CC* Regional: Accelerating Research and Education at Small Colleges in Texas via an Advanced Networking Ecosystem Using a Virtual LEARN Science DMZ

Learn: Lonestar Education And Research Network, Mckinney TX

Investigators

Abstract

LEARN - Lonestar Education And Research Network, a consortium of 41 organizations throughout Texas, is expanding opportunities for students and faculty at smaller college campuses to participate in research that relies on increasingly sophisticated network technology. LEARN has identified an initial set of smaller colleges to take part in the project and is providing these campuses with advanced network and performance monitoring technologies, the expertise to manage the infrastructure, training and assistance in increasing utilization of the underlying technologies, and a community of similarly engaged scholars and administrators across Texas. The specific objectives of this project are to 1. Establish a small college collaborative environment within the LEARN community 2. Improve network connectivity/services at each college campus for research and education 3. Establish a network performance monitoring infrastructure 4. Establish a means to facilitate the transfer of large data sets 5. Deliver technical training to personnel at each campus 6. Develop and implement an outreach program for informing/educating faculty, staff, and students at each college, and develop and disseminate project results. LEARN is partnering with national organizations in the implementation of this project. Projected impacts include increased opportunities for students to learn about and gain experience in advanced aspects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for which they might not otherwise have had an opportunity. This project can also extend to students and faculty at other campuses in Texas and can be replicated at other regional networks and smaller colleges throughout the United States. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.