Information on Internet2 activities in the international arena.

[Susan Topol <>]

(Forwarding on behalf of Ana Preston and Heather Boyles of Internet2)

> > > > > Dear Colleagues and Friends:
> > > > >
> > > > > The IEEAF (Internet Educational Equal Access 
> > > > > Foundation:  www.ieeaf.org), along with several partners, has received 
> > > > > a planning grant from the US National Science Foundation ( 
> > > > > https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0451384 ) to 
> > > > > propose very high speed Internet extensions on the order of 10 Gbps to 
> > > > > Senegal and Ghana to connect the academic, research, health and NGO 
> > > > > communities in those countries to the rest of the world.
> > > > >
> > > > > Assuming that this first tranche effort is successful, a second 
> > > > > tranche project will be requested for Madagascar and Mozambique.
> > > > >
> > > > > This is an ambitious undertaking, and the first of its kind.  If 
> > > > > successful, Senegalese and Ghanaian universities and medical centers 
> > > > > would have connectivity equivalent to the best connectivity available 
> > > > > to comparable institutions in the United States.
> > > > >
> > > > > The team that won the NSF planning grant, consisting of George 
> > > > > Sadowsky of Internews Network, John Mack, Don Riley and Geo 
> > > > > International, needs your help to win the larger grant that would 
> > > > > allow the network to be constructed.  In particular, they need the 
> > > > > following information:
> > > > >
> > > > > - Joint projects at your institution that involve collaboration with 
> > > > > scientists, other researchers, medical personnel, and NGOS 
> > > > > (non-governmental organizations)  -- that's the target group  --  in 
> > > > > any of those countries
> > > > >
> > > > > - Joint projects with known individuals from or in those countries 
> > > > > that would take place, but cannot because there is inadequate 
> > > > > bandwidth/communication between your institution and the African country
> > > > >
> > > > > - Projects involving existing and former graduate students from any of 
> > > > > these countries that are good candidates for joint work once the 
> > > > > graduate student returns to his/her country
> > > > >
> > > > > - Possible projects, previously not even conceptualized because of 
> > > > > communication difficulties, that would be feasible and possibly 
> > > > > implemented if high speed Internet communication were available to the 
> > > > > institutions and researchers in these countries.
> > > > >
> > > > > In short, the group is looking for any and all evidence of academic 
> > > > > collaboration, particularly in science and in health, between U.S. and 
> > > > > Africans in those four countries (Ghana and Senegal most importantly, 
> > > > > Madagascar and Mozambique next) that would help NSF understand, 
> > > > > appreciate and value the impact of having these high speed connections 
> > > > > in place.
> > > > >
> > > > > Contributions should be sent via e-mail to 
> > > > >
> > > > >  .
> > > > >
> > > > > If there are web sites containing information such as lists of 
> > > > > collaborations or descriptions of such projects, they will be very 
> > > > > much appreciated.
> > > > >
> > > > > With regards to Internet2, both Heather and I will keep you posted 
> > > > > from time to time on the progress of this initiative, as well as other 
> > > > > similar initiatives.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > >
> > > > > Ana Preston/Heather Boyles
> > > > > Internet2, International
> > > > >
> > > > > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > > Ana Preston | Program Manager, International Relations | Internet2
> > > > >
> > > > >  | office: 865-974-2923 | mobile: 865-368-3151
> > > > > 2345 Dunford Hall | The University of Tennessee
> > > > > Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
> > > >
> > > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > > > Heather Boyles + Director, Member and Partner Relations + Internet2
> > > >
> > > >  + mobile:+1.202.255.5581 + office:+1.202.331.5342
> > > > 1150 18th Street, NW + Suite 1020 + Washington, DC 20036
> > > > http://www.internet2.edu + http://international.internet2.edu