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May 2008
Transborder Research workshop at Wayne State
A Transborder Research University Network workshop will take place May 30 at Wayne State University in Detroit. The workshop, High Performance Computing: Powering Transborder Research Collaboration, will explore how high-performance computing (HPC) is currently employed, and may be employed in the future, to support transborder research in areas of importance to the consortium and economic development within the Great Lakes region. The program will feature a panel presentation with expert contributors discussing current and potential application of HPC to three specific areas of research: alternative energy, visualization, and public health. Phil Baker, ORION President and CEO, has been invited to talk at the workshop.
ORION CEO to present at workshop in California
Phil Baker, President and CEO, has been invited to present and share ORION’s experiences at a workshop at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on May 16-18. The theme of the session is “K-12 Videoconferencing, Infrastructure and Capacity-building in California.” Several outside experts have been invited to help LACMA and education representatives develop a go-forward plan. This is another example of Ontario’s leadership being recognized outside Canada.
Multi-point collaborative theatre project wins award
The University of Waterloo and its partners in Illinois and Florida won the prestigious Internet2 IDEA Award for their groundbreaking collaborative live theatre production of the Elmer Rice play, “The Adding Machine”, over high-speed networks. It was one of three projects recognized recently at the Internet2 spring meeting in Arlington, Virginia. Performed in 2007, the play used virtual scenery, recorded video, avatar performers, photographs, graphics and sound, made possible by the partners’ interconnectivity over the ORION, CANARIE and Intenet2 advanced networks. To read the release, visit www.orion.on.ca/news.
Major Ontario survey of research technology needs
Ontario researchers and educators are being asked to participate in a major cross-discipline survey to determine the collaboration and technology needs of their academic and teaching work and research requirements now and in the coming years. Working with the research and education community at colleges and universities, as well as other research, education and science organizations, ORION is hoping to reach as many people as possible over the next several months. The survey can be completed online at: www.orion.on.ca/2008survey.
Ontario invests $10M in brain research
The world’s first mobile test for brain diseases like Alzheimer’s is being developed in Ontario. The test – a portable, wireless system – will lead to faster, more accurate diagnosis of brain diseases associated with aging. It’s being developed at the new Centre for Brain Fitness at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care with the help of a $10-million Ontario government investment announced recently. As the province braces for a doubling of its senior population over the next 20 years, the Centre for Brain Fitness will develop and commercialize a range of innovative products aimed at improving the brain health of aging Ontarians. Baycrest will partner with the MaRS Venture Group to develop and market scientifically-proven products for the clinic, workplace and home environments. Learn more at www.baycrest.org.
CANARIE beyond 2012
CANARIE and Industry Canada recently announced the initiation of a strategic process to study the policy context for CANARIE’s future mandate for the period after 2012. The policy study will be undertaken by Hickling Arthurs Lowe. The objective is to look at options for how CANARIE could evolve over the long term in terms of mandate, funding and organizational models. The review will include an examination of international models for the support of advanced research infrastructure for cyberinfrastructure and related activities. Learn more at www.canarie.ca.
Ontario innovation agenda
The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation recently unveiled its innovation agenda for the province, which includes a tax exemption that encourages businesses to bring the research of universities and colleges to market, and a 45-day service guarantee on the $1.15 billion Next Generation of Jobs Fund. Supported by close to $3 billion in spending over eight years, the agenda outlines strategies for investing significantly in peer-reviewed research excellence; focusing government investments on research and industries where Ontario has a global competitive advantage; streamlining and modernizing government programs and processes to move faster; government acting as a catalyst for innovation and commercialization; and partnering with business to better communicate Ontario’s research strengths and innovation success stories to the world. Visit www.mri.gov.on.ca.
Ontario funds youth science
As part of the Ontario innovation agenda, the Youth Science Foundation Canada will use $3.5-million in provincial government funding to support regional science fairs to enable Ontario youth to advance to national and international competitions; promote science and technology in the classroom from the earliest years to senior levels in high school; and support of the new science and technology curriculum in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities. Learn more at www.mri.gov.on.ca.
2008 Premier’s Award winners announced
Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Research and Innovation John Wilkinson recently distributed over $7.3 million to 10 recipients of the 2008 Premier’s Awards for Innovation. Read about the winners at www.mri.gov.on.ca.
