Internet2

Behind the Advanced Networking Track with Dawn Ng: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25

Kenneth Lewis — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Dawn Ng from GÉANT and Fellow Program Committee Members Lend Insights to Bring Community Exchange to Life

What makes Internet2 Community Exchange a staple event for executive leaders and innovators across the global research and education (R&E) community? A program uniquely powered by community priorities, experience, and expertise.

In this Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 series, we spotlight the leaders behind this year’s program, taking place April 28 – May 1 in Anaheim, CA.

Dawn Ng is a senior community program manager at GÉANT, Europe’s leading collaboration on network and related infrastructure and services for the benefit of R&E. She collaborated with fellow program committee members Marc Hoit (North Carolina State University) and Andrew Buker (University of Nebraska) to shape the Advanced Networking Track. Together, they focused on increasing innovative approaches, accessibility of the topics, creative ways to enhance sessions, and a balance of thematic areas.

Much of the Advanced Networking Track explores innovation and collaboration when delivering academic and research services across institutions. However, Ng’s sights are explicitly set on AI in a world of global community exchange.

Dawn Ng

Senior Community Program Manager, GÉANT
Years of Experience in the R&E Community: 1.5
Fun Fact: “I am also on the PC for TNC, Europe’s global R&E conference.”

“AI was obviously the hottest topic,” Ng said. “But our track selected one that will discuss how the community is coming together at a global level to exchange knowledge and experiences on AI applications in R&E.”

Tell us about your role in curating the Advanced Networking Track for the 2025 Internet2 Community Exchange. How do community members’ insights and expertise shape the program?

Ng: Being on CommEX’s program committee has been a wonderful experience. It was the first time I worked directly with Internet2 and its community members, and I learned so much about the R&E landscape in the U.S. At GÉANT, I manage our community program, so community is at the heart of everything I do. Because of this, I also noted many parallels in how Internet2 values community. Since I am not a technical expert, I focused on innovative approaches, accessibility of the topics, creative ways to enhance sessions, and a balance of thematic areas.

2. How do this year’s Advanced Networking Track sessions reflect the most pressing priorities and opportunities for the R&E community?

Ng: AI was obviously the hottest topic. So, in addition to Exploring the R&E Policy Landscape and Breaking the Speed Limit: Solving Cloud Data Transfer Bottlenecks, our track selected one session that will discuss how the community is coming together at a global level to exchange knowledge and experiences on AI applications in R&E.

This session, titled Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Next-Generation NREN Services: A New Community Hub for Collaboration, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th

This session explores how GÉANT’s new special interest group on AI provides a platform to share knowledge on potential applications of AI within national research and education networks (NRENs). This new community is rapidly expanding in Europe and beyond. With GÉANT’s NRENs having similarities to NRENs in North America, this session will shed light on those parallels and help us discover how to better work together and shape our community through global collaboration.

What specific sessions in the Advanced Networking Track are you most excited about and why?

Ng: I am really excited to attend MS-CC Climate Science Program Endeavors on Wednesday, April 30th. Since 2024 was the planet’s warmest year on record, it is crucial now more than ever to brainstorm ways to help navigate and lighten the effects of climate change in the R&E community.

I’m intrigued to hear how other institutions tackle issues on the climate and how we can work with and support each other as we continue to advance and grow in this area. It’ll be exciting to share with and learn from each other.

Social events and in-person interactions are highlights of the conference experience, as well. What are you most looking forward to, and how does gathering in person with peers across the R&E community add unique professional value for you?

Ng: As a first-timer coming from Europe, I really look forward to meeting US-based peers and understanding how the R&E sector ticks over there. I am primarily in contact with NREN (national R&E network) representatives so it will be a different experience meeting participants from higher education institutions.

It will also be interesting to find out what kind of community initiatives are taking place across Internet2’s ecosystem and explore how we can potentially bring our communities even closer together.

5. As someone deeply involved in shaping this year’s Community Exchange program, what do you hope attendees take away from the conference overall?

Ng: As with most conferences, attendees get inspired and enthused. Then, they go back home to reality. I hope people find ways to stay connected, join a community group, and remember that this was not a one-off event but the beginning of something much bigger!

See You in Anaheim for CommEX25

Are you ready to shape the future of R&E? Join community leaders and innovators at CommEX25.

Now is the time to explore the full program and plan your experience. Whether you’re seeking inspiration from AI visionary Noelle Russell’s keynote, diving into R&E’s toughest challenges with community experts, or strengthening collaborations through interactive sessions and social events, Community Exchange is where connections spark big ideas.

