NeSI: Capability computing & computing capably
In 2021 New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI) marked its 10th year. Across its first decade NeSI has developed towards fulfilling its original mandate outlined in the 2010 Investment Case:
Transformative research—by which New Zealand researchers deliver useful outcomes for the country—occurs across a range of different computational platforms and requires various kinds of infrastructure and software support. Specific infrastructure to be acquired or developed is as follows:
Create an advanced, scalable computing infrastructure to support New Zealand’s research communities.
Provide the research tools and applications, data management, user support and community engagement (i.e. eScience) needed for the best possible uptake and return from this HPC investment.
NeSI will create an infrastructure that is usable, transparent and scalable, which provides scientists with the correct computing tools for the job. It will further ensure that science teams can work collaboratively, with unimpeded access across the country and throughout the world.
In this talk we’ll take a look at ways in which NeSI supports eScience as an infrastructure, addressing the broad definition of infrastructure outlined in the original case. We’ll reflect on what we’re seeing across the New Zealand research sector, both public and private, about the range of computational platforms required now and in the future.
The discussion will encompass the various interventions undertaken by NeSI, and how these are being shaped by community needs and collaborations. The talk will explore an increasingly rich ecosystem of computational skills, data science, research data management, Māori data sovereignty, compute and storage infrastructures, and opportunities for enhanced international connectivity and collaboration. We’ll explore implications for the New Zealand research sector, not least in collaboration, teaming, and cross sector partnerships to achieve our collective ambitions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Jones, New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI)
Nick is NeSI’s founding Director, having established and led NeSI alongside a team of colleagues and peers since inception in mid-2011. Nick is responsible for NeSI’s strategic directions and performance overall, bringing together a talented and diverse array of people, and their institutions and interests. Nick has over 20 years’ experience in innovating in advanced information/computing technology in sectors including education, science and research. Nick established the eResearch NZ conference series in 2010 to support the sector coming together in the spirit of community to share experiences and explore directions in an area so critical to our future prosperity as a nation.
