EPSCoR CI Workshop

Updates | Introduction | More on the Workshop | Getting Involved | Related Posts

Updates

Working Group calls now scheduled bi-weekly Thursdays, 9 am PT

The EPSCoR CI WG has calls every second Thursday at 9 AM (Pacific time – this is our new time from December 9th, 2021 and going forward). 

EPSCoR CI Preliminary Workshop to be announced soon!

We are assembling an agenda and dates for a synchronous online late winter / early spring preliminary workshop.  Check back here in January to learn more!

In-Person EPSCoR CI Workshop date now October/November 2022

The in-person EPSCoR CI Workshop which had been tentatively scheduled for May 2022 in colocation with the EPSCoR National Meeting has now been delayed until October/November 2022, as a result of a postponement of the EPSCoR National Meeting.

Introduction

NSF EPSCoR jurisdictions have historically underinvested in the cyberinfrastructure (CI, a.k.a. RCD for Research Computing and Data) resources and services required to drive data- and compute-intensive science forward. This has created an uneven distribution and availability of academic CI across the nation. However, the degree of disparity in CI distribution and availability is not clear because baseline data characterizing available CI across EPSCoR jurisdictions and institutions is lacking.

The goals of this CaRCC Working Group are to host a workshop to reduce the knowledge gap surrounding CI capabilities, and address a recent “Call to Action” to increase CI access across EPSCoR (Moore, 2019).   To generate the baseline data needed to support these goals, we encourage interested participants to complete the RCD Capabilities Model assessment.  The assessment is the core aspect of participation in the workshop, as baseline data and resulting reports will be used as a springboard for workshop discussions.  Additional training and workshop activities are intended to inspire ideas around improving CI access, planning, and partnerships.  We are currently preparing for an initial data analysis in support of a late winter /early spring 2022 preliminary workshop (check back here soon for confirmed dates!). 

For assistance in completing the RCD Capabilities Model assessment tool, please see our peer working group webpages which introduce the model, the assessment tool, and associated consulting/community resources. If you would like to get a copy of the assessment tool and dive in, start by filling out  this Access Request Form, and check out the Introduction and Guide to Use.  

More information on the EPSCoR CI Workshop

See our 1-Page handout that summarizes our goals and key info.

PEARC EPSCoR CI Birds-of-a-Feather (BoF) Resources now available:

  • EPSCoR CI WG PEARC21 BoF (read the session proposal, or view the recording):  Assessing and communicating CI readiness at EPSCoR and under-resourced institutions:  Using the 2020 Research Computing & Data Capabilities Model for CI awareness and planning. A is now available.
  • EPSCoR CI WG PEARC20 BoF (read the session proposal):  Preparing EPSCoR institutions for Research Computing and Data Capabilities Model engagement:  Discussion on the RCD Capabilities Model for EPSCoR states, other emerging CI centers.

2020 RCD CM Community Dataset report: This report describes the first Research Computing and Data Capabilities Model Community Dataset, aggregating the assessments of 41 Higher Education Institutions, including 10 EPSCoR institutions. Read more about the Community Dataset.

Funding:  This work is supported in part by NSF (OIA) Award 2033483, Award 2033519, and Award 2033514, Collaborative Research: “Building Research Cyberinfrastructure in EPSCoR Jurisdictions: Assessment, Planning and Partnerships.” Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Getting Involved

For more information and/or to get involved:

The Working Group has calls every second Thursday at 9 AM (Pacific time – this is our new time from December 9th, 2021 and going forward). If you want to learn more about this workshop and the associated collaboration among EPSCoR-eligible institutions (and others facing similar challenges), please contact the co-Chairs Gwen Jacobs (University of Hawaii) and Venice Bayrd (Montana State) with your interests and questions.