University research cyberinfrastructure committee interim report

"Campus cyberinfrastructure is not just about technology." Beyond access to technology, Cyberinfrastructure (CI) defines a new information technology paradigm that includes people and their expertise, enabling technologies, software and tools, and provides a foundation for an integrated approach to research and education workflow. CI should facilitate application use and evolution, data analysis, collaboration and data management. Such model is at odds with the traditional model of investigators. The traditional model of the independent investigator and/or research team has historically been a problematic component of University technology planning and investment. However, the scale of the challenges and the expectations of the funding agencies are redefining the research environment to include interdisciplinary, multi-institutional collaborative projects. The National Institutes of Health Translational Clinical Medicine initiatives exemplify this new model of investigation. Advanced computing, networks, data storage technologies/resources and personnel - Cyberinfrastructure - are essential elements of this new research environment and of the University's success. The Cyberinfrastructure Committee was constituted with representation from senior investigators and administrators with responsibilities that include infrastructure resources and services. The committee conducted a review of recent reports and publications, presenting national perspectives and priorities. Additional perspectives were offered through invited presentations and dialogues. Considerable effort was invested in the development and administration of a survey of the research community. The 114 responses provide the basis for a number of the committee's recommendations.