The Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI)

Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Institute [MSI C(I)2]

Providing a scalable mechanism for developing a CI-enabled

science and engineering workforce

The Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Empowerment Coalition [MSI-

CIEC]

Providing the “human middleware” to build and enhance the social

and technological mechanisms for meaningful engagement of MSIs

in Cyberinfrastructure

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oci/reports/toc.jsp

The Atkins Report Source: Peter Freeman, NSF Assistant Director for Computer and Information

Science & Engineering (CISE)

Daniel E. Atkins, ChairUniversity of Michigan

Kelvin K. Droegemeier University of Oklahoma

Stuart I. FeldmanIBM

Hector Garcia-MolinaStanford University

Michael L. KleinUniversity of Pennsylvania

David G. MesserschmittUniversity of California at Berkeley

Paul MessinaCalifornia Institute of Technology

Jeremiah P. OstrikerPrinceton University

Margaret H. WrightNew York University

Evolution of the Computational Infrastructure

Source: Dr. Deborah CrawfordChair, NSF Cyberinfrastructure Working Group (CIWG)

Supercomputer Centers

PACI

Terascale

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

| | | | | |

NPACI and Alliance

SDSC, NCSA, PSC, CTC

TCS, DTF, ETF

Cyberinfrastructure

Prior Computing Investments

NSF Networking

“The Panel’s overarching finding is that a new age has dawned in scientific and engineering research,

pushed by continuing progress in computing, information, and communication technology, and pulled by the expanding complexity, scope , and

scale of today’s [scientific] challenges. The capacity of this technology has crossed thresholds

that now make possible a comprehensive ‘cyberinfrastructure’ on which to build new types of scientific and engineering knowledge environments

and organizations and to pursue research [and allied education] in new ways and with increased

efficacy.”

From Revolutionizing Science and Engineering through Cyberinfrastructure: Report of the National Science Foundation Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Cyberinfrastructure, or the Atkins’ report.

Cyberinfrastructure: A Definition

“The comprehensive infrastructure needed to capitalize on dramatic advances in information

technology has been termed cyberinfrastructure.”From “NSF’S Cyberinfrastructure Vision for 21st Century Discovery,” NSF Cyberinfrastructure Council, September 26th, 2005, Ver.4.0, pg

4.

Application of IT to problems in science and engineering…and in other areas

“Comprehensive infrastructure”, i.e. hardware, software, and expertise (people)

Integrated Cyberinfrastructure Cyberinfrastructure =

resources (computers, data storage,

networks, scientific instruments, experts, etc.)

+ “glue” (integrating software,

systems, and organizations).

MSIs and Cyberinfrastructure“An important goal of the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Program (ACP) must be to more effectively include Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)…Few of these institutions were involved in discussions leading to the original NSF supercomputing centers, and collaboration efforts to date, though well intentioned…have for the most part fallen short of their goals for a variety of reasons…. [Various] limitations have perpetuated the so-called digital divide, reflected by a 20+ year gap in capability between mainstream institutions and many MSIs…The PITAC emphasized the importance of reaching MSIs, and we underscore it again here. The ACP therefore must support strategic IT planning for underserved communities…Significant efforts must be directed toward engaging underserved communities directly, rather than as programmatic add-ons (p.28, italics added).”

- The Atkins Report

“Support the development of computing professionals, interdisciplinary teams, and new organizational structures, such as virtual communities, needed to achieve the scientific breakthroughs made possible by advanced CI, paying particular attention to the opportunities to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups.”

Atkins CI report

Our Goal

Advisory Team

• Charles Catlett, TeraGrid Fran Berman, SDSC• Thomas Dunning, NCSA Jay Boisseau, TACC• Dan Reed, UNC, RENCI Mark Ellisman, UCSD, BIRN• Kelvin Droegemeier, Oklahoma, LEAD• Ian Foster, Chicago, Argonne, Open Science Grid• Malcolm Atkinson, NESC (UK National e-Science Center),

ICEAGE (EU Grid Education)• Larry Smarr, CalIT2• Juan Meza, LBNL Richard Tapia, Rice

MSI-CIEC Components

• Broadening VO Infrastructure• Awareness, Education & Training:

CI Education & Curriculum Empowerment Team

• Building the CI-enabled MSI Research Capability:CI Research Empowerment Team

• Institutional Capacity Building for CI – Model Institutions:

CI Access Empowerment Team