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Reflections
One year ago I began with the Great Plains Network. During that first week or two I met Craig Klimczak (Internet2 day at UMKC), Linda O’Donnell (KU) and Cathy Smith (KU) at Chautauqua 2000, Kristen Klaver and many others.
Since then, I began a leave to the National Science Foundation, using a part of my time from my NSF award for GPN work; Craig Klimczak spearheaded a regional, collaborative proposal in which many of you are participants; Linda O’Donnell has moved her research forward by using advanced collaborative tools, specifically, the Access Grid as a standard part of her research development; Kristen Klaver now brings her expertise, developed with OneNet in Oklahoma, to GPN; out of a brainstorming session with Cathy Smith, the concept of the GPN Regional Resource Initiative (featured story) took shape.
The Future
The GPN Regional Resource Initiative is an excellent example of a value-added service to GPN members. It was stimulated by listening to member concerns. It builds on our regional strengths, technical expertise, and willingness to collaborate.
Over the next 9 months Kristen Klaver and I will be listening to and working with members to develop more value-added services. We are in the process of identifying members--researchers, technical staff, and liaisons--who are ready to collaborate so that we may facilitate these activities and promote them region-wide.
As you think about the future, please do not hesitate to let me know what you want from GPN.
Funding Alert!
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GPN Regional Resource Initiative
New!
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Implementing the technology to enable science and education via an advanced network like Internet2 possible is not an easy task. The National Science Foundation, Division of Advanced Networking, funds projects (e.g., NLANR, Web100) to assist in delivering advanced network services to the desktop and lab. And as the technology changes and further develops, it becomes more critical to maintain access to needed expertise.
The GPN Response
To assist new GPN members as they make the transistion to advanced networking services, to assist current members as they struggle to implement the latest advances, and to assure that new information (e.g., Web100) penetrates our community as quickly and efficiently, we are pleased to announce the GPN Regional Resource Initiative: A collaborative strategy to provide the highest level of network expertise to each member university by sharing experts in critical areas of advanced networking technology across member universities:
- IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)
- QoS (Quality of Service)
- Multicast
- Access Grid Technology
- H.323
- Web100
- Wireless Technology
Given the nature of technology, expect this list to grow.
Regional experts participating in the initiative include
- Tim Buller (University of Kansas: wireless)
- Mike Rechtenbaugh (Eros Data Center: Web100 and End-to-End Performance)
- David Hartzell (EDC: Quality of Service)
- Marty Hoag (North Dakota State University: Access Grid technology)
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- Dale Finkelson (University of Nebraska: IPv6)
- Tom Brenneman (University of Missouri, Kansas City: H.323)
- Rick Summerhill (Great Plains Network/KU:
Contact information is accessible from the GPN Research Web Site and the GPN Home Pages (see below).
How It Works
This is a voluntary program and a free service to members of the Great Plains Network. Let’s say that you need expertise in implementing wireless technology on your campus. You contact the regional expert in that area and arrange a time for her or him to assist. In many cases, a phone consultation may be all that's needed. In other cases a more extensive, on-site tutorial may be necessary. The only cost to your institution is transportation and lodging, if necessary. GPN pays for ongoing training and professional development for regional experts. It’s a win-win kind of situation!
Growing the Program
As new technology (e.g., fiber to the desktop) emerges, GPN is committed to helping develop consultant experts so that our membership has access to expertise in these critical areas. If you identify an area of need that you believe we should address with this program, please contact Rick Summerhill or Greg Monaco.
Check out these GPN sites...
For more information...
For the Record...
It appears that several proposals were submitted from the GPN region in response to the NSF Strategic Technologies for the Internet solicitation. In addition to the regional collaborative proposal lead by Craig Klimczak, Janet Poley and ADEC, along with Rick Summerhill, submitted a proposal as did Deep Mehdi (UMKC), Mike Rechtenbaugh (EDC/GPN), and Rick Summerhill.
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