Thank You to the Program Committee

CommEX25 is an unmissable event thanks to the dedication of 11 community leaders serving on the program committee:

Andrew Buker, University of Nebraska
Dedra Chamberlin, Cirrus Identity
Melanie Douglas, UC Santa Cruz
Marc Hoit, North Carolina State University
John McGuthry, Cal State Polytechnic, Pomona
Hector Molina, Fayetteville State University
Dawn Ng, GÉANT
Kivanc Oner, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Drew Sidel, Google
Petrus Williams, J. Paul Getty Trust
Hellen Zziwa, Harvard University

The post Behind the Advanced Networking Track with Dawn Ng: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 appeared first on Internet2.

Behind the Cloud Track with Hellen Zziwa: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25

Miko Gonzaga — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Hellen Zziwa from Harvard University and Fellow Program Committee Members Lend Insights to Bring Community Exchange to Life

In this Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 series, we’re spotlighting the leaders behind this year’s program, taking place April 28 – May 1 in Anaheim, CA.

Hellen Zziwa, senior director of technology advisory and planning for Harvard University Information Technology, helped curate the Cloud Solutions and Services Track. She and fellow program committee members Kivanc Oner (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and Bob Flynn (Internet2) lent a structured, thematic approach to create a track that tackles cloud strategy and institutional transitions, research enablement and innovation, and secure storage and workforce development.

“Cloud adoption isn’t a one-time shift — it’s an ongoing journey,” Zziwa said. “Engaging with the Internet2 community helps us stay ahead of industry shifts, and serving on the Cloud Track planning committee has been a great opportunity for me to give back and help peers navigate their own cloud transformations.”

Hellen Zziwa

Senior Director of Technology Advisory and Planning, Harvard University Information Technology
Years of Experience in the R&E Community: 10
Fun Fact: “I don’t like theme parks. Rollercoasters? No thanks. I’ve been to Disney World in Florida twice — once before I had kids and once with them. The first time confirmed it wasn’t my thing. The second time sealed the deal. But our kids had a blast! And with this conference in Anaheim, I’ll enjoy hearing about all your escapades without me!”

Q&A with Zziwa: ‘Deeper, More Meaningful Conversations’

Tell us about your role in curating the Cloud Services and Solutions Track for the 2025 Internet2 Community Exchange. How do community members’ insights and expertise shape the program?

Zziwa: Cloud adoption isn’t a one-time shift — it’s an ongoing journey. Harvard University Information Technology’s Hosting Services team has closed a data center, expanded into four public clouds, and continues refining our hybrid strategy. While we still manage two data centers, their role is evolving.

As cloud grows in relevance to research, we’re leveraging our expertise to support researchers, learning their needs and adjusting our approach. Engaging with the Internet2 community helps us stay ahead of industry shifts, and serving on the Cloud Track planning committee has been a great opportunity for me to give back and help peers navigate their own cloud transformations.

How do the sessions in this year’s Cloud Track reflect the most pressing priorities and opportunities for the R&E community?

Zziwa: Alongside my peers who also served on this year’s Cloud Track program planning committee, Kivanc Oner (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) and Bob Flynn (Internet2), we decided that a structured, thematic approach would help focus on different strategic concerns.

The track begins with cloud strategy and institutional transitions, exploring data center evolution, vendor shifts like VMWare migration, and optimizing infrastructure. It then shifts to research enablement and innovation, addressing gaps in research support, fostering IT-research collaboration, and leveraging cloud for institutional impact. Finally, the track tackles secure storage for research and workforce development, ensuring institutions can protect critical data while equipping teams with essential cloud skills.

Ultimately, this approach allows the community to focus on a theme long enough to draw actionable insights.

What specific sessions or speakers in the Cloud Track are you most excited about?

Zziwa: One must-attend session is The Role of Cloud in your Data Center Strategy on Tuesday, April 29 which reframes cloud adoption within data center strategy, tackling total cost of ownership, demystifying costs, and exploring funding models. Another standout is Bridging the Gap: Aligning Expertise and Infrastructure in Research Support on Wednesday, April 30. The session addresses the disconnect between researchers adopting cloud and available campus resources.

I’m also excited about Scaling AI and Cloud Education on Thursday, May 1. It highlights the cloud skills gap — a crucial topic as AI and cloud computing become more integrated into R&E while institutions stretch resources. These sessions provide timely, practical insights, making them invaluable for those navigating cloud transformation and workforce development.

Social events and in-person interactions are highlights of the conference experience. What are you most looking forward to, and how does gathering in person with peers across the R&E community add unique professional value for you?

Zziwa: As a social introvert, large events can be overwhelming, but I enjoy one-on-one connections during breaks and spontaneous dinner gatherings. The intimate size of Community Exchange makes social interactions more manageable, allowing for deeper, more meaningful conversations.

These informal moments often lead to unexpected collaborations and insights, providing a space to share challenges and solutions organically. Whether it’s a casual hallway chat or an impromptu dinner, these interactions foster valuable connections that extend beyond the event, strengthening the R&E community in ways structured sessions sometimes can’t.

As someone deeply involved in shaping this year’s Community Exchange program, what do you hope attendees take away from the conference overall?

