Abstracts

Speaker:

• To be determined

Abstract:

Join the Microsoft team for an immersive workshop on Azure OpenAI Service, a cutting-edge AI technology that is revolutionizing the way we interact with language models. This workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Azure OpenAI’s capabilities and how it can be leveraged to solve complex problems.

During this workshop, you will learn about the various language models offered by Azure OpenAI. You will gain hands-on experience in three hands-on labs where you will be adapting these models to specific tasks such as content generation, summarization, semantic search, and natural language to code translation.

Prerequisites for to fully participate in the hands-on lab experience*: 1. bring your own laptop, 2. you must be an owner or contributor access in an Azure subscription, 3. access to Azure OpenAI in a subscription.**

* You can still find value in attending this workshop without participating in the hands-on labs. There will be overviews, resources shared, demos of steps for the labs, etc. shared by the workshop leaders.

** If you do not have access to Azure OpenAI in a subscription, we will work with you to get that set up for this workshop if you register by February 19, 2024.

Please register here for the workshop.

Speakers:

• To be determined

Abstract:

The Connector/Network Member Principals will gather to discuss initiatives of interest to the regional networks.

Speaker:

• Jack Suess, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Abstract:

Cloud storage can help to improve collaboration, productivity, and disaster recovery. It can also help to reduce the cost of IT infrastructure. Over a decade ago higher education began leveraging commercial cloud storage providers such as Box, Google, Dropbox, and Microsoft, at first cautiously and then with gusto. The storage providers were not only able to give cost-effective solutions, but they innovated at a rapid pace, giving ever more useful tools and ever greater quotas, making them indispensable parts of our daily workflows.

As the number of documents, videos, images, and datasets was starting to increase at a faster and faster pace, most cloud vendors dropped their quotas altogether one after another like dominos. This removed most all data discipline and led to a rapid rise in storage, much of it inappropriate for these storage platforms. Simply put, they became an easy dumping ground for everything from documents we might need to look at someday to server backups to research data sets.

Clearly, this could not last. The dominos started to fall the other way. One after another the storage providers reimposed quotas and increased costs, leading schools to shift their storage from one platform to another, chasing the remaining cheap storage…until there were none.
So fine, that’s the reality. Where do we go next? We invite you to join your fellow higher ed leaders for a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that higher education institutions face in the changing landscape of cloud storage.

Speakers:

• Heidi Thompson, Grinnell College
  Kaitlin Wilcox, Grinnell College

Abstract:

The evolution of the digital landscape in higher education increasingly demands robust collaboration within Information Technology Services (ITS). This session presents a narrative case study illustrating the dynamic partnership between Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Business Intelligence (BI) at a liberal arts college. Beyond breaking barriers in challenging areas such as role-based access control and data governance, the narrative uncovers the deep-seated (and growing) interdependencies between IAM and BI. As higher ed institutions progressively lean towards centralized analytics, understanding the symbiotic relationship between IAM and BI becomes critical.

Learning Outcomes
– Recognize the advantages of inter-departmental collaboration, specifically highlighting how IAM protocols shape BI outcomes and vice versa.
– Appreciate how a well-synchronized partnership can give rise to harmonized data governance policies, efficient access mechanisms, and the alignment of business intelligence services with overarching institutional goals.
– Understand the strategic role of ITS in a centralized analytics era, where the confluence of IAM and BI is imperative for data validation, uniformity, and clear interpretation.

Session Details
– Presenters: An experienced identity and access analyst and director of data Insights, both with rich, multifaceted expertise in their domains.
– Audience: IT aficionados and leadership teams armed with an essential understanding of IAM and analytics needs in higher education.
– Format: A 30-minute discussion shedding light on the case study, enriched by a subsequent discussion among participants.

Key Reflection Points:
– Embracing partnership is key to progress in difficult areas, especially when focusing on the juncture where IAM informs BI processes and analytics.
– Collaborative endeavors over siloed perfection can establish a paradigm that underscores the need for ongoing collaboration and process improvement.
– Understanding the interplay between IAM and BI ensures a well-oiled, synchronized machine for data management and secure access.

Speaker:

• James Deaton, Internet2

Abstract:

Please join James Deaton as he kicks off the 2024 Community Exchange “Impact of Advanced Networking” track. James will provide an overview of what is happening in Internet2’s Network Services division and a preview of the additional Network Services sessions later in the program.

Speakers:

• To be determined

Abstract:

Federal Agency members’ progress on broad initiatives and goals continues to be highly relevant to Internet2’s Higher Education, Community Anchor and Industry members and stakeholders.  This session will highlight updates from key federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health and others.

Speaker:

• John Sweeting, American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)

Abstract:

Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) is a voluntary service offered by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) to prevent inadvertent misconfigurations and intentional IP address hijacking. It introduces a cryptographic mechanism that allows an Internet number resource holder to assertively declare the origin of a prefix(s) disseminated to the Internet, a practice known as Route Origin Authorization (ROA).

The adoption of RPKI empowers operators with an additional dataset to make more informed routing decisions. This not only limits the consequences arising from human error or malevolent activities but also curbs the broader scope for attempted hijacks on the Internet at large. Additionally, discussions are taking place in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to develop enhancements to RPKI such as Autonomous System Provider Authorization (ASPA), that will continue to offer better protection from bad actors. Join us as ARIN’s Chief Customer Officer provides an update on RPKI-ROA adoption and the latest developments at ARIN aimed at enhancing the user experience for RPKI adopters.

Speakers:

• Tobin Magle, Northwestern University
• Deb McCafferey, Arizona State University

Abstract:

Academic researchers use a patchwork of research data storage platforms that vary largely based on what their institution provides and how much it costs the researcher. These costs do not always reflect the cost to the institution or to the vendor. For example, cloud file storage platforms like Box, Google Drive, and Dropbox once offered unlimited storage to academic institutions, and these institutions gave researchers accounts at no cost. Thus, many researchers used these platforms to store all of their research data at all points of the data lifecycle. Some groups took advantage of the unlimited storage by archiving terabytes of data.

Recently, all of these platforms have changed or are changing their service to eliminate unlimited storage and increase cost to academic institutions. These changes have caused a major disruption in the research data storage ecosystems at many academic institutions. During this session we will discuss what alternatives are available today, how to compensate for these changes in the short term, and gather ideas about how to design research data storage systems of the future. We welcome perspectives from those who care about data storage outside the research space, especially from those who work on the systems facing side.

Speaker:

• Joe Mambretti, Metropolitan Research and Education Network (MREN)

Abstract:

Each year, for the IEEE/ACM International Conference on High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analytics, its SCinet group designs and implements a major national testbed with international extensions to enabling the showcasing of large-scale demonstrations and experiments, such as those within the Network Research Exhibition (NRE) program. This presentation will provide an overview of several NREs staged at SC23 focused on innovations for large-scale, data intensive, global science research.

