Integrating Cyberinfrastructure Technologies Mark C. Sheehan, Ph.D. ECAR Fellow EDUCAUSE Live! December 18, 2008 © 2008 EDUCAUSE. All rights reserved.

2 ECAR Research Study Higher Education IT and Cyberinfrastructure: Integrating Technologies for Scholarship

3 What is Cyberinfrastructure? “Enabling hardware, algorithms, software, communications, institutions, and personnel. [It] should provide an effective and efficient platform for the empowerment of specific communities of researchers to innovate and eventually revolutionize what they do, how they do it, and who participates.” Daniel E. Atkins, et al., Revolutionizing Science and Engineering through Cyberinfrastructure (Washington, D. C.: National Science Foundation, 2003).

4 ECAR Study Objectives Determine “state of the practice” regarding cyberinfrastructure (CI) technologies –Usage –Sourcing/Funding –Importance –CI Knowledge (CIO, other exec) –Collaborative practices –Effective integration of CI resources

5 Cyberinfrastructure Technologies High-performance computing resources Cyberinfrastructure applications and tools Data storage and management resources Advanced network infrastructure Resources for collaboration within virtual communities

6 Principal Outcome Variable: Central IT’s Effectiveness at Integrating CI Resources Survey Question Rate your central IT organization’s effectiveness at integrating the resources we have explored in this survey to provide seamless support for research.

7 Principal Outcome Variable: Central IT’s Effectiveness at Integrating CI Resources Survey Question Rate your central IT organization’s effectiveness at integrating the resources we have explored in this survey to provide seamless support for research. Annotation “Integrating” means bringing together into a seamless whole a wide variety of human, software, and hardware systems to form a platform for enabling activities in research and in teaching and learning. It involves coordination, synthesis, and teamwork. — After Fran Berman, 2004

8 Effectiveness at Integrating CI Resources

9 Sourcing of CI Technologies Campus central IT resources Researcher's or lab's resources Other higher-education resources Other campus resources Government or private resources Scale: 1=none, 2=small extent, 3=moderate extent, 4=large extent, 5=very large extent

10 Sourcing of CI Technologies Campus central IT resources Researcher's or lab's resources Other higher-education resources Other campus resources Government or private resources Scale: 1=none, 2=small extent, 3=moderate extent, 4=large extent, 5=very large extent

11 Sourcing of CI Technologies Campus central IT resources Researcher's or lab's resources Other higher-education resources Other campus resources Government or private resources Scale: 1=none, 2=small extent, 3=moderate extent, 4=large extent, 5=very large extent

12 Campus central IT funds Award to researcher or lab Other campus funding Award to the institution Funds from higher-ed collaboration Funding of CI Technologies Scale: 1=none, 2=small extent, 3=moderate extent, 4=large extent, 5=very large extent

13 Campus Executives’ Knowledge Scale: 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent Chief Academic Officer CIO Science & Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Deans in Other Disciplines

14 Campus Executives’ Knowledge Scale: 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent Chief Academic Officer CIO Science & Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Deans in Other Disciplines

15 Campus Executives’ Knowledge Scale: 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent Chief Academic Officer CIO Science & Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Deans in Other Disciplines

16 Campus Executives’ Knowledge Scale: 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent Chief Academic Officer CIO Science & Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Deans in Other Disciplines

17 Knowledge and Integration of CI Resources  Collaboration within Virtual Communities  Advanced Network Infrastructure  Data Storage and Management  Cyberinfrastructure Applications and Tools  High-Performance Computing Other Deans Science and Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Chief Academic Officer Chief Information Officer CI Technology

18 Knowledge and Integration of CI Resources  Collaboration within Virtual Communities  Advanced Network Infrastructure  Data Storage and Management  Cyberinfrastructure Applications and Tools  High-Performance Computing Other Deans Science and Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Chief Academic Officer Chief Information Officer CI Technology

19 Knowledge and Integration of CI Resources  Collaboration within Virtual Communities  Advanced Network Infrastructure  Data Storage and Management  Cyberinfrastructure Applications and Tools  High-Performance Computing Other Deans Science and Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Chief Academic Officer Chief Information Officer CI Technology

20 Knowledge and Integration of CI Resources  Collaboration within Virtual Communities  Advanced Network Infrastructure  Data Storage and Management  Cyberinfrastructure Applications and Tools  High-Performance Computing Other Deans Science and Engineering Deans Chief Research Officer Chief Academic Officer Chief Information Officer CI Technology

21 Details of CIO’s Knowledge For each technology: –What CI resources are available –Who provides them –Who funds them –Who is using them –What they are being used for

22 Details of CIO’s Knowledge CIO’s knowledge of all five aspects for all five technologies (almost) is positively associated with effectiveness of integration of CI resources.

23 Details of CIO’s Knowledge CIO’s knowledge of all five aspects for all five technologies (almost) is positively associated with effectiveness of integration of CI resources. Exception: For advanced network infrastructure, what resources are available, who provides them, and who funds them are not significantly associated with effectiveness of integration.

24 Roman Proverb “The Footsteps of the Gardener Are the Best Fertilizer.”

25 Researchers generally collaborate in the use of CI resources Institution realizes economies of scale in the use of CI resources Incentives exist for researchers to share CI resources with other campus researchers Incentives exist for researchers to partner with central IT for economies of scale Agreement About Collaborative Practices

26 Agreement About Collaborative Practices StatementN Mean Agreement Std. Deviation Researchers generally collaborate in the use of CI resources Institution realizes economies of scale in the use of CI resources Incentives exist for researchers to share CI resources with other campus researchers Incentives exist for researchers to partner with central IT for economies of scale Scale: 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree

27 Effectiveness of Integration of CI Resources, by Agreement About Collaborative Practices Scale: 1=not effective, 2=slightly effective, 3=moderately effective, 4=very effective, 5=extremely effective

28 Another Proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.”

29 Key Positive Associations with Effective Integration Existence of a research-specific IT governance/advisory body and a central IT research support unit CIO’s knowledge about all CI technologies (except advanced network infrastructure) CAO’s knowledge about all CI technologies Agreement that resources and authority are sufficient An atmosphere of collaboration, resource sharing, and the active pursuit of economies of scale

30 Recommendations

31 Recommendations

32 Engage campus leaders in CI support. –Science & engineering deans and CRO are most knowledgeable –CAO may be most influential –Direct CIO engagement Source, funds, knowledge, inventory, collaboration Recommendations …continued

33 Recommendations Encourage open sharing of information about CI resources. –Build CIO’s own knowledge –Build other executives’ knowledge –Build partnerships between central IT and researchers –Encourage collaboration among researchers …continued

34 Recommendations Increase central IT involvement in research grants and contracts budgeting. –Gain buy-in of CIO for support of distributed resources (“gentle” enterprization) –Ensure sufficient fund base for support activities –Expand CIO’s detailed knowledge of CI technology use –Optimize equipment selection to facilitate sharing and economies of scale

35 Mark Sheehan educause.edu