Zziwa: Internet2 Community Exchange is a great place to see what peer institutions are working on. Whether you’re a technology leader or need to understand key tech concerns without deep dives, this event offers valuable insights. Discussions outside sessions are invaluable for networking and follow-ups.

Come with questions — you’ll find thought leaders and peers eager to share knowledge. Be sure to plan ahead by reviewing sessions and explore beyond your track for unexpected insights. Tracks increasingly blur — emerging tech, cloud, networking, and security intersect in new ways.

Stay open to diverse conversations, as they often spark innovative ideas that can shape your institution’s strategies.

See You in Anaheim for CommEX25

Are you ready to shape the future of R&E? Join community leaders and innovators at CommEX25.

Thank You to the Program Committee

CommEX25 is an unmissable event thanks to the dedication of 11 community leaders serving on the program committee:

Andrew Buker, University of Nebraska
Dedra Chamberlin, Cirrus Identity
Melanie Douglas, UC Santa Cruz
Marc Hoit, North Carolina State University
John McGuthry, Cal State Polytechnic, Pomona
Hector Molina, Fayetteville State University
Dawn Ng, GÉANT
Kivanc Oner, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Drew Sidel, Google
Petrus Williams, J. Paul Getty Trust
Hellen Zziwa, Harvard University

The post Behind the Cloud Track with Hellen Zziwa: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 appeared first on Internet2.

Internet2 Community News Spotlight – February 2025 Edition

arasche — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:25:00 +0000

This monthly feature spotlights timely community stories from Internet2 members, celebrating their achievements and sharing important announcements around their efforts to fulfill their research, education, and scholarship missions.

Community News Recap – February 23-28

Community News Recap – February 16-22

Community News Recap – February 9-15

Community News Recap – February 1-8

Send feedback and share your institution’s stories for consideration to arasche@internet2.edu.

The post Internet2 Community News Spotlight – February 2025 Edition appeared first on Internet2.

InCommon Round-Up: 5 Stories You May Have Missed

Iain Oldman — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:14:21 +0000

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Summary

Get caught up on everything you need to know about what’s happening at InCommon.

InCommon Federation Community Consultation Open Through Feb. 28
What’s New at InCommon Academy?
Critical Trends in IAM and Guidance for Higher Ed for 2025
Grouper Documentation Team Helps Address Community Needs
Ken Klingenstein Reflects on 20 Years of InCommon

InCommon Federation Community Consultation Open Through Feb. 28

An InCommon Federation community consultation of the 2024 InCommon Federation Proxies Working Group Report is now open to the community. The consultation window closes on Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.

The Federation Proxies Working Group has been working to further its understanding of proxies currently deployed in the InCommon Trust Federation.

The report is a collection of the group’s findings regarding federation proxies’ roles in the federation ecosystem, and it recommends the next steps for the InCommon Federation and the wider community to better support proxies and improve federation trust.

Sign Up for InCommon News

Learn More

We look forward to the community’s feedback on the report and encourage you to register for consultation before the end of February.

What’s New at InCommon Academy?

InCommon Academy — which provides learning opportunities for IAM practitioners in research and higher education — is refreshing its training catalog in 2025.

Through redesigned courses and reimagined programs, InCommon Academy is delivering more flexibility, expanded learning opportunities, and interactive experiences across its learning and engagement portfolio.

Take a look at what is coming down the pipeline in early 2025.

Critical Trends in IAM and Guidance for Higher Ed for 2025

The Feb. 19 IAM Online session featured six speakers from across the trust and identity industry to define key areas that higher education leadership needs to stay ahead of this year.

The six panelists covered AI-powered IAM, OpenID Federation, federation proxies, and important perspectives from community leaders.

If you weren’t able to attend this important IAM Online session, you can catch up on our YouTube channel.

Grouper Documentation Team Helps Address Community Needs

Formed in 2023, the Grouper documentation team is a volunteer-led effort that helps improve the features and deployment of the enterprise group and access management system.

When the community group was in its infancy, Noelette Stout of Idaho State University stepped up to coordinate the effort.

“I wanted to contribute to the community and provide any assistance I could offer,” Noelette said. “Grouper has been such an invaluable tool for us, so I was eager to help.”

Two years in, Grouper rules, provisioning, deprovisioning, auditing, and authentication are just a few areas that have been enhanced.

Ken Klingenstein Reflects on 20 Years of InCommon

After 20 years of helping to build InCommon from the ground up, Internet2’s evangelist for Trust and Identity, Ken Klingenstein, took a moment to reflect on InCommon’s progress and impact.

“Trust, particularly multilateral trust, isn’t about a single institution. Rather, it is a community asset. Creating trust has been a heavy lift over decades as we have worked to align campus identity and access management infrastructures and processes to reliably trust each other across thousands of organizations. Technologies, procedures, contracts, and cultures are all touched,” Ken wrote in his blog.