Speaker:

• Steven Wallace, Internet2

Abstract:

A discussion of routing integrity for the Internet2 community.

Speakers:

• Jack Suess, UMBC
• Cheryl Washington, University of California, Davis
• Emily Perry, University of Arizona
• Jason Paluck, UMBC

Abstract:

Institutions today have hundreds of software contracts in place. Innovative Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offerings leverage the availability of cloud technology and are increasingly chosen to provide critical services. While this trend has enabled new functionality and greater options for individual units and researchers, it has created a need for enhanced vendor management practices. How should institutions manage risk, compliance, security, business continuity, and derive long-term value from these investments? The Internet2 NET+ PAG has spent considerable time discussing this issue and in 2022 asked the Internet2 Business, Procurement and Legal Advisory Council (BPLAC) to form a working group to focus on IT vendor management.

The I2 vendor management group discovered that management of the IT vendor relationship lifecycle cannot be siloed into one area. The group defined three key areas that contribute to successful management of a vendor – operational vendor management, procurement management, and strategic vendor management. Within each of the key areas, there are varied foundational, executable, and relationship lifecycle activities that take place in our sampling of higher education institutions. The variety of institutions in higher education – public, private, large, medium, small, for profit, non-profit, state school, community college – have different rules, systems, and processes based on their needs, which makes it difficult to maintain consistent IT vendor management rules and practices for higher education. However, consistency across institutions is not a requirement for success. Regardless of the institution, as IT is increasingly reliant upon third party services IT vendor management practices are critical to successful vendor relationships.

The vendor management working group cataloged activities as a first step to aid institutions seeking to implement IT vendor management functions so programs can be customized to suit unique cultures and organizational structures. Having cataloged the activities, the Internet2 vendor management working group then documented these activities and compiled them into a framework for the community so that higher ed institutions can use the experience of others to build their own rules and processes for effective IT vendor management.

Along with documentation of activities, the group is gathering artifacts, templates, and other shareable documentation that the community can access and use as a resource to spur inspiration as they introduce and/or enhance their IT vendor management processes.

In addition, this session will focus on how campuses are approaching risk management and cybersecurity issues related to vendor management. What does effective business continuity mean if an outside service is ransomware? In addition, we will discuss the importance of having a strong negotiating team with well-defined roles and responsibilities that can think about maximizing the overall institutional benefit of the IT vendor portfolio.

This session will feature speakers with distinct roles and perspectives on Vendor Management who will talk about the topic from their perspective and discuss what their institution is doing here. We will have a CIO, Enterprise Architect, CISO, and a Software Supply Chain Manager.

By sharing some of the rich conversations on this topic in both the NET+ PAG and IT Vendor Management group, we hope to give campuses tangible ideas they can take back and implement on campus to begin to address this growing issue.

Speakers:

• Nicole Roy, Internet2
• Dmitri Zagidulin, MIT
• Leif Johansson, SUNET

Abstract:

Moderated community panel discussion on the state of digital credential and electronic wallet technology, likely and needed future developments, and what our community can, could, and should do to enable use of these technologies in support of privacy-preserving research and education use cases.

Speakers:

• Ivana Golub, PSNC
• David Wilde , AARNet

Abstract:

The Global Network Advancement Group (GNA-G) gathers worldwide network professionals from the Research & Education (R&E) Networking organisations to support and enhance continent-to-continent interconnectivity and global science collaboration.

GNA-G organises its work in working groups around topics of multi-national and multi-domain interest and importance. Some of the working groups include, but are not limited to Data Intensive Science, Routing, AutoGOLE/SENSE, GREN map and Network Automation. Network engineers from operational teams and researcher groups from several continents are contributing in these groups, with the call always open for others to join.

This presentation will give an opportunity to the audience to hear more about GNA-G and its working groups, learn which of them might be of their interest and how to join and contribute. It will also provide updates in different areas of the GNA-G work and give an opportunity to liaise with GNA-G members.

Speakers:

• Al Anderson, Salish Kootenai College
• Tom Jackson, North Carolina A&T State University
• Deborah Dent, Ph.D, Jackson State University
• Joey Brenn, Claflin University

Abstract:

How can we begin to support systemically underserved and under-resourced institutions to ensure that their expertise, ideas, and perspectives are included in national and global collaborations?

There are numerous approaches to addressing this question; for the Minority Serving – Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC), the focus is on enabling advanced cyberinfrastructure (CI) capabilities on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and the broader community of minority serving institutions (MSIs).

The designations for HBCUs, TCUs, and across other categories of minority serving institutions have unique historical and cultural definitions, beyond the makeup of their student bodies. Their institutional contexts vary enough to require individual considerations for CI strategic action across and within each category; there is no one-size-fits-all.

With funding from the NSF’s Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (#2234326) in 2022, the MS-CC and Internet2 developed a Proof-of-Concept Grant (PoCG) program for HBCUs and TCUs to drive sustainable CI advancement that is designed by and for the campuses. The PoCG program recipients include two public HBCUs, one private, liberal arts HBCU, a multi-campus collaboration with four HBCUs led by Tennessee State, and a tribal college.

Join us for this panel presentation and hear directly from campus recipients of PoCG pilot grants as they embark on their second year of funding and expert consulting to support sustainable CI development. They will share their motivations for CI advancements on their campuses, early successes, lessons learned, and answer audience questions.

Speaker:

• Tom Fryer, GÉANT Association

Abstract:

It is a truism that research and education transcend international borders. Yet for these collaborations to be successful, academics require services and tools that make it possibly to transfer data, access resources and communicate efficiently, securely and cost-effectively between countries and different world regions.

National Research and Education Networks (RENs) in over 130 countries around the world aim to support their national users in meeting their research and educational objectives.

NRENs come together in a format repeated across the globe designed to bring efficiencies across a given world region: the Regional Research and Education Network, such as GÉANT (Europe), ASREN (North Africa and Western Asia), WACREN (West and Central Africa), UbuntuNet Alliance (East and Southern Africa), RedCLARA (Latin America), CAREN Collaboration Center (Central Asia), and TEIN*CC and APAN (Asia-Pacific). In the USA, Internet2 performs an equivalent role, as does CANARIE in Canada, as organisations that support the state or province networks across their respective countries.

However, to be properly successful in this mission, NRENs and RRENs need to and do collaborate to ensure the delivery of end-to-end services. Collaborations, which may be bilateral or multilateral, cover a range of topics, including, but not exclusively:

• The planning and delivery of inter-regional connectivity ensuring redundancy and back-up arrangements.
• The development and provision of Trust and Identity to ensure secure and easy mobility and access to data and resources.
• Exchanges on developments in security provisioning.
• Collaboration groups, working groups, conferences and other forums to enable exchanges of ideas, as well as to facility new developments and collaborations.
• Advocacy to relevant stakeholders, such as funding bodies, standards bodies and industry organisations, to maintain and strengthen awareness of R&E networking and gain support.
• The development of new and emerging NRENs.

