Information on Internet2 activities in the international arena.

[Ana Preston <>]

Dear colleagues: 
We'd like to bring up to your attention an upcoming event that promises
to be unique and incredibly interesting. Last year's was great (more
pointers to it below). What follows is the invitation for this year -
please distribute to those in your countries that you think may be
interested. If you are in need of more information, please contact
Jennifer MacDougall <> 

Regards, --Ana

> Dear Internet2 International
> Partners, 
>
> Several years ago Internet2 created the K-20 initiative to assist
> elementary, secondary and undergraduate schools, and other educational
> and cultural institutions in utilizing the resources and knowledge
> developed by Internet2 institutions and programs to enhance their goals.
> Now one of the oldest and most successful Internet2 applications has
> spawned an offspring for elementary and secondary schools.
> Megaconference, founded by Bob Dixon at Ohio State University, held its
> sixth and most successful annual event in December with 372 sites on all
> continents except Antarctica registered and participating remotely via
> video conferencing technologies over high-speed networks. 
>
> Inspired by this success, Megaconference Jr. was created to be an
> international student-run videoconference-based educational event for and
> by students of the world connecting in realtime using the power of
> international high-speed research and education networks. Megaconference
> Jr. held its first annual event last May 6th which was seen by over 3000
> viewers participating remotely from 7 different countries including
> Spain, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, China, Singapore, and the US with
> participation by 29 states in the US. If you missed this amazing event,
> you can see a video clip and read the comments of participants by going
> to
> http://megaconferencejr.org/?id=2004_archive.
>
> This May 19th the second annual Megaconference Jr. will take place and we
> hope to have even more international participation by more countries and
> more students from every corner of the globe. Again this year, we ask for
> your help in sharing this information with your members and connected
> institutions. 
> Megaconference Jr. is organized by a small group of volunteer teachers,
> students, school technology leaders and Internet2 networking groups.
> Planning for the event is well underway with colleagues in the US and
> several other countries. The goal is to develop a valuable international
> educational program in schools that currently have access to high-speed
> networks, which can expand as the technology becomes more widely
> available. There are two aspects to this event that the organizers
> believe are critical to success. The first is that students play a
> central role in all aspects of organizing and providing program content,
> and the second is that it be a truly international event. 
>
> We strongly encourage Internet2 International MoU and partner
> organizations and networks to participate in this important effort by
> encouraging appropriate primary or secondary schools in their country to
> participate in Megaconference Jr., and, where necessary, assisting them
> in accessing your high speed network so that they can participate.
>
> Information on the Megaconference Jr. May 19th event is
> available at 
> http://megaconferencejr.org/.
> Please contact Jennifer MacDougall at  for details
> on how you can help this important new advanced networking initiative.
>
> Thank you for your help! 
>
> Sincerely, 
> Megaconference Jr. Advisory Team 
>
> -- 
> Jennifer MacDougall 
> MAGPI Applications Coordinator 
>  
> phone: 215.898.0341 
> fax: 215.898.9348 
>
> www.magpi.net 
> 215-74MAGPI (215-746-2474)

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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