Ken Klingenstein, Internet2 Evangelist for Trust and Identity

Ken also looks past the horizon for InCommon, tying together InCommon’s roots to the strategy laid out in the Futures2 report.

The post InCommon Round-Up: 5 Stories You May Have Missed appeared first on Internet2.

Behind the Emerging Technologies Track with Melanie Douglas: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25

arasche — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:57:54 +0000

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Melanie Douglas from UC Santa Cruz and Fellow Program Committee Members Lend Insights to Bring Community Exchange to Life

In this Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 series, we’re spotlighting the leaders behind this year’s program, taking place April 28 – May 1 in Anaheim, CA.

Melanie Douglas, deputy CIO and associate vice chancellor for technology and services at UC Santa Cruz, worked alongside fellow program committee members John McGuthry (Cal Poly Pomona) and Hector Molina (Fayetteville State University) to shape the Challenges & Opportunities with Emerging Technologies Track. Their focus? “Sessions that bridge cutting-edge technology with practical implementation, ensuring attendees walk away with both inspiration and actionable strategies.”

Much of the Emerging Technologies Track explores how institutions can harness the power of artificial intelligence. However, as Douglas points out, the landscape is shifting rapidly.

“Shifts in federal funding, data privacy regulations, and AI governance are influencing how institutions approach emerging technologies,” Douglas said. “The conversations at CommEX25 will provide a critical space to navigate these evolving challenges and opportunities.”

Melanie Douglas

Deputy CIO and Associate Vice Chancellor, UC Santa Cruz
Years of Experience in the R&E Community: 9
Fun Fact: “I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s camping, hiking, or exploring new places with family and friends.”

Q&A with Douglas: ‘These sessions go beyond insights’

Tell us about your role in curating the Emerging Technologies Track for the 2025 Internet2 Community Exchange. How do community members’ insights and expertise shape the program?

Douglas: As part of the program planning committee, my role is to help shape a track that highlights the most exciting, forward-thinking innovations in the R&E community. One of the committee’s greatest strengths is our diverse perspectives, representing a wide range of institutions, from large research universities to smaller colleges and specialized research organizations. This variety helps us cater to a broad audience, ensuring that the sessions resonate with attendees from different backgrounds, institutional roles, and levels of technological adoption.

Community expertise also plays a critical role in this process. Whether through submitted proposals, discussions, or past feedback, their insights help us craft a truly impactful program. My focus has been on identifying sessions that bridge cutting-edge technology with practical implementation, ensuring attendees walk away with both inspiration and actionable strategies.

How do the sessions in this year’s Emerging Technologies Track reflect the most pressing priorities and opportunities for the R&E community?

Douglas: AI continues to drive innovation, and this year’s sessions focus on its impact on research, student support, and institutional decision-making. Discussions will address ethical considerations, scalability, and real-world applications, ensuring institutions can harness AI responsibly and effectively.

However, a lot has changed since these sessions were developed, both in policy and national discourse. Shifts in federal funding, data privacy regulations, and AI governance are influencing how institutions approach emerging technologies. The conversations at CommEX25 will provide a critical space to navigate these evolving challenges and opportunities.

These sessions go beyond insights. They offer real experience and equip institutions with strategies to stay ahead in a rapidly shifting landscape.

What specific sessions in the Emerging Technologies Track are you most excited about?

Douglas: We received such thoughtful and forward-thinking proposals that it’s hard to pick just one standout session! Each session in the Emerging Technologies Track offers unique insights to help attendees navigate the rapidly evolving tech landscape in higher education.

A few sessions I’m especially excited about include:
– Emerging Technologies – A New Focus for Cal Poly Pomona on Wednesday, April 30
– Triton GPT: UC San Diego’s AI-Powered Support Tool on Wednesday, April 30
– Turning AI Tools into a Common Good and Shared Utility for All Campus Constituents on Thursday, May 1

These sessions go beyond theory, focusing on real-world applications and the strategic decisions institutions need to make today to stay ahead of the curve. I can’t wait to see the discussions they spark!

Douglas: The networking events at CommEX are where some of the most meaningful collaborations take shape. I’m looking forward to the Welcome Reception on Tuesday, April 29, which provides an engaging environment to reconnect with colleagues and build relationships with partners across higher education. It’s always a great space to exchange ideas and discuss shared challenges in an informal setting.

I’m also looking forward to the Fun Run on Wednesday, April 30 — it’s such a fantastic way to kickstart the day with fellow attendees and explore a new city. There’s something special about bonding over movement and conversation before diving into a full day of sessions!

Some of the best insights and partnerships emerge from casual conversations during the time carved out for social gatherings at CommEX. I’ve made incredible connections through Internet2 events, and many of those relationships have turned into ongoing collaborations with regular check-ins. The power of community is what makes these events truly special!

As someone deeply involved in shaping this year’s Community Exchange program, what do you hope attendees take away from the conference overall?