The presentation will describe a variety of collaborative efforts in which GÉANT is involved in in these areas to show the audience how such work brings wider benefits to the global R&E networking community and its user communities. In particular it will highlight collaborative efforts between Europe, the USA and Canada in the context of the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) collaboration towards deploying next generation transatlantic connectivity, emphasising how, without the coordinated approach and mutual support, such developments would be far less efficient.

The presentation will also focus on the range of collaboration groups across the globe, including the Special Interest Groups and Task Forces coordinated by GÉANT, that are open to and may be of relevance for members of the Internet2 Community.

This presentation is targeted at members of the Internet2 Community. By the end of the session, the audience will understand how collaboration among RENs across the globe plays a vital role in ensuring that academics and researchers are able to collaborate across international borders. Equally the audience will understand better which working groups and collaboration groups exist that are of relevance to them and in which they may play a role in to further strengthen the global R&E networking community.

Speaker:

• Nick Lewis, Internet2

Abstract:

Every institution spends resources managing vendors and strives to reduce risk, control costs and minimize redundancy. The NET+ team is launching a service evaluation to identify a cloud service to support schools in their efforts to improve cloud vendor risk management effectiveness.

The service evaluation team will identify service features that will help optimize visibility and coordination of vendor risk information across functional areas such as procurement, security, accessibility, identity, and others. This session will be an update on the service evaluation and community engagement.

Speaker:

• Albert Wu, Internet2

Abstract:

The InCommon Federation enables scaled and trusted federated access to national and international scholarly collaborations, research data, and teaching/learning services. Deploying a Single Sign-On Identity Provider (IdP) that meets InCommon’s interoperability and trust requirements can be challenging. Join us to explore how InCommon’s IdP-as-a-Service helps an institution connect its enterprise IdP solutions such as Azure AD or Okta to work seamlessly in the InCommon Federation.

Speakers:

• Mark Wolff, CANARIE
• María José Lopez, RedCLARA
• Lanika Starks, Internet2/MS-CC

Abstract:

The Americas team from CANARIE, Internet2 and RedCLARA has realized each organization is working toward a strategic goal to connect institutions which are traditionally underserved and under-connected. From the research institutions in Patagonia and the rain forests of Latin America, to minority serving and tribal institutions in the U.S., to the Nunavut territory of Canada, we all have institutions and expertise that is untapped and needs to be solved by connecting the unconnected.

This presentation will include colleagues from Canada, the U.S. and Latin America. Each presentation will present individual projects and then we will host a panel discussion about how we can learn from each other and work together to achieve our goals.

Speakers:

• Lance DuPre, University of South Carolina

Abstract:

The number of digital assets and scale of digital collections stored by libraries is increasing, however budgets and the staff in libraries are not keeping pace. These challenges are driving libraries to be more creative in terms of how they think of everything from long-term digital preservation, to how they manage workflows, opportunities to increase automation, and how to develop sustainable, extensible solutions. How can libraries continue with their mission to protect, preserve, curate and make accessible meaningful content? Increasingly for libraries — cloud services, AI and ML provide answers.

In this session the University of South Carolina and Vanderbilt University will share their approaches to these challenges illustrated with two very different collections – one of 19th century hand-written probate documents, the other a 55-year young and growing 200Tb Vanderbilt Television News Archive.

Attendees will learn about considerations to balance long-term storage with researcher access needs; how each institution used AI/ML tools to automate and improve data management, extract and make accessible meaningful content.

Speakers:

• Jennifer Schopf, TACC/ UT Austin
• Doug Southworth, TACC/ UT Austin
• George Robb, ESnet / LBNL

Abstract:

The Engagement and Performance Operations Center (EPOC) helps address barriers to fast and reliable end-to-end data transfers across all levels of the cyberinfrastructure ecosystem. It offers support to the R&E community through the NetSage measurement and monitoring tool kit, through intensive one-on-one work with sites using the Deep Dive approach, through offering baseline testing, and through extensive training workshops. However, the component of EPOC that most members of the R&E community take advantage of is our Roadside Assistance and Consulting.

Roadside Assistance (RA) gives end users a way to ask questions to an experienced team on almost any topic in the R&E networking and the cyberinfrastructure ecosystem. EPOC staff work with all staff and faculty to ensure a positive outcome, including engineers, researchers, operators, and managers. Questions have covered everything from basics (what’s a Science DMZ?) to complex (We need to move 2.5 PB of data to an as-of-yet unknown storage facility as quickly as possible, how do we do this?), to the most common (Can you look at my network design and tell me if it will work for these science workflows?).

This panel will give the first in-depth analysis of the over 350 Roadside Assistance Cases that EPOC has worked on during the last five years. We will walk through some of the most common questions we get, and give the audience pointers to our best practice documents to support common approaches to solve these issues. We’ll also analyze some of our most complex cases, talk in depth about how to balance technical problems with political realities, and give advice regarding how to move forward in situations where you have little or no control of the core components, but still need to make sure you’re supporting scientific outcomes.

Speakers:

• David Cavalieri, Colorado University, Boulder
• Justin Zemlyak, Indiana University
• Sam Porter, University of Maryland
• Damian Doyle, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Hellen Zziwa, Harvard University

Abstract:

Most cloud providers have increased their storage prices in the recent years, and one by one they have eliminated unlimited storage as an option.

Research and education organizations have had to adjust their storage and data migration strategies to accommodate pricing increases and quota limits.

This panel will discuss how their organizations are mitigating the financial and operational impacts of these changes. As part of the discussion, they’ll highlight solutions they’re exploring and have adopted.

Speaker:

• Mike Zawacki, Internet2

Abstract:

The true value of eduroam increases with its ubiquity. Having eduroam in educational institutions and public spaces across entire states boosts the value proposition of the service immensely and regional networks, community anchor institutions, and internet service providers like Cox Communications presents a unique and powerful opportunity to address this scaling challenge.

We’ll discuss the community’s work on multiple statewide deployments of eduroam as part of the eduroam Support Organization program, as well as new collaborations between Internet2 and commercial ISPs to provide eduroam in public hotspots. Come hear about lessons learned, what’s next for the work of the eduroam Support Organization program and our ISP pilots, and how that work enhances the value for the national eduroam community!

Speaker:

• Ed Wozencroft, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Abstract:

Advances in Generative AI are moving at a breakneck pace. The technology holds much promise for a wide range of applications. With students at the center of our higher education mission, we at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) are harnessing the power of GenAI for them. We are looking to GenAI to simplify the higher education journey for students and provide them with a clearer path to achieve their education goals. Through our GenAI-powered projects we are streamlining and automating processes. AI is enhancing support for students – especially for first generation and international students for whom the US higher education system can be overwhelming. And the technology is giving us insights upon which our leadership and staff can take action.

