs, and what researchers should know about the new service.

Events

Fall 2009 Internet2 Member Meeting

The Fall 2009 Internet2 Member Meeting is scheduled for October 5-8 in San Antonio, Texas. The overarching theme for this fall's meeting is: “Collaborations and Resource Sharing in Research and Education: How the economic crisis is fueling the expansion of networking technology, fostering global communities, and driving social change.” The full agenda is available online.

Internet2 is pleased to feature General Session speakers Gary Forsee, President of the University of Missouri System and former chairman and CEO of Sprint Nextel, and Gwen Jacobs, Professor and Assistant CIO at Montana State University and chair of the iPlant Collaborative Board of Directors.

Register by 4 September, before the final registration rate increase. Meeting attendees are strongly encouraged to stay at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, the conference hotel. The room block closes 4 September, so reserve your room now. Hotel and additional travel information is available on the meeting website.