Douglas: I hope attendees walk away feeling energized and equipped with new insights they can immediately apply at their institutions. CommEX is not just about learning; it’s about connecting with a community that shares a common mission to advance research and education through technology.

Now more than ever, higher education needs each other and a strong community with the shared challenges we are facing.

For first-time attendees, my advice is to be intentional about networking, introduce yourself, ask questions, and engage in discussions. The connections you make here will be just as valuable as the sessions you attend.

See You in Anaheim for CommEX25

Are you ready to shape the future of R&E? Join community leaders and innovators at CommEX25.

Thank You to the Program Committee

CommEX25 is an unmissable event thanks to the dedication of 11 community leaders serving on the program committee:

Andrew Buker, University of Nebraska
Dedra Chamberlin, Cirrus Identity
Melanie Douglas, UC Santa Cruz
Marc Hoit, North Carolina State University
John McGuthry, Cal State Polytechnic, Pomona
Hector Molina, Fayetteville State University
Dawn Ng, GÉANT
Kivanc Oner, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Drew Sidel, Google
Petrus Williams, J. Paul Getty Trust
Hellen Zziwa, Harvard University

The post Behind the Emerging Technologies Track with Melanie Douglas: Shaping an Unmissable CommEX25 appeared first on Internet2.

Community Collaborates to Enhance Grouper Documentation

Miko Gonzaga — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:30:24 +0000

By Emily Eisbruch and the Grouper Team

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In 2023, when a community group formed to improve Grouper documentation, Noelette Stout of Idaho State University stepped up to coordinate the effort. “I wanted to contribute to the community and provide any assistance I could offer,” Noelette explained. “Grouper has been such an invaluable tool for us, so I was eager to help. Since I’m not a programmer, this seemed like a great opportunity to give back to the team in an alternative way.”

Grouper is an enterprise group and access management system that simplifies access management by letting you use the same group or role in many places in your organization. The software has offered an expanding array of capabilities in recent years as Grouper’s user base grew, and as the Grouper project team, led by Chris Hyzer of University of Pennsylvania, responded to the community’s use cases. Grouper rules, provisioning, deprovisioning, auditing, and authentication are just a few of the areas that have been enhanced.

Grouper’s wiki-based documentation,while voluminous and helpful, needed updating and reorganizing to improve users’ experience.

Refocusing and Refining Project Documentation

“We identified some gaps and some areas that needed restructuring,” Chris Hyzer noted. Past Grouper documentation improvement efforts provided significant advances with a major contribution being the Grouper Deployment Guide, which was developed in 2017 by a team that Bill Thompson, then of Lafayette College, led.

The Grouper documentation team that formed in 2023 conducted a survey to gauge community needs. The group meets bi-weekly on Zoom, maintains an active Slack channel to field new ideas, and tracks some of its work on a public wiki page. Constantly reviewing the recent changes in the wiki, as well as new needs for documentation, motivates the team to continue making progress.

Deployers need to update the Grouper product at least quarterly to make sure the deployments have the latest security fixes and up to date libraries. The Grouper Team archived documentation for people running expired versions of Grouper, so it is still possible to get the information they need. Going forward, documentation will focus on current features, which will help keep the wiki fresh and well-organized. There is now a dedicated “Grouper developers” wiki to separate internal development documents from the user-facing documentation. Even though the working group mostly focuses on the wiki, they also discuss other documentation like Swagger for web services and help text, in the Grouper user interface.

Making Great Progress

In a cool use of visualization technology, Chad Redman of Unicon developed a Grouper documentation heat map.“The heat map showed the relationships between Grouper documentation wiki pages, and also the ages of related articles,” Chad explained. “Pages that were out of date were removed, rewritten, folded into other pages, or moved into the internal development space.” The following two images show our progress by having fewer disconnected circles of pages, and the colors are more yellow (recent) and less purple (old).

2023 Grouper Documentation Heat Map

2024 Grouper Documentation Heat Map

“The team has shown tremendous dedication, and it has been impressive to see the improvements,” Noelette observed. “We’ve had a core group of volunteers who have put in so much of their valuable time to improve the documentation as well as the site navigation.”

“A number of the newer features have been documented, which has been much appreciated, based on the feedback we’ve received,” she continued. “The site organization and navigation improvements have made it much easier to search for information. We’ve got a great team. Their hard work really shows.”

Steve Zoppi, Internet2 Associate Vice President for Services Integration and Architecture, provides a big-picture view of the Grouper documentation effort. “In response to the changing community needs over the past decade, the Grouper solution has expanded and evolved. The nature of open-source programs is that the documentation quality can lag the perceived higher-priority of adding features and functionality,” he said. “That same project and its dedicated community recognized and responded to this reality by streamlining, refocusing and refining the project documentation. The outstanding result of their multi-year effort is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of our vibrant community and the development team.”