In this session attendees will learn about NJIT’s Generative AI journey from the point of ideation with experts, to socializing our vision with campus stakeholders, to engaging the students who will be using our solutions and the lessons we have learned along the way. Attendees will take home tools, resources, and approaches they can incorporate into their own Generative AI journey.

Speakers:

• David Marble, OSHEAN
• Luke Fowler, Indiana University

Abstract:

The R&E community has always been at the forefront of care and feeding of research payloads. That practice drove innovation impacting all types of traffic in the R&E world. Most notably, the payloads to cloud services now sit at the forefront of R&E value propositions to our members as we build an efficient, high performance cloud exchange into the fabrics of our networks. These cloud payloads are uniquely managed, have low latency, predictable paths, and resilience. Feeding on that success, our members have raised the bar, demanding toolsets and reports showing the efficacy of their critical routes to individual cloud services.

This session will delve into the implementation OSHEAN and IU’s GlobalNoC have been developing to instrument the network, provide visibility through a Member Portal and Automate aspects of the configuration and diagnostics of network infrastructure.
The technical aspects of the session will explore OSHEAN’s Portal Architecture with Grafana, Telemetry techniques, Protocol choices such as IP SLA for measurement reporting. Encryption choices for cloud routes (i.e. MACSEC), and Ansible frameworks for configuration automation and Network Diagnostics.

We will utilize specific member implementations as example use cases and discuss the ties to important concepts such as service level agreements and mean time to repair. If time allows, we will discuss the next steps of this important journey.
This will be a joint presentation from David Marble, OSHEAN’s CEO, and Luke Fowler, GlobalNoC’s Director of Software and Systems.

Speaker:

• Sean O’Brien, Internet2

Abstract:

The Internet2 Cloud Scorecard and the Institutional Profiles are two initiatives that aim to help research and education institutions discover, evaluate, and adopt cloud services that meet their security, compliance, and technology standards. In this presentation, we will share how we are bringing these efforts from pilot projects into full production services. We will explain the benefits of leveraging the Cloud Scorecard and the Institutional Profiles. We will also demonstrate how to access and use these tools to find cloud solutions that suit your institution’s needs and goals. Finally, we will also discuss how these tools can facilitate collaboration and communication among institutions and vendors in the research and education community.

Speaker:

• Jean Chorazyczewski, Internet2

Abstract:

In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving security threats, IT leaders at higher education institutions are facing a number of challenges in securing their IAM infrastructures, including outdated systems, identity management bloat, access control, and cloud integration all in the context of evolving considerations like lived names, gender recognition, and pronouns.

Join this panel of diverse leaders who will discuss the challenges they have encountered in future-proofing their IAM infrastructures, as well as the actionable steps they have taken to address these challenges. The panel will also discuss the changing landscape, trends, and needs in higher education, and how these factors are impacting IAM security.

Speaker:

• Chris Wilkinson, Internet2

Abstract:

The emerging developments on the Internet2 backbone will be described including hardware and software upgrades, resiliency work, ROADMs, and the next step beyond transponders.

We will also focus on 400G global connectivity and the collaborations that will enable including the expansion of the Atlantic Pacific Research and Education Exchange (NA-REX) to include new consortium members and the scope of the activities.

We will discuss these initiatives, long-term goals, and how community input and requirements will likely impact the development of the Internet2 core.

Speaker:

• Martin VanWinkle, Institute for Advanced Study

Abstract:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) which is a set of fundamental, sound, and secure software development practices based on established secure software development practice – https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/ssdf

More and more people are interacting with “code”; and anybody who develops, deploys, or administers computing systems will strongly benefit from knowing the SSDF from a high-level.

After this session, you will have a high-level vocabulary for the SSDF, and you will be better able to communicate with others about software security.

Speakers:

• Scott Friedman, Amazon Web Service
• Claire Mizumoto, UCSD
• Himanshu Sharma, University of Illinois Chicago
• Jim Kenyon, University of Michigan

Abstract:

Today’s researchers are increasingly reliant on access to computing, storage and analysis solutions tailored to the specific needs of their research problem. These individuals are burdened by having to gain fluency in this ever-changing technology while also expanding expertise in their discipline. Research enablement is an approach to unburden these researchers so they can focus on their science.

In this panel session we’ll cover some of the key challenges institutions face and discuss strategies to address them including: structural challenges (funding; organizational structure), technical challenges (cloud or on-prem; compliance; automation; working at scale), and cultural challenges (fear of cloud; fear of layoffs; career growth options).

Attendees will take home a greater understanding of the benefits of having a research enablement strategy and resources available to help them build/enhance their research enablement strategy.

Speaker:

• Kevin Morooney, Internet2

Abstract:

During this session, we present the final report, review the implementation timeline, and answer questions around the InCommon plan to standardize tools and services used by our community. Information will be shared with the community in advance of this session so a full discussion can occur and community engagement will be maximized.

Speakers

• Delma Rodriguez Morales, Cultural Ring Uruguay / UNIR – Spain
• Justin Trieger, New World Symphony
• Dr. Raquel Gil Fernández, UNIR International University of La Rioja, Spain

Abstract:

The proposal is based on the experience of Co-creation Lab since 2019 and its insertion in the PhD thesis project “Co-creation without borders in local and global contexts of e-Culture in arts, sciences, technology and society”, through research stays in Europe, the United States of America and Latin America.

The panel is integrated by the PhD student and the tutors in each research stay, sharing valuable cases and experiences on how to make strong collaborations and research on networks.

Speakers:

• Addie Cooke, Public Policy Lead for Enterprise AI, Google
• Jim Van Over, Innovation Strategist, ServiceNow
• Zach Pendleton, Instructure
• Moderator: Sean O’Brien, Internet2

Abstract:

“The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has profound implications for research and higher education. AI can enhance the quality and efficiency of research processes, enable new forms of collaboration and communication, and create new opportunities for learning and teaching. However, AI also poses significant challenges and risks, such as ethical, legal, social, and economic issues.

In this session, we will explore the impacts of AI on research and higher education from various industry perspectives, such as service development, policy, privacy, and practice. We will also discuss the best practices and strategies to harness the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks and values in research and higher education.

