The Internet2 Community's Exceptional Human Network
Ana Hunsinger, Vice President, Community Engagement
 Why do we build networks? We – technologists, researchers, and educators – build them to share data and information, to perform research, to educate, to create music, to collaborate across distances. Fundamentally, it is not just about the technology; we build all kinds of networks to forge connections between people.
Our Internet2 community is a fabric woven of these connections, between countries, regions, states, institutions and individuals. When we gather at the upcoming Internet2 Annual Meeting, we will share our most significant achievements and our greatest challenges. We will talk, we will debate, and we will connect with each other on the issues that face our organizations and our community. The meeting's thematic focus is Transforming Global Research and Education, and we are pleased to feature excellent General Session speakers, who will each explore different facets of this theme.
- For the first General Session, we welcome John DeGioia, President of Georgetown University, Father Peter Balleis, International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, and Samia Melhem, Lead ICT Policy Specialist at the World Bank. They will discuss how universities, National Research & Education Networks, and other organizations are using emerging technologies and networks to help educate the marginalized masses worldwide.
- Our second General Session features Wayne Clough, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who will talk about the Smithsonian's effort to digitize and share its collection with scholars, researchers, and others around the globe. This work is an example of the global impact that our community's technology and networks can make.
- In our closing General Session, we welcome Dr. Alexander "Sandy" MacDonald, Director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory. As the volume of data increases across all scientific disciplines, data transfer and management are key technology challenges. Dr. MacDonald will discuss how NOAA has addressed these issues, including multi-site collaboration and technical support for research.
This Annual Meeting marks a new approach to Internet2 events, and will set the tone for many changes to come. As we look forward, one thing is very clear: our community is expanding. We are steadily increasing global participation and exciting, new global challenges to face together. As our community changes, so too must Internet2 change. While we will always serve the needs of the research universities that created Internet2, we are also developing new ways to include even more community members in the conversation – which means thinking outside the traditional membership box. To that end, Member Relations and Communications, my area of responsibility at Internet2, is evolving to “Community Engagement.”
Community is the engine that drives Internet2. Just as we strive to provide the world’s premier R&E network, Internet2 also strives to connect global R&E participants. This new division name more accurately reflects our goals of enhanced engagement and dialogue with each of the distinct communities that comprise the broader Internet2 community.
Community Engagement is your personal guide through Internet2’s programs and services, a resource for you to draw upon, and a sounding board for your ideas and feedback. Please consider us your partner. This organization belongs to you, and we exist to ensure that you achieve your goals.
Together, we will continue to tackle new challenges and welcome additional disciplines, regions, and technologies into our ranks. Internet2 looks forward to deepening our relationships with all of our members and participants, particularly as our community grows.
We are here to help you make and nurture the connections that keep our community thriving. Please share this article with a colleague, bring someone new to an Internet2 meeting, or introduce your colleagues to the exceptional network, services, products and – most of all – people of our Internet2 community.
2013 Annual Meeting Highlight: Keynote Sessions
Monday, April 22 Keynote: Education at the Margins: How Technology and Networks Can Help Educate the Marginalized Masses Worldwide
John DeGioia, President of Georgetown University, Father Peter Balleis, International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service, and Samia Melhem, Lead ICT Policy Specialist at the World Bank will discuss how universities, National Research & Education Networks, and other organizations are using emerging technologies and networks to educate students living at the margins around the globe.
Tuesday, April 23 Keynote: The Digital Smithsonian
Secretary G. Wayne Clough will talk about the Smithsonian's effort to digitize and share its collection with scholars, researchers and others around the globe. This work is an example of the global impact that our community's technologies and networks can make.
Wednesday, April 24 Keynote: Earth System Research Challenges
As the volume of data increases across all scientific disciplines, data transfer and management are key technology challenges. Dr. Alexander MacDonald, Director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, will discuss how NOAA has addressed these issues, including multi-site collaboration and technical support for earth research.
Annual Meeting Social Media
Keynotes and selected sessions will be Netcast on our website; if you are joining us in Arlington or watching sessions remotely, you can join in the conversation via Twitter; use #i2am13 to follow coverage and comment on sessions.
Also, we're featuring a liveTweet Wall that will be displayed during keynote sessions and selected sessions throughout the meeting, as well as on a screen at our registration desk; you'll be able to see and send tweets, read what others think about the session, submit questions, and help drive the conversation! Be sure to follow us on Twitter for reminders @Internet2.
