CONNECT THE MAGAZINE FROM THE GÉANT COMMUNITY | ISSUE 35 2020

BECOME A CYBER HERO

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

CONNECT INTERVIEW: HUMAN BRAIN PROJECT: CAREN SUCCESS: SARAH JONES, THE GAME-CHANGER IN KEY FIGURES LOOK EOSC ENGAGEMENT NAVIGATING BRAIN BACK AT THE CAREN MANAGER, GÉANT NETWORKS PROJECT TNC18 had over

CONNECT is the magazine from the GÉANT community; highlighting the activities of Europe’s leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for Research and Making Waves 50M Education. 160+ 21-25 June 2021 | Brighton, UK The Team Behind 700 CONNECT users Reflecting the breadth of our community, the articles you read in CONNECT are participants FTEs contributed by a wide range of people from 02 04 GÉANT Association, the GN4-3 project, and from our NREN and regional partners. The planning, production and editing is performed by a small team highlighted 500+ contributors Contents Welcome from below. from 73 countries Editor: 02 TNC21 – a new format Paul Maurice, GÉANT for a new reality Sub-Editors: Cathrin Stöver Silvia Fiore, GÉANT (Production and The GÉANT community is at its very best when it acts together, and Layout, Users) 04 How to become a 14 Rosanna Norman, GÉANT (TNC and cyber hero this month we have seen how the very visible issue of cyber security Community) is being addressed by our community. In support of the European Karl Meyer, GÉANT (Technology and Services) 06 What Maastricht Commission’s Cyber Security Month campaign, held annually in University learned from October, our partners have shared experiences, knowledge and tips Regular contributors: Cathrin Stöver, Leonardo Marino, the ransomware attack to help all of us become cyber heroes. I hope you’ve seen much of Laura Durnford (GÉANT) this campaign on GÉANT’s social media channels and within this This magazine is published by GÉANT, 14 CONNECT Interview: issue we highlight many of the articles and initiatives. as part of GÉANT Specific Grant Sarah Jones, GÉANT Earlier this year I was very pleased to welcome Sarah Jones into Agreements: GN4-3 (No. 856726), GN4- my team, whose new role is to bring the community closer together 3N (No. 856728), and BELLA-S1 (No. 06 18 731505), which have received funding 18 The Human Brain to enable Open Science. GÉANT and our NREN partners are ideally from the European Union’s 2020 research Project: the game- placed to become key enablers in this area, and knowing Sarah and innovation programme under the GÉANT2020 Framework Partnership changer in navigating as I do, I am confident we have exciting times ahead of us! Her Agreement (No. 653998). brain networks interview in this issue is a great insight into her plans and ideas and I The following projects mentioned hope you will enjoy working with her, even if it’s only over VC. throughout the magazine also receive 30 CONNECT Interview: Speaking of which, this community continues to inspire with its funding from the European Union: energy, ambition and spirit even though most of us haven’t seen AfricaConnect3, CAREN3, and Asi@ Veronika Di Luna, Connect (DG DEVCO), EaPConnect and GÉANT each other face to face for many months. As we all look forward EUMEDCONNECT3 (DG NEAR). to handshakes and hugs in 2021, we continue to push on in our 30 44 The content of this document is the sole 44 CONNECT Interview: virtual worlds for the benefit of the diverse communities we support, responsibility of GÉANT and can under no Dave Heyns, OCRE and I hope you find within the articles in this issue – which highlight circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Neither past achievements and future plans in equal measure – your own the editor, nor GÉANT necessarily endorse 48 eduGAIN welcomes inspiration. any opinion, real or implied, expressed by Stay safe and enjoy the issue. contributors to CONNECT. If you would like CSTCloud to the to reproduce articles from this publication, eduGAIN Family please contact the editor. Cathrin Stӧver, GÉANT All brand, company and product names are 67 About GÉANT trademarks of their respective owners. 48 67 4.3 BILLION AVAILABLE IN NATIONAL 59 COUNTRIES AUTHENTICATIONS Now in 101 countries TNC21 TNC21 – a new format for a new reality In the uncertain times caused by the events that have been affecting our world in 2020, the TNC21 programme committee has been evaluating all possible options regarding the format of GÉANT’s flagship conference.

