CyberInfrastructure in the Biological Sciences: CIBS & Strategic Planning Michael R. Willig Division of Environmental Biology

CIBS Working Group Chris Greer & Manfred Zorn, PDs DBI Jim Morris & Alan Tessier, PDs DEB Bill Zamer & Cole Gilbert, PDs IOB Kamal Shukla & Matt Kane, PDs MCB K-lyn Smith, SA BIO Liz Blood, Juan Carlos Morales, & Michele Kelleher

CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE An integrated system of state-of-the- art computing, communications and information resources, tools and services that is transforming science and engineering research and education. Critically dependent on educated and trained workforce.

21 st Century Biology Dispersion Heterogeneity Quantity Hierarchical Dynamical Evolving Non-linear Context-Dependent Cyberinfrastructure

Splendid Isolation Written prior to Foundation-wide activity to produce an NSF Strategic Plan Limited implementation until adjustments are made in light of the evolving NSF Strategic Plan Focus on the essential elements of the BIO Plan that are related to unique characteristics of the disciplinary workforce and NSF-BIO scientific workforce

Strategic Plan Vision & Goals Strategy -- External Activities Workforce Resources Access Interoperability Strategy -- Internal Management Professional Staff Interagency Activities Frontiers of Integrative Activities

VISION We envision an era in biological research & education in which cyberinfrastructure serves as a universal integrator. In this new era, individuals from all areas of science and education will have effective access to information from all areas of biology. All individuals desiring to participate will have the opportunity to contribute to the limits of their own abilities and creativity, without artificial limitations imposed by geography, institutional setting, career status, cultural constraints related to sex, ethnicity, or race, physical disability, or any of the other factors that currently form barriers to full participation.

GOALS Ensure that individuals at all levels and in all settings can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to use cyberinfrastructure in the biological sciences. Ensure that information in the biological sciences – including the latest results of cutting-edge research and the most innovative educational resources – is made readily available in usable form through advanced cyberinfrastructure to all who wish to participate. Ensure that the community possesses the means for readily receiving, broadly distributing, fully recognizing and acknowledging, and reliably preserving the contributions of all who participate in the biological research and education enterprise.

Organizational Schema Focal Topic Outline of Targeted Activities Low-Hanging Fruit (uncertain or declining budgets)

Strategic Plan Workforce Mid-Career Scientists Postdoctoral Scientists Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Teacher Programs Faculty at Undergraduate Institutions Historically Underrepresented Groups

Workforce Low Hanging Fruit Dear Colleague Letter that focuses (e.g., post-doctoral or graduate student) or re- focuses (e.g., REU, RET, ROA) supplement opportunities on cyberinfrastructure Communicate Support Maximally Inclusive

Strategic Plan Resources Long-Lived Data Data Centers Grid Computing

Resources Low Hanging Fruit Community coalescence through workshops and RCN mechanisms Data Management Plans Final Project Reports

Strategic Plan Access Basic Resources High End Computing Resource Location & Archiving Intellectual Property Rights

Access Low Hanging Fruit Virtual Clearing House (www page) for information regarding the BIO-CI interface PDs attend CI Workshops and provide out-reach to disciplinary communities

Strategic Plan Interoperability Physical Logical Semantic

Interoperability Low Hanging Fruit Expand development of standards of interoperability via RCN mechanisms and activities at BIO- supported Centers

Strategic Plan Professional Staff Program Directors Relationship with CISE Interagency Awareness Workload

Professional Staff Low Hanging Fruit Cyberinfrastructure Forum Internal Town Halls Workshops on CI-BIO Interface Recruitment of cyber-savvy PDs Directorate-level Division-level

Strategic Plan Interagency Activities Leadership Roles Engaged Participants

Interagency Activities Low Hanging Fruit Strategic placement of cyber-savvy PDs on interagency committees

Strategic Plan Frontiers of Integrative Activities Biosphere Simulator Project Environmental Microbial Genomics Phenomics National Systematics CI Project

Frontiers of Integrative Activities Low Hanging Fruit Develop an “incubation strategy” for initiatives (workshops, symposia, RCNs) that is sensitive to developmental state of activities