Session overview notes
Introduction by Rhys Francis
ANDS presentation
ARCS presentation
NCI presentation
AAF presentation
AREN presentation

Abstract

The aim of the Forum is to obtain feedback from the conference delegates on progress with the implementation of the Government's eResearch initiatives as co-ordinated through AeRIC across the Platforms for Collaboration (PfC) and to identify areas for further development of eResearch capabilities to address researchers' needs. Feedback from the Forum will help to inform AeRIC's deliberations and its interaction with the PfC .

The Forum is planned to run for 90 minutes with an allowance of an additional 30 minutes should that be necessary. It will be presented in two parts - a progress discussion on developments within PfC and a second part particularly inviting input from the floor on 'what else?' and 'where to from here?'.

The session will be chaired by Professor Tom Cochrane who will outline the purpose of the Forum and introduce the Panel which will comprise the AeRIC Executive Director and the executive directors, or equivalent' of the the components of PfC, namely:

• The National Computation Infrastructure
• The Australian Research Collaboration Service
• The Australian National Data Service
• AARNet
• The Australian Access Federation

Professor Cochrane will invite Dr Francis to provide an overview of the PfC and how the initiative is to assist in addressing Australia's eResearch capabilities and services (20 to 30 minutes). Following this, each of the remaining members of the panel will describe briefly the major impacts their PfC component is having in the research sector (5 minutes each).

Prior to the conference, conference delegates will be invited to submit questions or comments which will inform the panel discussion. This input will be classified into broad themes. Professor Cochrane will refer to these themes when introducing the question and answer session as a means of informing the audience about the priority issues that are coming forward, while stressing that delegates should feel free to comment or ask questions beyond these themes. To start the session Professor Cochrane may pose one or more previously lodged questions and direct them to relevant members of the panel. He will also encourage questions from the floor and may ask members of the panel to discuss a number of the broad themes.

Professor Cochrane will present some concluding remarks at the end of the Forum.