Grouper documentation improvements were among the topics highlighted at the Grouper BOF at 2024 Internet2 Technology Exchange in Boston.

About Grouper

Grouper is an enterprise group and access management system that simplifies access management by letting you use the same group or role in many places in your organization. Grouper is part of the InCommon Trusted Access Platform, an identity and access management suite of software designed to integrate with existing systems. Our roadmap is based on community input. Grouper, the access management component of the InCommon Trusted Access Platform, evolves to meet the community’s needs.

ICYMI

The post Community Collaborates to Enhance Grouper Documentation appeared first on Internet2.

Discover What’s New: 2025 NET+ Google Workspace for Education Webinar Series

Quyen Vaillant — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:21:40 +0000

By Quyen Vaillant, NET+ Program Manager

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The Internet2 NET+ team is excited to announce the 2025 NET+ Google Workspace for Education (GWE) webinar series. This series will shine a light on functionality, including cybersecurity and data management features, that administrators can access but may not be aware of.

These sessions are tailored to help you better understand the latest program offerings, strengthen your cybersecurity approach, and transform your teaching and learning strategies with cutting-edge tools.

What to Expect in the NET+ GWE Webinar Series

2025 Program Offerings and Guidelines: Learn about the latest offers, opportunities, guidelines, and simplified processes for existing and new customers.
Leveraging Cybersecurity Tools within GWE: Explore best practices for securing your institution’s data and insights on GWE tools designed to enhance cybersecurity.
Transforming Work and Learning with Gemini: Discover how Gemini can revolutionize collaboration and learning with tips for effective integration into your workflows.
Consolidation Approaches with GWE: Pick up strategies for streamlining systems and processes using GWE. Review case studies showcasing successful consolidation.
Managing Data Control in GWE: Gain techniques for maintaining control and visibility of your institution’s data, along with practical advice on data governance.

Upcoming Webinars

The 2025 NET+ GWE webinar series begins in February with two overview sessions about the program.

Join us throughout the year as we dig deeper into how institutions across the higher education and research landscape utilize NET+ GWE to drive innovation on campus.

Tuesday, Feb 25, 1 p.m. ET

Session	Details
2025 NET+ GWE Offer Overview and Workspace & Gemini Updates	For the first time, we’re including Gemini for Google Workspace for Education. Discover the latest discounts, purchasing requirements, and streamlined processes, and learn about the new Gemini offering. Register for the Feb. 25 Webinar

Thursday, Feb 27, 1 p.m. ET

Session	Details
What is Changing in Licensing (and Why)	We discuss what is changing with the Google Workspace Licensing models — and why. A helpful Q&A session will be held at the end of this webinar, so be sure to bring plenty of questions. Register for the Feb. 27 Webinar

Tuesday, March 11, 1 p.m. ET

Session	Details
Enabling Equitable AI Access with Google Gemini	Dive into GenAI in higher education and learn how the NET+ GWE agreement simplifies the adoption of Google Gemini. Discover how other universities leverage Google Gemini through applications in teaching, research, and administration. Register for the March 11 Webinar

Stay Connected

We encourage you to join these informative sessions to stay updated and learn best practices for your institution. Visit our NET+ GWE Events Schedule for the latest updates and future session details.

Do you have questions about our NET+ GWE offerings? Be sure to check out our 2025 FAQ sheet or connect with our team at netplus@internet2.edu.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the 2025 NET+ GWE webinar series!

The post Discover What’s New: 2025 NET+ Google Workspace for Education Webinar Series appeared first on Internet2.

Internet2 Adds Site in New Jersey, Expanding Network Peering Capabilities

arasche — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Internet2, in collaboration with Edge, recently commissioned a new network site in Newark, New Jersey. This expansion strengthens research and education (R&E) connectivity in the region, which also includes the nearby site at 32 Avenue of the Americas in New York, operated in partnership with NYSERNet. It also enhances access to multiple cloud environments and commercial content providers.

“By working together to launch the Newark site, Edge and Internet2 are enhancing regional access to shared commercial cyberinfrastructure and cloud resources,” said Jim Stankiewicz, associate vice president and principal network architect at Edge. “In addition to providing access to a dense exchange fabric that benefits the entire Internet2 community, Newark’s 165 Halsey location is a rapidly growing hub for artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, creating new opportunities for research and innovation.”

Faster, Expanded Cloud Connectivity

The new site advances Internet2’s strategy to expand and standardize its cloud connectivity solutions across all seven of its interconnect sites. At the end of the effort, Internet2 Peer Exchange (I2PX), Rapid Private Interconnect (I2RPI), and Cloud Connect (I2CC) services will be ubiquitously available at all interconnect sites. In addition, these sites will support the full range of interconnect speeds, including 10, 100, and 400 Gbps.

These changes support the R&E community in connecting to the cloud faster with shared and dedicated secure, resilient, and abundant capacity.

