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-theart computing, communications and
information resources, tools and
services that is transforming science
and engineering research and
education.
Critically dependent on educated and
trained workforce.
21st 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 refocuses (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 BIOsupported 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