We will update speakers to this panel and add additional details here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CiifQHMVAkyZEBH8J5VhmOv-o6YXvq34u9gtMZbkGMM/edit”

Speakers:

• Amelia Hough-Ross, Pacific Northwest National Lab
• Scott Friedman, Amazon Web Services
• Shruthi Sreenivasa Murthy, Saint Louis University

Abstract:

Join us for (3) engaging, short talks:

a. “Comprehending Jira Tickets with AWS” with Amelia Hough-Ross

Have you ever wanted to gain insights from Jira ticket data without having to read through them all yourself? Given the rise of ChatGPT, there must be a way to learn what is contained in free-text fields from Jira tickets and ask a natural language process to pull out insights. It’s not as easy as you think. This use case was born out of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) desire to build better FAQ documentation for our Center for Cloud Computing. This talk will walk through the process of connecting to the Jira API to get ticket data, cleaning the data, putting the data into AWS Comprehend, and then seeing if it’s possible to gain insights. This is currently a work in progress and it may be that AWS Comprehend is not the best tool for gathering insights for this use case. The process required to complete this task from start to finish is useful, and interesting, and will help others in the community new to these concepts gain experience in how to get started, and how to troubleshoot in this new world of Artificial Intelligence.

b. “Accelerate Research with AWS Lightsail” with Scott Friedman

Researchers and academics want easy access to powerful computing capabilities, including GPUs — ideally in a way that is simple to manage and providing real-time visibility and control of cost. AWS Lightsail for Research offers all this and more. Learn how researchers can create — in just a few clicks — powerful virtual computers in the AWS Cloud under their full control or pre-installed with the analytical applications such as RStudio, Jupyter and Scilab.

c. “How we improved research productivity!!” with Shruthi Murthy

At Saint Louis University (SLU), researchers leverage geospatial information to generate valuable research datasets applicable to a diverse array of investigations encompassing economics, public health, and finance, specifically focusing on social mobility trends. These datasets comprise extensive microdata files, with an average size of approximately 500 terabytes spanning five years of data. In this presentation, I will discuss how we built a substantial geospatial data repository utilizing AWS EMR serverless and how we successfully streamlined both cost and data processing durations with this workflow.

Speaker:

• Klaas Wierenga, GEANT

Abstract:

Identity and Access Mangement within the European Union presents unique opportunities and challenges for teachers, learners, and researchers. This session will share some of the unique recent developments within the EU space which enables the flow of knowledge across international boundaries, both within and outside the EU.

Speakers:

• Anita Nikolich, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Andrew Gallo, The George Washington University
• Mark Johnson, MCNC

Abstract:

The R&E community has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. But the role of university IT leaders and engineers extends far beyond our campus boundaries. As stewards of technological advancement, we have the opportunity to shape policies that not only impact our institutions but also contribute to larger societal and technological developments. By fostering productive conversations between the R&E community, regulators and policy makers, we can ensure that technology is used to improve teaching and learning, advance research, and promote social good.

While each of our institutions face unique challenges, we share common concerns such as data privacy, digital accessibility, cybersecurity, and equitable access to technology. By pooling our expertise and perspectives, we can address these challenges collectively and create a more cohesive and impactful voice in the policy-making arena.

We’re working to build policy expertise within the community to share knowledge about policy proposals, advocacy, and successes in our work. This session will be a continuation of the monthly NTAC Policy Reading Group – an informal gathering of engineers and IT managers to discuss local, national, and international IT policy.

The objective of this panel is to learn how to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among university IT leaders, engineers and policy makers and explore strategies for influencing technology policy at broader levels beyond our individual institutions. Panelists will represent the four areas of: public policy, R&E leadership, community activist organizations and Internet2. We will hold a facilitated panel discussion among these 4 types of leaders.

Speakers:

• Netta Caligari, West Arete (Catalyst Member)
• Natalie Simonson, West Arete (Catalyst Member)

Abstract:

Higher Ed CIOs face a myriad of challenges and opportunities. While each challenge can be unique to the institution, the need for effective problem-solving strategies is universal. In a world accustomed to instantaneous services, students increasingly need seamless access to a plethora of campus resources, ranging from academic aid to personal services. A comprehensive student experience not only aligns with embracing a modern, digital transition, but it is also pivotal for ensuring students, faculty, and administrators have innovative tech tools to do their best work. In order to successfully meet these needs, it’s vital for the end user’s experience to be part of the equation when strategically thinking about how to embrace emerging technologies.

The LUMA System of Innovation is a human-centered design framework dedicated to driving innovative solutions that put people at the forefront. Utilizing LUMA’s methodologies, this interactive workshop will delve into a set of human-centered exercises aimed at aligning the student journey with today’s technological expectations and ever-evolving academic landscape.

During this session, attendees will work individually and together to gain insights and practical strategies for facilitating collaborative meetings with their respective IT teams. Please join us if you are a CIO and/or IT leader who is eager to enhance your problem-solving toolkit through brainstorming techniques designed to engage both extroverts and introverts alike.

This session will cover:

The Power of Human-Centered Design: An exploration of how focusing on people can revolutionize the way we approach and tackle challenges, big and small.

Bolstering the Student Experience: Facilitated breakout sessions where attendees can work through how they can approach new technologies with the end user in mind.

Integration with Existing Processes: A discussion on how human-centered design can optimize the integration of emerging technologies, reimagine the student journey, and enhance data-driven, decision-making processes.

Q&A and Community: An opportunity for attendees to seek further clarity, share their experiences, and build connections with peers navigating similar challenges.

Note to the planning committee: Track and session length can be flexible for this workshop.

Speakers:

• Bob Flynn, Internet2
• Alan Walsh, Indiana University

Abstract:

The decision about where to run compute workloads typically involves factors like cost, security, and available skills. Yet rarely do you hear sustainability cited as a factor or a motivation to use resources like the public cloud.

Meanwhile, although the public cloud is mostly transparent on service charges, is cheap actually the same as least expensive? What about the cost to the planet? Much is made by the hyper-scalers about the power efficiency of their data centers, the clean energy used, and the low emissions. Is this all greenwashing or is there substance to their claims? Which metrics do they tout and which do they gloss over? Are adequate metrics released to allow us to make a quantifiable comparison between providers and even individual regions or availability zones?

Finally, if we had solid metrics, what would it take to get individual researchers, departments, and institutions to factor sustainability into their TCO calculation and decision-making when it comes to computing? Most institutions obscure the cost of power and cooling at an institutional level, rather than factoring it into the total cost of computing. What kinds of carrots could be developed to incent a shift in thinking to always choose the more efficient and sustainable option?

In this presentation, we will outline the status of efforts to fully scope and quantify the sustainability of the public cloud providers, walk attendees through efforts (and challenges) to do the same with an on-premises computing environment, and propose ideas for how to develop the right incentives to move higher ed institutions to put their computing money where their sustainability mouth is.

Speaker:

• Corey Lee, Microsoft

Abstract:

Multilateral federation is a key requirement for research universities that need to collaborate with other institutions and organizations around the world. However, implementing multilateral federation can be challenging, especially when different identity management systems and protocols are involved. Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud-based identity and access management service that provides single sign-on, modern security controls, and enhanced reporting and monitoring for Microsoft 365 and other applications. However, Microsoft Entra ID does not natively support multilateral federation, which limits its interoperability with other federation providers such as Shibboleth.

In this presentation, we will explore three reference architectures that enable multilateral federation leveraging Entra ID, using different solutions such as Cirrus Bridge, SAML proxy, and AD FS. We will compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each solution, and share the lessons learned from implementing them in real-world scenarios. We will also review considerations to help you choose the best solution for your environment, based on your specific needs and constraints. Finally, we will discuss the future directions and opportunities for improving multilateral federation with Microsoft Entra ID.