Words: Rosanna Norman, GÉANT

TNC21 preparations and the conference discoveries that impact and improve In the words of our Cathrin Stöver: itself will certainly be different from any our lives via some of the fastest data ‘When you submit, be concrete where TNC we have organised in the past. This networks, most trusted identity services you need to be, but flexible where you Call for Proposals TNC21 Programme Committee is a challenge, but it is a challenge which and collaboration. NRENs have the can be – just go with the flow! TNC21 Submission Deadlines is full of opportunities. As things stand, intellectual bravery to inspire, will be a conference, where from paper Marina Adomeit, SUNET Sabine Jaume-Rajaonia, GÉANT and Jisc plan to host a hybrid disrupt and make waves. NRENs submission to making the event happen, 30 November 2020 (24.00 CET) RENATER (CHAIR) Claudio Allocchio, GARR conference in Brighton, UK, where the enable progress. all our standard thinking will need to – Single presentation physical and virtual elements will coexist. The Call for Proposals for single be challenged’. Carina Kemp, AARnet Jie (Jennifer) An, CERnet But we need to see how the pandemic presentations and demonstrations Cathrin continues: ‘Very often in 28 January 2021 (24.00 CET) George Konnis, CYNET develops and therefore a final decision is now open and all contributors are life, before you can actually make any – Demonstration Nancy Carter, CANARIE about the overall conference structure encouraged to submit new content. sort of wave, you need to go with the Nicholas Mbonimpa, RENU will only be made in February 2021. This is the moment to reflect and ‘put on flow. We all know that life is not as Submit your proposals . Paul Dekkers, SURF Ieva Muraskiene, LITNE We chose the theme of “Making paper’ how NRENs have been making plannable as events used to be and we here

Waves” for TNC20 and we have waves (still are) for R&E globally during will need to accept that also with regard Rob Evans, Jisc Monitor the GÉANT channels for further Hannah Short, CERN decided that this theme will continue: the COVID pandemic. The community’s to TNC21 we will have to go with the communications in the coming weeks, visit it successfully draws a parallel with the enthusiasm and creativity will give flow. I am certain, that together and as Tom Fryer, GÉANT Mian Usman, GÉANT the , TNC21 Twitter account transformative and disruptive capabilities shape to a new, exciting and thought- a community, we can pull this off and TNC21 website for news and updates and get in that digital technologies across provoking conference programme make waves again!’ @TNC_GEANT Ann Harding, SWITCH Charlie van Genuchten, touch with for any further information. [email protected] SURF networking, T&I and cloud services where presenters will need to show their Nicole Harris, GÉANT can deliver for Research & Education flexibility by being prepared to deliver You can subscribe to join our TNC-specific (Programme Content across the globe. NRENs around the their talks in a physical and a virtual here JP Velders, UvA mailing list and receive TNC21 updates directly world connect the teams delivering environment Support) in your inbox. Anna Wilson, HEAnet

02 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 03 Security

What is the Alf Moens, Senior Security European Officer for GÉANT commented: “I am really Cyber Security impressed with Month (ECSM)? the positive impact SOCIAL ENGINEERING DO YOU REALLY KNOW ECSM is an EU awareness campaign of this popular DON’T LET HACKERS WHO’S AT THE OTHER END? MANIPULATE YOU promoting cyber security among campaign, which CAN YOU TRUST THEM? individuals and organisations. The focus is the outcome of is on the importance of information close collaboration security and the simple steps that can be between Belnet,

taken to protect users’ personal, financial SURF and GÉANT. BECOME A CYBER HERO Cyber Security Month 2020 connect.geant.org/csm2020 and professional data. The main goal is Thorough planning to create awareness, change behaviour and coordination and provide users with information on have enabled the how to protect themselves and their active participation PHISHING organisations online. The campaign and involvement THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK! is deployed by ENISA, the European of NRENs from Commission DG CONNECT and DON’T GET CAUGHT! participating partners. around the world with content of the highest standards. On behalf of the Become a BECOME A CYBER HERO Security Package Cyber Security Month 2020 connect.geant.org/csm2020 cyber hero! WP8 and GÉANT I Based on an initiative of the Security would like to thank Package (WP8) within the GN4-3 project, all the participating RANSOMWARE NRENs’ marcomms departments took NRENs and I am MINIMISE part in a survey to address their individual confident of the IMPACT organisation’s cyber security needs and beneficial ripple BACK BACK concerns. BACK-UP YOUR DATA effect that this UP UP AND STORE IT SECURELY. The feedback collected provided initiative will have for ALWAYS. the background for a specific campaign our community. ” aimed at the participating R&E BECOME A CYBER HERO institutions and their end users: “Become Cyber Security Month 2020 connect.geant.org/csm2020 a cyber hero”. The initiative’s principal objective was to encourage end-users to arm themselves against digital In addition, all graphic and PASSWORD SECURITY threats and feel empowered to protect promotional material produced PROTECT YOUR WORLD themselves and their organisation. If for the campaign has been OF DATA AND YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY it’s true that the human element is the shared with the GÉANT “weakest link” when dealing with cyber MAKE YOUR PASSWORD community to promote the YOUR SUPERPOWER How to become security breaches, this initiative aimed initiative locally. Cyber Security to prove that everyone can be a cyber Month 2020 is not over yet, hero! Throughout the month of October, so you can catch up with the