Featured Program Advisory Groups:
Member Relations & Programs 
Laura Patterson, the Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the University of Michigan and an Internet2 community leader and champion, is the Chair of the Member Relations & Programs program advisory group (MRP-PAG). In her role as Chair, Patterson (pictured at right) is committed to guiding the MRP- PAG to provide strategic advice and counsel for all Community Engagement programs. Under Patterson's leadership, the MRP PAG will initially address a couple of major program challenges including revisions to the membership structure and revitalizing the Industry Member Program.
International Strategy 
The newly formed International Strategy program advisory group (IS-PAG) is pleased to name Tracy Futhey as Chair. Futhey,(pictured at right) Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Duke University since 2002, has proven expertise in designing a new global IT infrastructure to support Duke's international expansion. No stranger to the Internet2 community, Futhey is an active member in various regional and national higher education organizations, a past Internet2 board member, and former chair of Internet2's Standing Committee for International Strategy (SCIS). The IS-PAG is responsible for providing strategic perspectives and advice to Internet2 senior leadership in support of key initiatives including international colocation facilities, services and partnerships supporting global research and education. Ana Hunsinger, VP Community Engagement, serves the IS-PAG as executive liaison. Ann Doyle, Director Global Programs, serves as staff liaison.
Internet2 In the News
XSEDE Upgrades Network to Internet2’s 100G Network
17 Supercomputers and 8,000 Scientists Benefit By Using Nation’s Fastest Research & Education Network
Zayo & Internet2 to Bring 100G Network to Northern Tier States
“Expanding the world’s most advanced 100G software-defined network to the Northern Tier brings unique research, education and community resources and capabilities hundreds of miles closer to scientists, educators, students, and community anchor institutions.” says Rob Vietzke, Vice President, Network Services, Internet2.
EDUCAUSE and Internet2 Fall 2013 E-Content Pilot Contracts Due April 30
Courseload, CourseSmart, McGraw-Hill Education and Over 50 Publishers Involved
Computerworld Honors Program names Internet2 one of 268 Laureates using IT to drive
business and social change
"These projects demonstrate how IT can advance organizations' ability to compete, innovate, communicate and prosper," says John Amato, vice president and publisher, Computerworld.
PAG News: Network Architecture, Operations and Policy Advisory Group Update
The Network Architecture Operations and Policy Program Advisory Group (NAOPpag) met on March 13, 2013. Reports were heard from two NAOPpag subcommittees—the NTAC Futures and the TR-CPS Review subcommittees.
The NTAC Futures subcommittee reported that Artur Barczyk from LHC ONE visited the group and a discussion ensued regarding overlapping goals and directions between the NTAC and overlay networks such as LHC ONE. Rob Vietzke,Vice President, Network Services, and Shel Waggener, Senior Vice President, NET+ Services, talked with the group regarding coordination with the NET+ technical groups. The group discussed creation of a working group to discuss the intersection of NET+ and Network architecture issues.
The TR-CPS Review subcommittee reported that they had created a set of guiding principles, are reviewing documents regarding the service and are planning interviews with Internet2 and CENIC.
The NAOPpag also discussed development of a five-year planning outlook for the Internet2 Network. A suggestion was made for Internet2 to provide draft concepts for discussion during the April 22 NAOPpag meeting during the April Internet2 Annual Meeting; other topics for the meeting include a report from the NTAC Future Subcommittee and a progress report on implementing new network fees.
The NAOPpag meeting is on April 22 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and open to all Internet2 Annual Meeting attendees.
Office of the CTO's Three PAGs Meeting Notes
The office of the CTO’s Program Advisory Group Research (PAG-R) recently met to discuss various topics including Big Data to Knowledge and International Big Science projects. Also, the Program Advisory Group Life Sciences (PAG-LSR) had their inaugural meeting to discuss NIH Big Data Initiatives and international Life Sciences Research, among other projects.
The Research & Education Network Research Liaison group was given an update on SDN by Eric Boyd, software development technical manager, Internet2, and on Big Data from Kate Mace, network manager, Wide Area Networks, Clemson University, and had a discussion on Science DMZ.
Members of the staff worked with Research staff from Dublin City University, Georgia Tech, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and the Universiti Teknologi in Malaysia, with their requests for support. The CTO staff also presented at C-DAC in Pune, India, IETF 86 in Orlando, Florida, the Research Data Alliance conference in Gothenburg, Sweden and the eduPERT meeting in Zurich, Switzerland. The CTO’s Office provides over 100 Letters of Support per year and are preparing many for members submitting CC-NIE proposals. If you have any questions regarding Letters of Support, please .
The Office of the CTO plans to have several research related sessions for the upcoming Annual Meeting including in person PAG-R and PAG-LSR meetings, a Research Constituency Meeting and a CTO Update in the Executive Session. There will also be three international sessions focusing on Life Sciences and the International community.
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