From KAREN wiki

Contents 1 Contacts 1.1 KAREN champion 1.2 Additional contacts 1.3 Number of projects using KAREN 2 Institutional Capability Build 2.1 Achievement to date 2.2 What’s Coming Up 3 New Zealand Microbiology Research and Education Network 3.1 Project Objective 3.2 PulseNet Asia Pacific 3.3 Domestic Microbiology Network

Contacts

Phone

• 64 4 914-0700
• 64 4 529 0611

KAREN champion

Dr. Val Orchard

• General Manager, Science and Research
• Email: val.orchard@esr.cri.nz

ESR Project Plan

Additional contacts

ESR has a KAREN champion at each of our four sites

• Dion Sheppard, Mt Albert Science Centre, Auckland
  

  

  Dion
• Beryl Anderson, Kenepuru Science Centre, Porirua
  

  

  Beryl
• David Wood, Christchurch Science Centre, Christchurch
  

  

  David

Number of projects using KAREN

• 3

• PulseNet Asia Pacific Portal
• Domestic Microbiology Network
• Video Conferencing over KAREN

Institutional Capability Build

KAREN Awareness and Training

KAREN Champion Dr Val Orchard

KAREN Site Champions

• Beryl Anderson
• Dion Sheppard
• David Wood

Project manager Capability Build Fund Project

• Nicky Gardner

Project On Track?Yes

Achievement to date

Milestones: Workshop design and project planning Development of presentations

The KAREN site champions have talked to staff to gauge interest in KAREN and identify issues that need to be discussed in the workshops. We have identified a staff member who would be able to facilitate the workshops. The team met at REANNZ for a demonstration of the high definition videoconferencing facilities, saw the Access Grid facilities and discussed KAREN with Bill Choquette. This confirmed that the focus is on eResearch rather than KAREN per se. Planning is underway for organising the workshops for staff. Staff will be invited from work groups that cover the diversity within ESR.

The workshops were held at 3 sites during July and August and the format of the programme we used is below.

• 1) Welcome and Introductions
• 2) Overview of REANNZ and the KAREN network
  • a) The importance of e-research and why we want to integrate KAREN into science work at ESR – Val Orchard, GM Science and Research, ESR KAREN Champion
  • b) Introduction to the KAREN Network - Donald Clarke REANNZ (powerpoint slides)
  • c) The advantages of KAREN as an e-research technology - Guest speaker
  • d) ESR site speaker – my view of KAREN and how I can use it
• 3) Looking to the future – opportunities/barriers to adopting KAREN in ESR.
• 4) Discussion in small groups, using worksheet.
• 5) Report back from each group
  • The top 3 opportunities with KAREN are …
  • The top 3 issues or barriers to be overcome are …
• 6) Implications for e-research
• 7) Promoting the KAREN network in ESR

The external speakers were

• Nathan Gardner, Canterbury University
• John Hine, Victoria University
• Allen Rodrigo, Auckland University

ESR internal speakers were

• Lisa McCallum and Brent Gilpin

As a result of analysis of the workshop findings, this has led to:

• Including an IT staff member in meetings held by the KAREN Site Champions
• The KAREN Site Champions intend to establish themselves as a group with their own name / identity after the REANNZ Institutional Capability Build Fund project has finished.
• The KAREN Site Champions developing a plan of KAREN activities for 2009, these will include organising internal / external speakers.
• The main focus for 2009 being to increase videoconference (VC) usage. There will be new high definition VC equipment installed in fixed locations at all sites in April. After installation, the KAREN Site Champions propose to set an example by using VC for their meetings, run ‘practice’ sessions for staff to become familiar with using the equipment, monitor VC usage figures and encouraging any ESR seminars to be held by videoconference.

What’s Coming Up

ESR's videoconferencing facilities are being upgraded during April. The KAREN Champions at each site will capitalise on the initial training provided and give opportunities for staff to use the new equipment during some 'practise' sessions during May/ June. We are also planning a series of speakers on eResearch or use of the KAREN network during the year and will use the videoconferencing facilities to give staff at all sites the opportunity to access the presentation.

New Zealand Microbiology Research and Education Network

Project Owner: Virginia Hope

Relevant Staff:

• Brent Gilpin,

Project Objective

We aim to:

• Establish Sharepoint portals for microbiology research and education in NZ and the Asia Pacific region.
• Use KAREN to enable the transfer of large databases and visual microbiological information,
• Use video conferencing and archiving for educational seminars and training and for national and international meetings,
• Enable rapid information exchange and communication during the emergence of new or widespread pathogens.
• Highlight the use of KAREN for microbiologists in a demonstration international collaborative project comparing the genotypic data of strains of Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli.

To achieve this we have split the project into two parts:

• PulseNet Asia Pacific|PulseNet Asia Pacific Portal, lead by Brent Gilpin
• Domestic Microbiology Network|Domestic Microbiology Network, lead by Lisa McCallum

PulseNet Asia Pacific

The PulseNet Asia Pacific portal is populated and available for use by researchers. More on PulseNet Aotearoa

Domestic Microbiology Network

ESR has now developed a microbiology research portal to run on KAREN. This tool will facilitate national and international collaboration on research and projects. It is now available for members to access and we invite those interested in microbiological research and training to view the site and sign up as members..

Future links will include recordings from a Leptospirosis Symposium currently scheduled for 7 August. Video equipment will be purchased to allow information to be sent out from our PC3+ laboratories for training purposes and to support collaborative ventures.