e-Infrastructures Roadmap - Internet Society Nederland

e-Infrastructures RoadmapDirections to: Training & support for scientists and support personnelThe grid environment will require many new skills for scientists on the one hand and support personnel(such as scientific software developers and academic ICT staff) on the other. Scientists need to learn howto work in new environments, conceiving and leveraging powerful new instruments. Even thoughuser environments will try to evolve towards user-friendly interfaces, scientists will at least for theforeseeable future operate on the cutting edge of what is possible. This will no doubt spawn significantscientific rewards, but also will involve considerable effort. Developers have to learn how to write andoptimise codes for use in grids so as to better utilise costly grid resources; they will also have to learnhow to work within new software development frameworks. ICT staff has to be trained in supportingnew applications and satisfying demanding users, while maintaining a high service level degree forthe tasks they are currently already handling.It might take years, possibly decades, before the user communities are broad and mature enough tobe self-supporting, at which stage grids and problem solving environments will be a normal componentof school and university curricula. The knowledge required by for instance social scientists will be verydifferent from the support particle physicists will need, so disciplinary support is also essential. If wewant to realise the full potential of the grid paradigm, users, developers and support personnel willneed a persistent infrastructure that can provide knowledge management, education and support –both generic and geared towards specific application domains. This infrastructure may be developedand jointly exploited in cooperation with European businesses.Next turnY Gather, develop and maintain on-line training material for self study.Y Set up technology demonstrators/training centers for scientists and others, offering knowledgeand expertise both for generic technology and special disciplinary uses.Y Set up a European technical help desk (manned 24/7) for ICT support staff and developers.End destinationY Training facilities and help desk functionality for end-users, developers and support staff.Relevant policies, organisations, activities:Y Grid projects, NREN’s, DG Research, DG Information Society and Media, DG Education andCulture, Departments of Science, Education and Culture.User support might seem to be somewhat removed from the essence of infrastructure, but it essentialif people are to give up some autonomy and invest in shared facilities such as European supercomputersor storage facilities. Only if they get the same kind of high customer support they wouldget if they would own these resources themselves, will they accept the transfer to a European level.32 33