Nipissing U joins SHARCNET; SHARCFest2008
The Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network recently announced the addition of North Bay’s Nipissing University as its newest academic partner. Originally constituted in 2001 with 7 partners, SHARCNET now includes 17 institutions and is the largest HPC consortium in Canada by number of institutions. SHARCFest 2008, an outreach campaign of open houses, training events and symposiums to help educate the boarder community on the uses and importance of high-performance computing to research, will be held during May and June. Nineteen events have been scheduled at various SHARCNET locations over the month of May, which will culminate in the annual SHARCNET Summer School and Research Day being held from June 2 - 6 at York University. To view the calendar of events, visit: www.sharcnet.ca.
Contact North reports 32.5% increase in registrations
Contact North/Contact Nord saw a 32.5 per cent increase in registrations in courses offered by Northern Ontario’s colleges, universities and secondary schools for the winter 2008 semester compared to the same period last year. The fall 2007 semester saw a 25% increase from the fall 2006 semester. Increased support for the delivery of French language programs and courses is driving this growth. The availability of a Contact North/Contact Nord Access Centre in 89 small and remote communities in the north had led to a greater number of residents pursuing their education and training goals without having to leave their community. Read more at www.contactnorth.ca.
KMDI lecture explores how designers think
The University of Toronto’s Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI) presents Nigel Cross, professor of design studies at the Open University (UK) on May 20, who will speak on the topic, Designerly Ways of Knowing: Understanding How Designers Think and Work. Through a variety of research methods, design researchers are gradually building a deeper understanding of ‘designerly’ ways of knowing and thinking. Prof. Cross will look at understanding the nature of creative cognition in design and suggest how expertise in design is different from expertise in normal problem-solving. Learn more at www.kmdi.utoronto.ca.
OUCC 2008 explores the expanding campus
Expectations of IT departments are increasing to support new initiatives at Ontario universities, including expanded support for new and existing backend systems, networks, servers, labs, laptops, printers, personal peripherals and mobile devices. This year’s Ontario Universities Computing Conference, being held at York University and OCAD from May 25 – 27, explores how campuses can be expanded in a sustainable and efficient way, with fewer resources and provide an anytime, anywhere, high-quality experience for students, faculty and staff. ORION is a sponsoring partner of the conference. Learn more at http://oucc.ca.
Workshop on complexity, computing and the humanities
The Complexity, Computing and the Humanities Workshop, taking place June 16-17 at the University of Western Ontario, will serve as a springboard to present different approaches to research on the intersections between complexity, computing, and the humanities. Most of the presentations will deal with specific tools, their usability in collaborative environments, as well as the possibilities open for humanities research by new high-computing capabilities available to researchers. The program consists of lectures in the mornings, and short research papers and presentations by participants in the afternoons. To submit your paper proposal, email Elaine McIlwraith at emcilwra@uwo.ca before May 25.
ORION peers with Globe
The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper is the latest organization to peer with ORION, joining over 30 ISPs and content providers peering directly with the network, including Google. Settlement-free peering allows significant benefits to ORION member institutions. ORION peering agreements are credited for diverting up to 20 per cent of ORION’s data traffic to directly peered network links, representing significant savings for ORION institutions as well as enhanced performance. Learn more here: www.orion.on.ca/newsletter/oct07/peer.html.
People News
ORION welcomes Mansoor Khan as IP Network Engineer, who joined the team after the recent departure of Nadeem Junejo. Former ORANO board member and former president of Fleming College, Dr. Brian Desbiens, has been appointed Chair of the Board of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Dr. Neil Turok has been appointed Executive Director of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, effective October 1. Former Operations Manager John Lawson recently left LARG*net for the Ontario Telemedicine Network. Tom Walker is the new Director of Information Technology at Lambton College. The University of Toronto has appointed Robert Cook as its Chief Information Officer, effective this month. Sadly, Jim Yuan, Executive Director of the Ottawa Regional Advanced Network passed away recently. Jim was a tireless proponent of advanced networking in the Ottawa region until he reluctantly stepped down from his role with the Ottawa RAN in 2006. Jim played an important role in ORION's history, and the ORION team lends support to his friends and family during this difficult time.
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