Authors: Carol Sandys and Stephanie Thompson, Advanced Research Computing
Some of you may be aware of the exercise that IT Services is undertaking to refresh the Digital Strategy and consider future investment in digital initiatives across the board, including for research. To contribute to that exercise, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Rachel O’Reilly, has asked the Digital Research Committee (DRC) with the Research Computing Management Committee (RCMC) to convene working groups to consider a number of ideas that could make a significant difference to the University’s research.
The groups are covering a broad spectrum from the ability to host and operate the latest technology, the availability of Linux expertise, to considering where commercial cloud could provide a good solution. In the mix too are questions around the importance of these resources for attracting researchers and the complex security challenges; not to forget the costs.
DRC meets again on 2 December when the output from these sessions will be considered. The Committee is made up of senior academics from each college, as well as the Chair of the RCMC and representatives of other research units with significant dependence on computational resources. Research Strategy and Services Division (RSSD), Library, and Advanced Research Computing (ARC) are also in attendance.
In addition to the working groups, we are preparing to run the biennial ‘IT Needs of Active Research’ survey in the spring. The survey will allow for all research staff and research students to provide their feedback on computing support for research, as well as suggest new ideas for IT Services to focus on. An example of a development that resulted from the 2024 survey is around the provision of additional training to support research computing. Results from the survey were used to build a business case for expanding the training program, and resultant funding has led to two new workshops being delivered so far this academic year, with several more in development.