September / October 2005
Early findings show collaborative research growing
Survey targets researchers
Early results from a new survey of Ontario researchers and educators show a clear expectation of increased use of advanced collaborative technologies in next-generation research and learning activities.
ORION, with the assistance of CANARIE, has launched a province-wide survey designed to determine the current and future advanced networking needs of Ontario's researchers and educators.
"The key to our success is having a better understanding of how our member institutions are using the network today and how they see their collaboration applications and projects evolve in the future," said ORION President/CEO Phil Baker.
"This information is essential for us so that we can ensure the network meets our users' research and education requirements far into the future."
One of the goals of the survey is to raise basic awareness among researchers and educators about advanced networks like ORION and CA*net 4. "Many don't realize that their work and data is transmitted over the ORION network within Ontario and over the CA*net 4 network for Canadian and international connectivity," says Baker.
"When researchers access external databases, libraries, computational capacity, video streams, IP-based videoconferences, multimedia materials, visualization resources, monitoring or sensory devices, research instruments or many other resources, their data is likely traversing our networks."
The survey will help ORION and CANARIE understand their users requirements and implement measures to meet them today and tomorrow so that we can implement next-generation services and capacity to support their work.
The survey was first distributed over the summer. Among the early findings is that 65 per cent of respondents currently collaborate with colleagues outside Ontario and outside Canada. However, results show the level of external collaboration is expected to grow even more significantly over the next few years.
About 60 per cent of survey respondents expected to see an increase in collaboration projects and applications over the next two to five years including video conferencing in multiple locations, electronic classrooms involving distant learning, streaming of lectures and presentations and online document collaboration.
Another 16 per cent expect to be making use of grid computing resources in their work in the next few years and over 35 per cent say they will be making use of whiteboard collaboration with colleagues at remote locations.
A recurring theme is a demand for more training in the use of advanced collaborative technology.
Current and future research projects researchers have identified in the survey range from, connecting Ontario university library systems to global content, to multinational particle physics experiments exploring the nature of matter, to detection and treatment of cancer using magnetic nanoparticles, to comprehensive modeling and analysis of building co-generation systems based on fuel cell and other technologies.
"We're identifying a wealth of exciting information about research taking place here in Ontario," says Baker.
To date, responses have been submitted by researchers, scientists and educators from 17 institutions.
ORION is expanding distribution of the online survey to Ontario's postsecondary institutions, teaching hospitals and public research facilities.
Results will contribute to baseline information on current needs and anticipated requirements for advanced networks and sophisticated, next-generation research resources and instruments.
Working with the research and education community at colleges and universities, as well as academic, research, education and science organizations, ORION is hoping to reach as many people as possible over the next several months.
"Advanced networks like ORION are part of the support structure for research and education in the 21st Century, and we have an obligation to ensure that we are able to anticipate researchers' needs now and into the future," said Baker.
The survey is open to all and can be filled online at www.orion.on.ca/cgi/survey/survey.cgi
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