In this issue:

• Visualization Challenge -- $5,000 prize;
• Expanded eResearch Infrastructure;
• eResearch SA is hiring;
• L&D Specialist needed at Intersect;
• About this newsletter.

Visualization Challenge -- $5,000 prize

The eResearch Australasia conference is proud to introduce the annual eResearch Visualization Challenge. The challenge invites researchers, students, practitioners, and educators from diverse disciplines to submit visualizations on a given theme.   This year's theme is financial markets;  the challenge is sponsored by SIRCA with a data set provided by Thompson Reuters.  Entries will be displayed at the conference, and a prize of A$5,000 will be awarded for the winning entry.  

The eResearch Visualization Challenge aims to harvest the best examples of meaningful (as opposed to purely artistic) visualizations around an annual theme, to raise the bar for the documentation and communication of the process applied to generate those visualizations, and to sensitize people to the importance of visualization for formal and informal education and the communication of information.

Please see www.eresearch.edu.au/vischallenge for more information.  Entries are due by 6 October 2009.

Mike Briers, CEO SIRCA and
Patricia McMillan, eResearch Australasia conference
 

Expanded eResearch Infrastructure

Within the Super Science initiatives announced in the May Commonwealth budget, $312M was allocated across 2009-2013 to expand the eResearch infrastructure development activities currently funded by NCRIS.

These proposals arise from the review of the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure carried out last year in consultation with the research sector, and from the Government’s response to the Recommendations of the Review of the National Innovation System.

The budget measures summarised below, represent a significantly enhanced investment in eResearch infrastructure, as recommended in the Roadmap.

• $130M is allocated for supercomputing, extending the current NCI, focussed on climate, water and ecosystem research, and to establish a second national centre in Perth, focussed on supporting SKA, mining and related research. With the investment by Victoria of the order of a further $100M in a third centre focussed on life sciences, a transformative lift in computational research and data analysis capability will be realised over the next five years.
   
• $97M is allocated for data storage and collaboration infrastructure, to build on and build out the collaboration services and data fabric initiatives under way in ARCS. While the full cost of data management across the research sector is enormous, the establishment of a new national infrastructure for research data, including a contribution to the cost of storage, represents a second transformative initiative.
   
• $48M is allocated to advance the development of the Australian Research Data Commons, working through ANDS and engaging the research sector more broadly, to increase the federated re-use of data assets. This investment focuses on the long term needs to more rigorously manage content in support of research.
   
• $37M is allocated to significantly enhance the Australian Research Network, to ensure world class connectivity continues to be provided between major research centres, both within universities and within the broader research sector, to interconnect research related infrastructure and data assets to support the huge growth expected in data volumes, and to provide a dedicated production and developmental network platform for eResearch service providers.

See http://www.pfc.org.au/bin/view/Main/SuperScience  for more background information.

Dr Rhys Francis
Executive Director, Australian eResearch Infrastructure Council

eResearch SA is hiring

An opportunity exists for an eResearch Data Consultant with eResearch SA and the Australian National Data Service (ANDS). Operating as a member of the eResearch SA team, and located at the University of Adelaide, you will work with research clients to develop requirements specifications to achieve the goals of ANDS and eResearch SA.

You will assist in delivering advice on the management of research data and the implementation of software, policy, work flows and other change management processes required to expand the accessibility, usability and capabilities of research data.

Applications for this position open on the 3 July 2009. For more information about this opportunity please visit www.ersa.edu.au  and select 'Employment Opportunities'.

James Tizard, Director, eResearch SA
 

L&D Specialist needed at Intersect

Intersect is a University-established research support company, focusing on “eResearch”; the use of advanced IT methods to enable and enhance research methods across disciplines. Part of our services portfolio is the development of the skills base in our members, including researchers and support staff, as well as Intersect’s own staff.

Intersect is looking for an expert in education to establish and drive our Learning and Development strategy. This L&D Specialist will be responsible for designing and facilitating professional development programs for Intersect’s internal and external stakeholder groups. If you are interested in learning more about this role, visit our website: www.intersect.org.au  or contact our HR Manager hrmanager@intersect.org.au.

Donna Dunwoody
HR Manager, Intersect

About this newsletter

The eResearch newsletter is published the first business day of each month, and submissions are due two business days prior to that. Please send items to newsletter@eresearch.edu.au. Each item should be no more than 150 words plain text, plus a link to further information.

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eresearch-announce List Moderator