Speakers:

• Lucas Bondan, Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa (RNP)
• Marcelo Antonio Marotta, Universidade de Brasília (UnB)

Abstract:

With recent advances in technologies aimed at secure private networks, the fifth generation of telecommunication (5G) and the Internet of Things (IoT), computer networks have witnessed changes in usage profiles unexpectedly with adverse requirements, such as low latency, secure flow or high resilience at any time. When applied over programmable networks, such changes may involve modifications to the network software developed (e.g. P4). Software engineering techniques can be applied to improve, enhance and optimize the development of network software, especially when changes in the network profile occur.

The Programmable Future Internet for Secure Software Architecture (PROFISSA) project was proposed to investigate, map and advance the use of software engineering techniques when applied to programmable networks in order to improve the structural and functional quality and the process of developing network programs. The project provides a modular and reusable code framework for network programs developed with good development practices. In addition, the network programs developed in the project can be executed in real environments of programmable networks implemented on testbeds for the development and analysis of network software.

To this end, the integration between Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa (RNP) and the FABRIC project is sought, to create real programmable network environments of the latest generation, taking into account, for example, the use of programmability in the data plan with the use of devices that support P4. In this presentation, the audience will be introduced to PROFISSA’s architecture, the main use cases under development in the project, the results obtained so far, and also take the opportunity to exchange with the community attending the event potential ways to integrate PROFISSA’s testbed with FABRIC. Please find attached to this abstract a presentation that summarizes some of the use cases under development for PROFISSA’s applications and integration with FABRIC.

Speakers:

• Michael Hites, SMU
• Andrea Ballinger, Oregon State University

Abstract:

Every month, there is a new flurry of uses for artificial intelligence. In some cases, universities create cutting edge AI algorithms and in others, researchers teach those algorithms to perform novel functions. Most of us become spectators to the innovation and experiment with the tools, like ChatGPT. We talk amongst ourselves about the advantages, pitfalls, and ethics associated with AI innovation. Most universities have a cadre of researchers who are at the leading edge of AI. But if your institution is ready to embrace AI at scale, how do you make that transition?

Oregon State University and Southern Methodist University have made commitments to artificial intelligence at scale. Between the two universities, they will have created two new AI centers of excellence starting in 2018 and continuing to evolve until 2027. Their university strategic plans called for growth in data science and high-performance computing. SMU implemented new AI compute and services over the course of a few years, and OSU is on the same short trajectory to finish theirs by 2027.

This presentation and discussion will look at the AI goals of the attendees and describe how SMU and OSU were able to turn AI from a spectator sport to a participatory event in matter of a few years.

Learning Outcomes:
Develop goals and objectives for an AI strategy at scale
Learn the components, both hardware and personnel, needed to implement AI at scale
Create a personalized roadmap based on the successes and pitfalls experienced by SMU and OSU

Engagement Strategies:
Ask: What are your key AI issues?
Ask: How are you addressing them today?
Ask: What would you like to change?

Speaker:

• Ivana Golub, PSNC

Abstract:

To support European research and education communities in taking the network and its services one step beyond, the Network Development team in GÉANT GN5-1 project (WP6) is working on constantly improving production services – perfSONAR, Performance Measurement Platform, NMaaS, WiFiMon, Argus, TimeMap, Network eAcademy – doing research and development work – on Quantum technologies, Optical Time and Frequency Networks, RARE, GP4L – as well as participating in the global activities including the Global Network Advancement Group (GNA-G). This talk will provide more information about each of the mentioned topics and the latest updates about the work in the areas of network technologies, services, monitoring, eAcademy and its collaboration and communication channels and efforts.

https://wiki.geant.org/display/netdev

Speakers:

• Charise Arrowood, Unicon, Inc.
• Natalie Alarcon, California State University, Dominguez Hills

Abstract:

Do you ever find yourself with time on your hands and nothing to do? In Higher Education the trend seems to be the opposite. If you are interested in hearing from your peers about the time they have back in their day, week, month… due to the move to the cloud, come and join our interactive session.

Your peers will be discussing everything from why the initial decision was made to migrate to a hosted and managed solution, here about the discovery and planning, recommendations, discussions on current state and plans for the future.

Speakers:

• Tyler Svitak, Colorado Smart Cities Alliance
• Dan Griner, University of Colorado, Denver
• Patrick Rhatigan, RF Connect

Abstract:

Universities play a vital role in contributing to social and economic growth by providing education, conducting research, fostering entrepreneurship, and engaging in community outreach. Among the most significant initiatives underway is the establishment of smart cities and closing the digital divide.

Smart cities are important because they offer a way to use technology and data to improve the quality of life for residents, boost economic growth, and promote sustainability. Similarly, overcoming the digital divide promotes equality, opportunity, and growth for citizens.

Federal grant money helps incubate technology by providing critical financial and other resources to support the development of new and innovative ideas. When harnessed with academic institutions, grants can catalyze and accelerate innovation and workforce development. However, navigating the process can be confusing and time consuming.

The University of Colorado Denver has been awarded a grant to launch a smart cities incubator and accelerator program. Chief among its mission is to develop smart city certificate programs for undergraduate students and mid-career professionals interested in a variety of tech-related careers. A key component is a “living lab” enabled by 5G wireless connectivity to support the development, testing, and deployment of smart cities prototype products and services.

5G is important for innovation because it offers faster speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than previous generations of wireless networks. This means that it can enable new applications and use cases that were not possible before. But until recently, obtaining use of 5G to build a network for academic purposes has been challenging and costly, if not impossible.

Private Wireless Networks empower universities for the first time to build and operate broadband networks using cellular spectrum. These networks offer significant benefits and value to organizations that require secure, reliable, and customized connectivity solutions.

This case study offers a blueprint for other universities to architect similar initiatives. To accomplish this, attendees will hear directly from the municipal, university, and technology stakeholders for this project. The panelists will share technology and smart city use cases such as artificial intelligence that improves traffic flow and sensors that monitor local environmental quality. Attendees will learn about current and emerging technology and infrastructure to bridge the digital divide. Additionally, they will discover how to leverage 5G and other spectrum to a build private wireless networks to enable similar learning and development labs. Most importantly, participants will acquire best practices and engage in conversation with our thought leaders.

Speakers:

• Dr. Dana Brunson, Internet2
• Jacqueline Pitter , Vantage TCG
• Jon Young, Vantage TCG
• Dan Majchrzak, University of Oregon

Abstract:

How can the unmet needs of higher education research programs be communicated adequately to the central IT/REN offices charged with leading a campus infrastructure modernization in a way that your research will benefit from the upgrades? Nobody knows what anyone else does, and substantively engaging with other humans is hard. We’ll share what we’ve learned from working on infrastructure upgrade projects, and how to assist the Central IT/REN offices to speak the language of Research as well as highlight tools and opportunities to get even better outcomes from collaborating.

