Bill Appelbe PPT
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Research - Opportunities and Challenges Bill Appelbe CEO and Chief Scientist VPAC Nov 26 th 2008
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On December 8, 2008, Bill Appelbe, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientist of the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC) in Australia, was in Calgary to give a special presentation to Cybera’s members. The talk, which was broadcast over videoconference to members in Edmonton and Lethbridge, focused on changing trends in cyberinfrastructure development. Similar to Cybera, VPAC is a state-based research service provider to industry, academia and government. Appelbe's presentation highlighted the growing number of partnerships developing between VPAC and industry partners.
Transcript of Bill Appelbe PPT
Strategic University Research-
Opportunities and Challenges Bill Appelbe
CEO and Chief Scientist
VPAC
Nov 26th 2008
Outline
How is the “research landscape” changing
What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not
What are other Universities doing?
What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers
Where to from here
The Changing Research Landscape - the “old”
Traditional research:1. Individual small research groups, little “planning”2. Reward and promotion for individual contribution and
specialization 3. Grants based on peer review - to individuals and small
groups (ARC, NHMRC)• Little oversight once grant awarded, e.g., CRC’s
4. IT just a tool, e.g., for preparation of papers or data analysis
5. Limited specialization or differentiation across Universities - • Any institution could hire a “prima donna” in a new specialist area
The Changing Research Landscape - the “new”
eResearch or the “systems” approach to research:1. Large collaborative, multidisciplinary, distributed research
groups2. Reward and promotion based on contribution to the group’s
success 3. Grants to national consortia based on national community
consensus (NCRIS - PfC, AuSCOPE, ABIN) • Ongoing oversight, approval of annual budget/business plans
4. IT a strategic tool• An enabler for collaboration, modeling, workflow
5. Specialization and differentiation across Universities - • No institution can afford to try to be national leaders in everything!
Outline
How is the “research landscape” changing
What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not
What are other Universities doing?
What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers
Where to from here
What succeeds…
Examples of success : Deakin’s engineering group led by Peter Hodgson
There are several key factors to successCollaboration - state and nationalCritical mass - 10 to a 100 co-workersLeadership, focus, and visionResources - what does the group have that would motivate others to collaborate or join?
• Might be specialist hardware, software, or expertise
Absent any one of these, “success” is unlikely Measured by sustainability, growth, national funding
Outline
How is the “research landscape” changing
What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not
What are other Universities doing?
What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers
Where to from here
What are other Universities Doing?1. Establish university-wide “buy-in” for strategic /
eResearchDriven by DVCR’s office, often through a process of a leadership committee cross-institutionalOutcome often a “eResearch” director/office
Monash, Melbourne, La Trobe…
Larger universities have an advantageMore “resources” to commit
What are other Universities Doing? (cont.)2. Establish research priorities and key
collaborations, building on existing strengthsMonash: modelling… CSIROMelbourne: life sciences… “research partner” by tenderLa Trobe: bioinformatics… (DPI/BRC)
What are other Universities Doing?3. Build and strengthen national centres with
national and/or state fundingNCRIS, etc.
4. Encourage cross-disciplinary initiatives to align smaller research groups with larger strategic centres
Outline
How is the “research landscape” changing
What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not
What are other Universities doing?
What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers
Where to from here
What does it mean for Researchers?
Two possible choices:1. Stick with the “tried and true” way of doing
research, OR
2. Decide on the riskier strategy of strategic research
The later path means aligning or joining with larger groups and collaborators, and a lot of introspection on strategy
Outline
How is the “research landscape” changing
What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not
What are other Universities doing?
What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers
Where to from here
What is VPAC
Victorian Partnership for Advanced ComputingEst. 2000, 60+ staff, independent not-for-profit company, 4 sites in Melbourne, international links Provides IT research services to academia, industry, and government
Many production IT applications and servicesShiine - surveillance for hospital acquired infectionBiogrid (nee MMIM)BiobankGhranite - secure data sharing between clinics, G.P.’s and hospitals
vpac.org
Where to from here?VPAC has been supporting Victorian researchers since 2000VPAC is ready and able to commit resources to development of strategic centres/collaboration
Examples - Monash geodynamics group
What is needed for it to work?1+1 = 3 … leverage VPAC and University resourcesBuild on existing strengths and strategic opportunitiesEmbedding - VPAC staff work closely with the UniSustainability - find ongoing long-term funding
We can work to seek opportunities for fundingInitiatives like VLSCI are emerging opportunities
Questions!
