Thomas Cheatham
Professor / Director of Research Computing
University of Utah
Dana Brunson
Executive Director for Researcher Engagement
Internet2
Gail Krovitz
Community Engagement Manager
Internet2
Patrick Schmitz
Associate Director of Research IT
University of California, Berkeley
Supporting researchers with their research information technology (compute and data, broadly defined) requirements uncovers a number of continuing and emerging challenges including: (1) the significant and non-sustainable growth in demand for compute and data beyond the desktop across all research domains, including non-traditional domains, (2) the need to keep up with the rapid innovation and change in information technology, and (3) the lack of awareness or appreciation of research computing and data professionals role in supporting researchers. Awareness of these issues was part of the impetus for the formation of CaRCC – the Campus Research Computing Consortium. CaRCC is an organization of dedicated professionals developing, advocating for, and advancing campus research computing and data (broadly defined) and associated professions. CaRCC has working groups that aim to provide tangible products and deliverables. Current focus areas include connecting the broader research computing and data ecosystem, professionalization and workforce development, developing focused facings or communities (such as researcher-facing or systems-facing) to develop and share leading practices, research computing and data futures, and defining stakeholders and shared value propositions for the community at a time of accelerating change. A panel of CaRCC leadership will be available to discuss CaRCC, its vision, mission and structure, and to highlight current activities. We hope for an open dialogue and the opportunity to listen to ideas and feedback from the CNI community.