Session Takeaways

* Why stakeholder interviews are crucial, even if the resultant technology architecture doesn’t change
* Level-setting Research Office jargon with Central IT/REN terms
* Explore the right interview agenda to ask to fully illuminate Researcher’s goals and translate them into functional technology goals
* Recognize the importance of the Research IT facilitator, bridging the gap between the Researcher and enterprise IT communities
* Discuss the next steps in the evolution of Research Computing and Data and what to expect

Session Description

Through the lens of our work with clients on network modernization, InfoSec & IT strategic planning projects, we have learned that stakeholder interviews are tricky, and especially so with PIs and Researchers. You need to approach these stakeholder interviews as more of a conversation about what and how they do their research and not about technical requirements. “What do you need?” is never the right interview question. It will only lead the conversation down the wrong fork in the road.

IT professionals and researchers often use the same words to mean very different things – or, it’s like they are speaking totally different languages. When trying to design technology systems to enable researchers, it’s crucial to speak the researchers language on their terms to understand what they do, how they do it and how technology can make them more successful without getting in the way. The technology project might be a network or storage initiative or even a construction project, but the conversation with the researcher is about how they conduct, share and analyze their research becomes an interactive process to learn each other’s language and get to the core of what technology or decisions will best enable success.

Many times research leads may not actually know the specifications they require in order to process, store, secure, and move the massive datasets they are working with. Ideas like democratized assets, and inter-regional research-supporting networks, as well as solving the problem of sharing petabytes of research data with another location half-the-globe away are not normally problems that central IT is thinking about when designing institutional infrastructure, but HOW a network or storage cluster is designed can absolutely affect the research functionality thereof. Being able to accurately speak to your project’s requirements involves the ability to translate the research into workflows, innovations, and pain points.

Through this interactive session, we’ll discuss successful experiences and lessons learned on translating between varied types of researchers and technology professionals. This yields a productive process where the researchers feel heard, stakeholder buy-in and support are forthcoming (with funding support!) and the delivered result achieves the underlying mission. We’ll show sample agendas for researcher interviews and share anecdotes that help to make this all real in the context of the RCD and I2 communities.

Speakers:

• Eamon McErlean, ServiceNow Vice President and Global Head of Accessibility
• Adrian Casas, Miro
• Luis O. Hernández Muñiz, University of California, Berkeley
• Carol Williams, Princeton University
• Keith Wessel, University of Illinois
• Terrill Thompson, University of Washington

Abstract:

The digital landscape is an integral part of our lives, and ensuring accessibility for all users is paramount. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and more recently 2.2 have provided a comprehensive framework to ensure digital content and services are usable by people with accessibility requirements. This panel brings together representatives from both Industry and Higher Education to delve into the complexities, challenges, and best practices in addressing accessibility. It aims to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights that can further promote accessibility awareness and implementation in the digital world.

Insights from Industry: NET+ Service Provider representatives will share their real-world experiences on the journey towards addressing accessibility. They will discuss the strategies, technologies, and organizational changes they’ve implemented to enhance user experiences and meet WCAG 2.1 guidelines. By exploring lessons learned and challenges faced, participants can gain practical insights into the process.

Higher Education’s Role in Accessibility: Higher Education representatives will highlight the critical role that accessibility plays on campus. They will discuss the different types of accessibility necessary when catering to different types of cloud service users.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their own experiences, and learn from the panelists.

Speakers:

• Mike Atkins, University of Notre Dame
• Patrick Rhatigan, RF Connect

Speakers:

• Alex Bushell, CANARIE
• Kathryn Anthonisen, CANARIE
• Barb Carra, Cybera
• Richard Lacombe, RISQ

Abstract:

National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) around the globe are increasingly being asked by the communities they serve to help secure the research and Education (R&E) sector. In Canada, this means engaging with 200+ organizations across the country, from a small rural college in Québec with just over 700 students, to Canada’s largest university with almost 100,000 students.

Canada’s federated NREN offers a unique approach to securing the sector, based on three key foundational principles:

• We are always stronger together, but this collective strength is especially important when dealing with sophisticated bad actors who are increasingly supported by nation states;

• Regional NREN partners in the provinces and territories know their connected organizations best and, thus, are in the best position to engage with teams at organizations; and,

• There are unique strengths and capabilities at all levels of the ecosystem: at organizations, in the regions, and at the national level. By combining these capabilities, the entire sector can be protected in a cost-effective and process-efficient manner.

This presentation will focus on three key areas where CANARIE and Canada’s regional NREN partners are collaborating to build a cybersecurity system structure that can evolve to meet organizational needs based on the ever-changing threat landscape:

1. CANARIE’s Cybersecurity Initiatives Program, which provides eligible organizations with a range of funded cybersecurity services, and is supported by local adoption activities carried out by the regional NREN partners;

2. The National Cybersecurity Assessment, developed jointly with the Canadian NREN, which provides quantitative assessments of NREN-connected organizations to identify priority areas for action at the regional and national levels; and,

3. Steps towards the development of a federated Security Operations Centre (SOC), which combines existing and evolving SOCs in a federated model to leverage existing talent, infrastructures, and processes while delivering critical detection and response capabilities that organizations can’t offer on their own.

It’s a bold vision to secure Canada’s research and education sector, but the collaborative ethos of this community is strong, the track record is compelling, and our joint steps towards developing a federated SOC have been welcomed.
Join colleagues from Canada to learn about how the federal, provincial, and territorial NREN partners and experts across the research and education ecosystem are working together to create a united and formidable defense against the threats targeting Canada’s research and education sector.

Speakers:

• Faculty Panel to be determined

Abstract:

Faculty members from universities in Illinois will discuss the opportunities and challenges that generative AI poses for higher education faculty, such as enhancing teaching and learning, fostering creativity and innovation, and addressing ethical and social issues. They will provide examples of how generative AI can be integrated into different disciplines and curricula, and how faculty can leverage generative AI tools and platforms to enrich their pedagogical practices. We will conclude with some recommendations on how information technology professionals and vendors can support faculty adopting generative AI in higher education settings.

Speakers:

• Sean O’Brien, Internet2
• Jeff Reel, Internet2

Abstract:

Research and education (R&E) institutions have long been at the forefront of deploying next-generation communications technologies to both enable core-mission R&E needs and meet the requirements of users.

Indoor cellular, particularly voice coverage, has been a challenging issue for institutions that find it difficult to justify the high costs associated with implementing a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). CBRS-based neutral host networks (NHN) are emerging as a viable and cost-effective alternative as demonstrated by recent deployments, delivering the much-needed coverage that organizations require. CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) presents an opportunity for institutions to own and operate fully private LTE, and soon 5G, mobile fixed wireless broadband networks (much like they run private Wi-Fi networks) without needing to purchase expensive spectrum licenses.

Members of The Future Wireless Working Group (see: https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/YgHaCw), representing both higher education institutions and regional network providers will present efforts to utilize the recently commercialized CBRS spectrum and its use by R&E institutions.

