By
James Deaton - Vice President of Network Services
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Just two weeks remain before the 2023 Internet2 Community Exchange, May 8-11 in Atlanta, and the shared excitement across our community is palpable!
This inaugural Community Exchange marks an opportunity for the research and education (R&E) community to gather and showcase the great work and progress we’ve all made since we last met. We’ll also look toward our future together.
In fact, it’s the first Internet2 event since I joined the organization as vice president of network services in March. So I’m eager for the opportunity to meet with our community and partners in person – in 3D. I look forward to sharing many fruitful conversations, exchanging new ideas with emerging and established leaders, and meeting those who will be attending their very first Internet2 event. That includes welcoming this year’s Internet2 Inclusivity Scholarship recipients, and I hope you will join me.
Big Program for a Big Reunion
If you haven’t yet explored the program in-depth, it reflects the most pressing issues requiring our community’s attention, including talks about reimaging inclusion, network modernization and automation, security, research support, and inspiring collaborations. The program committee, which is the powering force behind that direction, is wonderfully diverse and representative of the many types of institutions, geographic locations, and areas of expertise our community comprises.
What they’ve curated is a good mix of presentations reflecting the community’s priorities for this big reunion meeting since most programming transitioned to virtual in the past few years. Add to the general program the Leadership Exchange track for executives and colocated meetings of the Minority Serving – Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) and Higher Education Cloud Forum – the result really plays to the strength of bringing our community together.
What’s Happening in Network Services
During the Community Exchange, I hope you will join me for a talk on What is Happening in Network Services? at 10:30 a.m. ET Tuesday, May 9.
We’ll discuss the myriad ways that Internet2 Network Services is supporting the community – from the implementation of services available in the Insight Console, to facilitating community discussions around automation tools and methods, to improving community routing security through the Routing Integrity Initiative, to supporting data-intensive science in the U.S. and around the world. We will also discuss what we have heard in the Internet2 Five-Year Roadmap discussions and how that will shape our path moving forward.
In the spirit of the Community Exchange, this will be an interactive session. I hope to hear ample questions and feedback from the attendees.
More From Network Services, Research Support, and the International Networking Space
And there’s more from the Network Services team. For those with a focus on technical matters, Network Services will host three workshops on Monday:
On Tuesday afternoon, we’ll provide updates on Insight Console, Automation, and Networking for Cloud. On Wednesday morning, we’ll host a session focused on Routing Integrity, International Networking, and Core Network Technologies.
Through birds of a feather (BoF) and special interest group (SIG) sessions, we’ll also facilitate discussions on network security, IPv6, and network automation.
Research support is another critical component of the Internet2 mission. You’ll find several research-focused sessions in the program, including CIO Perspectives on Federated Cybersecurity for NIH Research, EPOC Support to Share and Collaborate, Research IT Strategic Planning, MS-CC – Bridging the Digital Divide, CI Strategic Planning at Tribal Colleges, and others.
Our international colleagues will share what’s happening around the world in the advanced networking space, including Partnerships in Action, Globally, Orchestrating Service Automation, A Nordic Vision for Arctic Connectivity, Navigating the Future of Intercontinental Connectivity, and more.
Take Every Opportunity to (Re)Connect
My first active participation in Internet2 events began in 1997, so it’s been close to 26 years! Over the years, participation in these events has resulted in an incredible amount of network building, both technically and socially.
My advice for colleagues across the community is to take every opportunity to reconnect and make new connections. The various meetings, sessions, and workshops will be invaluable opportunities to learn, but the time with one another should be a priority. Engage in the conversations!
James Deaton and the Internet2 Network Services Team
ICYMI
About the Author(s)
James E. Deaton is the vice president of Network Services. James leads the strategic direction and ongoing operations of Internet2’s world-class network infrastructure and advanced services in support of research, education, and global collaboration.
James is a seasoned leader in the research and education community with nearly 30 years of experience driving strategic cyberinfrastructure initiatives across state, regional, and national networks.