Intersect AustraliaOverview - September 2009

Ian Gibson, CEO

ian.gibson@intersect.org.au

Intersect: One page summaryA company established by its founding members to provide eResearch services to its membersMembers are:USyd, UNSW, UTS, MQ, Newcastle, Southern Cross and UNEDiscussing with other organisations about joiningFormally established July 2008, practically started Nov 2008Current staff: 35Intersect is the NSW member of ARCS (http://www.arcs.org.au/)Several of our programs are funded through ARCSReceived $2.8M is start-up funding from the NSW governmenteResearch is the application of advanced information & communication technologies to the practice of research

Intersect: Mission StatementWork with NSW Universities and others to increase the quality, efficiency and visibility of NSW based research through the provision of advanced and specialised ICT services and solutions, enabling:- improved management of research data- new methods for collaboration- new research methodologies*

Intersect: Staff profileCEOServices DivisionEngineering DivisionAdminProject Management OfficeUser Interaction DesignSW EngineeringSystem Admin & EngQuality Assurance Member SupportHPC SupportARCS ServicesARCS Authn ServicesANDS (Data) ServicesHRAccountsCommunications82112151341111Learning and DevelopmentOffice Admin114

Member Interaction and DeliveryIntersect eResearch AnalystsIntersect Specialised support HPC, data management, L&D,Intersect ProjectsIntersect service and technology aggregation and customisationIntersect eResearch AnalystsIntersect eResearch AnalystsMember Institutional and Faculty Services: IT, Library etc

Intersect in the national context

Services Division

Dr Markus BuchhornDirector of Services

Intersect servicesProvided by Intersect (and other) resourcesOur people and infrastructureAlso:NSW member of ARCSPartner in NCI (soon)Deeply engaged with ANDSWorking closely with other state eResearch agenciesTry to ignore the acronym soupDelivered through institutional frameworks, as appropriate, for Researchers and for Support Staff

Services Portfolio Model

Technical ServicesHigh-performance computing (HPC) infrastructureThrough specialised and appropriate facilitiesTwo clusters hosted at ac3 (soon one); share in NCI from 2010Ability to buy moreScale from institution/desktop through shoulder facility to peak, with merit and dedicated accessData servicesStorage infrastructure: Phase 1a: small scale local investmentPhase 1b: $100k to purchase more diskPhase 2: LIEF application NeRDsPhase 3: EIF funding via ARCSSupport for management, preservation and access (with ANDS)Collaboration, Authentication & authorisation servicesSharing and working together, with appropriate access limits

Direct (User) ServicesAwareness, outreach, advocacyWhat is out there, and what could be out there?Skills development for researchers and for support staffTraining, face-to-face and on-demandOnline, in print, etc.Building off existing materials as far as possible, but attuned to needsAdvice on e-research methods, opportunitiesProject development support and IT consulting for projects during Scoping, Development and OperationSupport for community building E.g. Websites, wikis, forums and document sharing, mailing lists, etc.Support for meetings, eventsHelpdesk servicesin coordination with member institutions.

Strategic ServicesRequirements analysis To understand strategically what researchers needSurveys, in various formsTo support institutional, state and national planning frameworksEnhancing the communitys skills-base Finding appropriate people, and making them available for quick startsDeveloping their skills, and offering career paths beyond research projectsSolution development and hardeningCreating new tools/services, and Making existing tools/services more robust, user-friendly, higher-performance, properly supportedSupport for funding applications to maximise outcomesProper scoping of ICT and people requirementsAssisting and coordinating across groups, institutions, ...LinkagesGroups with solutions need to find groups with problemsAnd vice versa!

Engineering Division

Chris Mendes Director of Engineering

What do we do?We create new technologyWeb sitesApplicationsDatabasesOther cool stuffWe build & roll out infrastructure

Key GoalsProvide value to members in a fair and equitable wayDevelop re-usable technologiesDevelop package-able solutions which can become services in the futureBring solid engineering practices to eResearch and raise capability across the sectorProvide Delivery Management for projects and services

Funding BasisInnovation ProjectsFunded through membership feesStrategic selection process by the Innovation CommitteeExternally FundedANDS/ARCSTheres a lot of this happening at the moment.From other sources

Innovation Projects

Intersect undertakes Innovation Projects as a part of the services provided to our member institutions. http://www.intersect.org.au/innovation-projects

Innovation ProjectsThe committee:Bases selection on a strategic view of the eResearch needs of NSW and Australia. This will draw on:NSW & national research priorities;needs of researchers at member institutions;the value and quality of the supported research. Devises projects that meet the needs of researchers across institutions and even across disciplines.Selects projects to provide benefits fairly across our member institutions.

Innovation Projects Selection ProcessDetermine NSW eResearch Strategic NeedsDefine Candidate ProjectsReviewNSW eResearch Strategic Needs ReportCandidate project scope documentsAssessmentSuggested Priority ListList of Candidate ProjectsProposed List of Candidate ProjectsPriority List & SelectionIntersect TeamIntersect ExecutiveInnovation CommitteeNSW Govts Strategic Research PrioritiesConsultation across member institutionsConsultation with other key stakeholders*Review and Select ProjectsQuarterly Review

A good example: GDMGenomic Data ManagementOur next innovation project

GDM Why is it a good example?A clear strategic directionA clear needLots of collaboratorsLots of institutions amongst our membersOther groups will benefit as well

For todayWe want to understand your needstoday is the start of that process.Follow Jims lead he has some questions/conversation starters.Keep the GDM example in the back of your mind during your discussions.Do please call on your local eResearch Analyst!