With the addition of Newark, I2PX, I2RPI, and I2CC are now available at five interconnect locations, also including Ashburn (Virginia), Chicago (Illinois), Dallas (Texas), and San Jose (California). Later this year, Internet2 will perform additional upgrades in the Dallas (Texas), Los Angeles (California), and Seattle (Washington) peering sites to deliver the same standard of connectivity at all seven interconnect sites — including 400G peer-facing connectivity. This supports increasing demands for cloud and AI applications.

Internet2 members continue to use the Internet2 Insight Console to visualize, manage, and troubleshoot their network services, including I2PX, I2RPI, and I2CC.

32 Avenue of the Americas Remains a Strategic Location

The new Newark site supersedes a legacy Internet2 peering location at 111 8th Avenue in New York. That site is being decommissioned following the building’s acquisition by a cloud service provider and an associated forced departure for many tenants from the facility. As a result, Internet2 will be removing all optical transport and peering infrastructure from the 111 8th Avenue site over the next six months.

Internet2 will continue to operate substantial community infrastructure at 32 Avenue of the Americas in New York in collaboration with NYSERNet. This location includes a pair of redundant core network nodes as well as the 400 Gbps-capable Manhattan Landing (MAN LAN) global exchange point. The location is connected by 4 Tbps of combined capacity on five network paths, remaining a critical hub for the R&E community’s regional and international connectivity.

Peering Evolution and Routing Optimization

Collectively, these efforts align with one of the five key objectives of Internet2’s new Trusted Infrastructure Platform initiative. That objective is to drive the community evolution of peering and routing optimization.

“Internet2’s collaboration with Edge to establish a new peering site underscores our commitment to provide high-performance, resilient infrastructure that supports the R&E community’s evolving connectivity needs,” said James Deaton, vice president for network services at Internet2. “As we continue our transition toward a software-enabled future, investments like this enhance peering capabilities and align with our broader efforts to improve routing efficiency and network performance.”

The Trusted Infrastructure Platform initiative builds on the foundation established by the launch of the Internet2 Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) in 2021. NGI included major upgrades to optical and packet hardware. It also introduced new levels of network automation and orchestration.

In the coming months, Internet2 will share more about the Trusted Infrastructure Platform initiative, including its five key objectives and how the Network Services team is working toward them in 2025 and beyond.

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Learn, Connect, Adapt: Internet2 NET+ AI Updates

mfinet — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:30:27 +0000

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, and the Internet2 NET+ program is committed to helping the Research and Education (R&E) community adapt to this changing landscape.

These AI updates highlight how we’re actively exploring new AI-focused initiatives, from service evaluations and community engagement to training opportunities and access facilitation. Explore the linked resources below and join us—your input and participation will ensure our efforts are aligned with community needs as we navigate the exciting world of AI together.

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us with any questions or feedback. Check out some key AI updates below.

Evaluating AI Gateways: The PortKey Service Evaluation

We’re excited to be conducting a service evaluation for PortKey, an innovative AI gateway. An AI gateway is a centralized platform that enables users to access multiple large language models (LLMs) through a unified interface. This provides seamless model selection, usage management, and security controls. Stay tuned for updates on our findings as we evaluate PortKey’s capabilities and how it may serve the needs of the R&E community.

Highlights

We are committed to helping the R&E community adapt to the ever-evolving AI landscape.
In this post, we provide information on:

Generative AI

Early Access to Echo Labs

Webinars and Town Halls

Exploring Available Services

CLASS Training Opportunities

The Future of AI at Internet2

Building Community: The Generative AI Community of Practice

We’ve established a dedicated Community of Practice to recognize collaboration and knowledge sharing in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. This wiki serves as a hub for R&E institutions to join working groups, service evaluations, training opportunities, and more. With participation from 65+ institutions and 200+ members, these NET+ resources address generative AI’s ethical and practical implications while supporting community-driven innovation in AI adoption.

Streamlining Access: Echo Labs Provisional Agreement

We’re pleased to announce a pre-service evaluation agreement with Echo Labs, an AI accessibility company that develops assistive technologies. These services include AI-driven captioning, text-to-speech, and adaptive interfaces to help individuals with disabilities navigate digital content more effectively. This NET+ program agreement simplifies how institutions explore and evaluate Echo Labs’ offerings. Sign up today and discover how Echo Labs can enhance your institution’s AI capabilities!

Engaging Through Events: Webinars and Town Halls

We’ve been actively hosting webinars and town halls to keep our community informed about the latest advancements in AI. Recent events include:

Enabling Equitable Access with Google Gemini Webinar: Explored Google Gemini’s potential to democratize access to powerful AI tools.
LibreChat: An Open Source AI Solution Webinar: Delved into open-source AI with a focus on LibreChat, offering insights into its capabilities and potential applications.
Setting up Amplify AI with Vanderbilt Town Hall (Cloud Infrastructure Community Program & NET+ AWS Program): Provided practical guidance on setting up Amplify AI with collaboration from the Cloud Infrastructure Community Program (CICP) and the NET+ AWS program.
Echo Labs Webinar (NET+ Webinar Series): Highlighted the NET+ Echo Labs program offerings and key benefits for the research and education community.

