Connecting Nepal to the global Research and Education Network Rajan Parajuli Nepal Research and Education Network rajan@nren.net.np

Outline Research and Education Network (REN) Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN) Possible contribution from NREN side to push open access movement forward

Research & Education Network (REN) Provision of Computer networks for interconnecting research and education institution. Were established more than 20 years before to support bandwidth – intensive applications , and moving large quantities of data. Operate by the research and education communities for the shake of sharing of knowledge , information and resources among the communities. Unlike the “general’’ Internet it carries data related to education and research.

Some Global RENs Trans- Eurasia Information Network (TEIN) GEANT2 Internet 2 Asia Pacific Advanced Network

REN in Global Context

REN in Asia Pacific Context ( APAN and TEIN3)

Why REN? Ensures the high speed communication among the academic communities. Offers various contents and the application. Fastest way to access global universities/research databases. Provide opportunity to work / joint project with academic communities.

Who Manage REN? In most of the cases, it is operated by not for profit organization. In our context, it is established and operated by Nepal Research and Education Network (NREN), a not for profit organization registered under Government of Nepal. All the countries have their own NREN, which is called National Research and Education Network.

So, what we have been doing here? Connecting research and education institutions (our user includes universities, colleges, hospitals, libraries, research centers) with TEIN (global REN communities) Building a nationwide research and education network by connecting Nepalese research and education institution. Creating awareness on benefit of REN in Nepal Supporting to strengthen network infrastructures and better campus network

Except our core responsibility, we have been working on different ICT based initiatives since the establishment. Rural telemedicine Climate change and disaster mitigation Multi-countries knowledge sharing through video conferencing Technical human resource development

Some of our Initiatives I. Bridging Health Divide : Telemedicine Conducting Telemedicine activities from city located hospitals by collaborating with Telemedicine society of Nepal

Contd... Dozen of rural health post, district hospitals are connected via wireless and other available technology with hospital located in the cities. Major aim of these activities includes: remote counseling, health knowledge sharing, and medical short term training. Using TEIN3/TEIN4 bandwidth for facilitating telemedicine activities with the hospital located in USA, Japan, South Korea etc.

II. Climate Change and Disaster Mitigation NREN established wireless network in 2007 with the financial and technological support of Keio university, Japan for the monitoring of potential vulnerable Imja Glacier, located near to the Mt. Everest Set up weather station at the remote rural hills of Nepal for observation and monitoring of weather components. At present working to redesign the Glacier monitoring project

Mt. Everest Island (Imja) Peak Imja Glacier Imja Lake

Technology Deployed Field Server and Sensors Agent Server Wireless Relays

III. Bridging Knowledge Divide through Sharing Knowledge Focused to share best practices needed for the development of the nation. As an affiliate of GDLN, facilitating several knowledge sharing series in different development themes.

Participating in Transport Infrastructure Development and Financing from IOE, Pulchowk 9 Countries 10 sites

Participating in Disaster Nursing Training - TU Teaching Hospital 52 Senior Nurses from 5 Hospitals in Kathmandu Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines

Where we can fit ourselves in Open Access/Open Science movement? Providing fastest access to open access and open science contents (Gigabytes of research data can be downloaded in a short period) As a connecter, we can physical connect knowledge hubs across the country and then connect them with International communities. Many of the NREN’s provide its infrastructure to host open access contents. Providing technical expertise in hosting/maintaining open access repositories.

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