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K-State Today

May 8, 2012

Part of the network: Consortium's annual meeting to address nature of the university in a highly connected world

Submitted by Rosanna Vail

The Great Plains Network, a consortium of more than 20 universities in the Midwest region, will come together for its annual meeting May 30–June 1 in Kansas City, Mo.

The meeting will focus on "The Nature of the University in a Highly Connected World," as scientific data doubles every year and issues surrounding the access, use and curation of data sets are of increasing importance.

As a Great Plains Network member institution, Kansas State University and its faculty, staff and students can participate in the dialogue to support research and education through advanced networking technology and cyberinfrastructure.

The evolving data-rich and research-driven environment poses new challenges and provides new opportunities in the sharing, review and publication of research results.

"This meeting is a great opportunity to meet with and hear from a variety of people at the regional, state and national levels to discuss cyberinfrastructure and advanced networking. This year's conference will even include a presentation on cybersecurity from the FBI," said Greg Monaco, research assistant professor of psychology and GPN director for research and cyberinfrastructure initiatives.

Keynote speakers include James R. Bottum, vice provost and chief information officer, computing and information technology, Clemson University; Heather Joseph, executive director, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition; Mark A. Luker, associate director, National Coordination Office for the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program; and Rachel Hack, Kansas City community manager for Google.

The meeting is co-sponsored by the Greater Western Library Alliance, comprised of 31 leading research university libraries in 17 states, with a focus on resource sharing, digitization and ensuring the preservation and access of scholarly research and data.

K-State faculty, staff and students interested in cyberinfrastructure, network technology, cyber research or advancing education and training in advanced networking technologies can register to attend the meeting at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/conf/great-plains-network.

Learn more about the Great Plains Network annual meeting by contacting Tony Ballard, coordinator in the K-State Division of Continuing Education, at 785-532-2402 or tballard@k-state.edu.