Written by Juraj Bilic (CARNET)

11/6/20


List of participants: (26)

Chris Atherton – Moderator and Presenter (GÉANT)

Carina Kemp – Presenter (AARNET)

Juraj Bilic - Minutes (CARNET)

Alex Reid (University Western Australia)

Eoin Kenny (HEAnet)

Irina Matthews (GÉANT)

Koen Schelkens (BELNET)

Olga Popcova (RENAM)

Guido Aben (AARNET)

Claudio Chacon (CEDIA)

Lars Fischer (NORDUNet)

Janos Mohasci (KIFU)

Michel Wets (SURFNet)

Ann Harding (SWITCH)

Sylvia Kuijpers (SURFNet)

Karl Meyer (GÉANT)

Meoli Kashorda (KENET)

Ed Moynihan (Indiana University)

Karina Abad (CEDIA)

Marina de Giorgi (GÉANT)

Alexei Belotserkovsky (BASNET)

Yousef Troman (ASREN)

Fernand de Decker (BELNET)

Andrew Mackare (HEAnet)

Renier van Heerden (SANREN)

Yevhenii Preobrajenskiy (URAN)


The Agenda:


  • Preliminary Survey Results – Chris Atherton
  • Updates on the TF-RED blue print document – Chris Atherton
  • Research Engagement in a COVID world – AARNET experience and discussion - Carina Kemp
  • Global CEO forum - Research Engagement Group infrastructure mapping – Carina Kemp
  • 30 minutes discussion after the formal agenda – facilitated by Chris Atherton

Minutes of Meeting:

Meeting was opened by Chris Atherton with a Presentation of the Preliminary results of the survey on research engagement sent to the TF-RED mailing list, European and other international NRENs/RRENs. 25 responses so far, from 23 countries. Over 50% of those who responded do not monetise their services. Deadline for filling in the survey 30th of June, 2020. Data computing and digital infrastructures are main target market for most of the survey respondents, followed by Physical Science and engineering,  then Environmental science for most of the responders.

Chris also informed members of how the TF RED Blueprint document is progressing and when it should be ready.  The document will be released in stages for the task force to comment on. Lars Fisher asked for the preliminary sections to be released. Chris confirmed that the structure will be released when the minutes come out (Structure document can be found here).  This document will act as an acceptance document where the rest of the task force can comment and edit.  Olga Popcova lead the latest session on 'Defining the user'.  This section should be released in the next 3 weeks.  Chris also called for others to join in if interested.

A discussion focused on differences how research engagement is perceived in different part of the world – market-focused vs. public good approach.

It was followed by Carina Kemp presentation on Remote research engagement during covid-19

Carina presented conferences that were carried out (1. Research Data Alliance Virtual Plenary - Over 1000 attendees, more than in person plenaries; 2. Collaborative Conference  on Computational and Data Intensive Sciences (C3DIS) – regularly over 50 audience members over lunchtime seminars for a month; 3. AARNet’s Networkshop – over 200 customer attendees) Although all of those conferences were considered successful, biggest challenge was distance participation, from connection issues, to how to keep people engaged while sitting in front of the computer, but also regarding the lack of possibility to talk or just hang around in the breaks.

During the discussion that followed main issues were:

  • Low speed home Internet
  • Has the research productivity of our community remained high in your community
  • Issues with Zoom, not technical ones, but regarding security, privacy
  • Drops in publishing by women researchers during COVID-19
  • Hospitals dropping their research activities during COVID-19
  • The need for shorter sessions in order to keep people's interest and focus

Carina also presented Global CEO Forum and invited member of TF RED to participate. Carina pointed out that activities of Global CEO Forum can provide synergy to what TF RED is trying to accomplish.

In the general discussion, facilitated by Chris Atherton, some of the main topics discussed were:

  • AI services which could be developed to aid researchers
  • How can we provide services(s) that no single company/body can do by themselves – to all NRENS
  • Carina Kemp and Chris Atherton pointed out the need to develop, or introduce, services that can accelerate research
  • Lars Fischer focused on business incubators in Campuses and emphasised that these are the communities NRENs should engage more with, as these people are highly professional and, usually, are aware of what are the needs of researchers in their institutions
  • Lars Fischer suggested that NRENs act as facilitators for research community
  • Participants also pointed out the need to support remote research webinars, collaborative work and services, virtual laboratories







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