Exploring Available Services: The Cloud Scorecard and Beyond

The Internet2 Cloud Scorecard features a growing number of AI-powered services, including:

We encourage you to check out their Scorecard listings to see how these services may align with your institution on compliance measures like accessibility, security, and privacy. If you’re considering other AI services for your institution, please share your recommendations by referring vendors to enroll in the Cloud Scorecard!

Internet2 CLASS Training Opportunities: Past, Present, and Future

We’re committed to providing valuable training opportunities to our community to help you make the most of AI, and we continue to expand our offerings to meet the evolving needs of the R&E community. Upcoming sessions will explore:

Federated Learning for Multi-Institutional Collaboration
Advanced Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
AI for Research Computing and Large Scale Data Simulations

You can expect these sessions to provide insights into AI applications specific to R&E and equip institutions with the knowledge and skills needed to leverage AI effectively.

Keep an eye on the CLASS Events Schedule and other for more information about these upcoming opportunities! If you have an AI training session in mind that would be helpful for your institution, please connect with us.

The Future of AI at Internet2 NET+

This is just a snapshot of our current activities in the AI space. We’re exploring new opportunities, evaluating emerging technologies, and engaging with our community to shape the future of AI in research and education. Many NET+ services are leveraging AI in their existing products, and we look forward to supporting the community through these developments. As our work continues, you can expect additional service evaluations, expanded engagement pathways, and more AI training!

Stay Connected

To stay informed about our latest work with AI, please visit our Community AI Initiatives wiki or reach out to us with any questions or suggestions. We look forward providing more AI updates and continuing this journey with you!

The post Learn, Connect, Adapt: Internet2 NET+ AI Updates appeared first on Internet2.

3 Highlights from the Latest NET+ Webinar Series

mfinet — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:49:30 +0000

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

With 2024 behind us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our recent webinar series, Discovering the Power of NET+ Services. This nine-part journey underscored the unique value of NET+ programs: carefully vetted services, community-driven discussions, and the power of collective investment in the future of research and education (R&E).

By bringing together universities, industry partners, and service providers, these webinars highlighted the tangible benefits of collaboration while advancing scalable, sustainable solutions for the entire R&E ecosystem.

Growing Interest in NET+ Services

Throughout the series, we saw an impressive turnout: 365 attendees, including 268 participants from universities and industry members. This reflects the growing interest in leveraging NET+ services across higher education.

Catch the Highlights

If you missed a session, now is the perfect time to catch up! View the entire webinar series on the Internet2 YouTube channel.

The sessions brought together subject matter experts to provide in-depth community insights into NET+ programs. They demonstrated how institutions leverage NET+ to streamline operations, enhance security, and optimize teaching and research.

What makes each NET+ service unique? We encourage you to review presentation slides from each webinar to find out. Benefits include procurement resources, case studies, and opportunities to engage directly with NET+ program communities and Service Providers.

Key Highlights from the NET+ Services Webinar Series

Expanding the NET+ Services Portfolio

Introduction of new services like NET+ Echo Labs (affordable, ADA-compliant captioning and transcription) and NET+ 1Password (password management)
Enhanced collaboration tools such as NET+ Google Workspace, NET+ Miro, and NET+ Zoom for education-focused security and integration.

Advancing Cloud Infrastructure

Updates from the Cloud Infrastructure Community Program (CICP) on managing hyper-scale technologies like AWS, GCP, and Kion

Improving Procurement Processes

Utilizing NET+ Procurement to streamline purchasing processes while leveraging collective buying power and improved vendor terms
A walkthrough of the five major components of our NET+ Service Evaluation process

The discussions and practical takeaways underscored the impact of the NET+ community’s commitment to shared success.

Thank You to Our NET+ Community

We’re grateful to the universities, organizations, and service providers who contributed their time and expertise to make this series successful.

Your contributions — whether by sharing unique use cases, addressing challenges, or exploring new opportunities — highlight the strength and collaboration within the R&E community.

We’re excited to carry the momentum into 2025 with more programming, resources, and opportunities to connect. Don’t worry if you missed any sessions – you can catch up on the highlights and recordings via the Internet2 Past Event listings page.

Here’s to another year of advancing higher education with scalable, sustainable solutions that empower institutions and reinvest in the power of the NET+ community. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the year!

Stay Connected and Contact Us!

Ready to learn more or get involved with the community? Reach out to us via netplus@internet2.edu, check out how you can make a difference in the R&E community, or look into our Service Catalog and the Cloud Scorecard Finder to see how NET+ can support your institution’s goals.

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