Speakers:

• To be determined

Abstract:

Research Computing and Data (RCD) professionals on your campus may be part of your area of responsibility or may be in a companion function. Either way, they represent a unique set of roles that go beyond service delivery and include partnership in the structure and delivery of research projects. Participation in CaRCC initiatives multiplies these areas of research computing expertise and the associated cyberinfrastructure investments, with a particular focus on the resources available to principal investigators and research teams across your campus. CaRCC is dedicated to helping their participants develop new research computing solutions, utilize the full range of computing resources, advance data and networking capabilities, document the impacts of research computing in grants and publications, increase the security compliance capabilities, increase compliance with data management plans, and ensure career paths for people supporting research, including research computing and research IT.

The Campus Research Computing Consortium is an organization of research computing and data (RCD) and related professionals serving to:

·         Advocate for and advance the RCD profession

·         Build and foster an inclusive RCD community

·         Establish and promote leading practices and encourage sharing of expertise and resources across the RCD community

·         Facilitate collaboration and partnerships within the RCD community and connect the broader RCD ecosystem

·         Offer expert feedback and strategic direction to support campus leadership and funding agencies

·         Support RCD workforce development, student activities, and instruction

·         Provide professional materials, education, and career resources via RCD Nexus (NSF award 2100003).

Speaker:

• To be determined

Abstract:

Come enjoy an espresso drink while you ask industry leaders your burning questions about cloud services. Share your concerns, needs and ideas with those who can help make a difference in the broader community of vendors and peers. Translate what you heard and learned at Community Exchange to actionable outcomes for your institution.

Open to all community members interested in further engagement with cloud service vendors on your technology and support needs. Come inquire and provide input about product features, partnering opportunities, support models, and your campus priorities. Explore opportunities to collaborate with peers as well.

Interested Industry Members with cloud services please reach out to Tara Gyenis about participating.

Speakers:

• David Bantz

Abstract:

Coming soon

Speakers:

• Maureen J Donlin, Saint Louis University
• Shruthi Sreenivasa Murthy, Saint Louis University
• Ibrahim Taufique, Kion

Abstract:

The cloud journey at Saint Louis University started in 2020 with one team member, an immediate need to build out two cloud workloads, and the promise of a simplified front end to the cloud provided by an external cloud support contract. Over the next two years, our staffing remained the same as we added more production workloads and many proof of concepts. However, there was mounting frustration with the pace of new workflow development, the limitations of our SaaS front-end for management, and the need to re-architect existing workflows due to inefficient or poor design. Add on feedback from central IT regarding perceived security issues and we knew we had to reassess our cloud growth trajectory. To solve these challenges – and support the growth of the University’s production workflows – we pivoted our approach to introduce more automation and move to a guardrail concept for security and financial management. In this presentation, you will learn how we: implemented Kion for automation and guardrails, how we’ve crafted regulatory-compliant workspaces to support research needs, and details on our integration with the University’s SSO.

Speaker:

• Matt Grashoff, NOKIA

Abstract:

Quantum computers are rapidly evolving from a scientific curiosity towards systems capable of solving difficult science problems. At the end of 2023, IBM Quantum was publicly talking about practical quantum computers scaling from 433 to 100,000 quantum bits, or qubits; the measure of computing power in the quantum age.  At the SC23 supercomputing conference, papers presented clear progress to some of the tricky challenges in making quantum computing a practical reality. 

 The promise of quantum computing is that very difficult computations can be brought into the realm of practical solutions. Previously intractable problems in materials science, biology, genomics, statistics, and pharmaceuticals will be accelerated towards rapid solutions, with remarkable acceleration in related products and positive societal outcomes. 

 But there is a dark side. In the wrong hands, quantum computing could be used to break existing cryptography, a point in time called Q-Day. Especially vulnerable are asymmetric ciphers which are commonly used to protect transactional data and application sessions. When this will occur is unknown- common projections put Q-day at 5-15 years from now. But most governments are concerned enough to change recommendations for data networks and urge action now. 

 This talk will outline the current state of the rapidly developing quantum computing landscape and outline steps network operators should take today to protect their users from the quantum threat. We will offer insights on how institutions could be impacted- in terms of the value of their data, the value of their projects, research and reputation. Also, we’ll outline how steps taken today could provide immediate protection while evolving with the threat.

Speaker:

• Damian Doyle, University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Abstract:

UMBC has always employed a lot of student workers, across every single group within IT. This has allowed us to matriculate students into a strong staff pipeline as well, with almost half of our current division having worked for us as students. In recent years, our commitment has expanded beyond sheer numbers, with a strategic focus on fostering a diverse and equitable workforce. To achieve this, we developed internal programs designed to deliver comprehensive, division-wide training and invaluable opportunities for students to delve into various facets of IT, regardless of what group or role they hold within the division.

This talk will go through how we leveraged different approaches throughout both academic and administrative mechanisms to change the makeup of our student population as well as the recent systems to ensure they are getting real-world experience and are well positioned for success, either with UMBC or wherever they apply. We will also talk about some of the benefits and mechanisms we see from this effort, along with some of the lessons learned, what worked, and what didn’t as we scaled these programs.

Speaker:

• To be determined

Abstract:

The data burden on higher education institutions is immense and only getting more complex. To ensure colleges and universities can deliver on their mission, support students, engage in research, and comply with mandated reporting, staff and faculty must process, store, secure, analyze, report, and govern seemingly endless streams of data. These data-driven tasks may be processing incoming financial aid applications, identifying at-opportunity students in need of a nudge, responding to data requests as part of accreditation review preparation efforts, and annotating bibliographies for a grant proposal to name a few.

Generative AI can help faculty, staff and researchers tackle these projects. In this hands-on workshop participants will learn about how generative AI can aid people across a variety of higher education use cases. Participants will then break into small groups, roll up their sleeves and using real data and Amazon Bedrock, try it for themselves.

Workshop Agenda (3 hours):

* Icebreaker discussion about what their institution will look like 100 years from now (use GenAI tools to draft examples for participants institutions) (15 minutes)

* Overview of generative AI and AWS generative AI services (30 minutes)

* Part 1: Participants will work in small groups based on the use case theme (e.g., Teaching & Learning; Student Experience; Research; Administration) (60 minutes):

* Facilitated discussion of higher education data-driven challenges within the theme * Participants use their laptops to get hands-on experience working with GenAI to ingest, transform, and report out results using data relevant to a use case within each theme.

* Discussion about the experience

* Report-out to the group as a whole (15 minutes)

* Part 2: Participants choose a different theme and work in small groups (45 minutes):

* Facilitated discussion of higher education data-driven challenges within the theme

* Participants use their laptops to get hands-on experience working with GenAI to ingest, transform, and report out results using data relevant to a use case within each theme.

* Discussion about the experience * Wrap-up / Q&A (15 min)