the campaign highlighted, with the BECOME A CYBER HERO activities by keeping an eye on Cyber Security Month 2020 connect.geant.org/csm2020 publication of interviews, blogs, articles CONNECT online pages and and practical tips, four specific cyber @GEANTnews Twitter a cyber hero security topics: throughout the account month of October and GÉANT joined Cyber Security Month 2020, a EU • social engineering (week 1) remember to follow the • phishing (week 2) hashtags #CyberSecMonth and initiative which has been taking place every October • ransomware (week 3) #BecomeACyberHero. • password security (week 4) since 2012, with a campaign aimed at raising cyber Cyber Heroes of the world unite! Not a Cyber Hero yet? If you security awareness within its community. need any information on how to become one, please feel free to Words: Davina Luyten, Belnet and Rosanna Norman, GÉANT contact [email protected]

04 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 05 Security

The ransomware attack on 23 Even after the ransomware attack, UM drew important lessons from the Picture December took place very quickly. In just UM was not spared from phishing. ‘For analysis of this ‘lateral phase’ and has Maastricht 30 minutes, hackers managed to lock example, a phishing email circulated already implemented various measures University (MU) the data on 267 servers of the university, at UM which explicitly referred to the in order to be able to intervene more Cyber Attack Symposium, including quite a few critical systems. ransomware attack in our institution and quickly in the future. ‘Our objective is 5 February 2020 The email and numerous file servers asked users to change their password clear: if attackers do get in, we must (with research and business operations as a precautionary measure in response ensure that they cannot penetrate data) were affected. The hackers also to the incident at UM. Variations on further into the network. We do this managed to encrypt several backup this, also with reference to UM, also by segmenting our network even servers. circulated at other institutions. In other better, with each server behind its own In this article we will explain how words: other cyber criminals also tried firewall. We will also better separate the attack occurred and what lessons to grab their share. This means that we our administrator accounts, so that an UM learned from the crisis. Through have to remain very alert at all times and administrator does not have automatic knowledge sharing and information communicate very specifically to access to everything.’ exchange, the university aims to our users.’ help other educational and research institutions in the GÉANT community Better to better arm themselves against cyber Tailoring attacks. In this first part of the case study monitoring we will discuss the phase preceding the awareness The university is also committed to actual attack. campaigns to improved and refined monitoring of the network, 24/7. ‘Last year, we were target groups already setting up a Security Operations Malware via a Before the summer UM launched an Centre (SOC). Two employees were phishing email awareness campaign with dos and supposed to start in January 2020, but don’ts. This went beyond phishing and due to the incident they already started On 15 October, the attackers sent a focused on basic cyber hygiene, like in the last week of December. The crisis phishing email to several people within locking your screen when you are not made it possible for us to recruit a third UM. One of the employees clicked on using your laptop for a while. This will Full Time Employee (FTE). That person the link in the mail. This led the user to be repeated for students at the start of has been hired in the meantime.’ an Excel document containing a macro. the new academic year in the beginning The macro then retrieved malware from of September. ‘In order to bring the a remote server and installed it on the message in an attractive and playful way, Detailed user’s workstation. we called in a cartoonist. In the autumn, Bart van den Heuvel: ‘The malware we will also be giving awareness training mapping of itself was known by our virus scanners, courses specifically tailored to our IT infrastructure Case study: but because the attackers had made staff and our management. We also small changes, it got through our virus plan to send phishing emails ourselves, ‘We are going to improve our scanners anyway. A second phishing in close cooperation with our lawyers configuration management database email with a link to a similar document and communication service, to train our (CMDB), so that we have a better was clicked a day later by another user. users’, Bart explains. overview of the systems that are part What Maastricht From that moment on, the attackers had The ransomware attack itself has of our network. We also want to map initial access to the UM network.’ already borne fruit in terms of awareness. in detail which processes are running For example, UM’s Service Desk has on our servers and how those servers received five times more reports from are connected to our more than 3,000 University learned from internal and external sources. This is Always stay alert users about phishing this year than last year, although there are no indications quite a challenge: our central IT service The important lesson was that anyone that the number of phishing emails has alone manages 3,000 workstations. In can be fooled by a phishing email. risen so sharply. addition, many systems are set up in a the ransomware attack ‘The user in question even reported the decentralised manner, and we do not mail to the university’s Service Desk have a good overview of these right afterwards. They turned out to be now,’ Bart explains. someone who was very ‘internet savvy’, Better (part 1) but in these circumstances clicked on a segmentation fraudulent link anyway. I am convinced that it is impossible to completely prevent In the period between 15 October and In the second part of the case the ransomware attack on 23 December, On 23 December last year, Maastricht University (UM), which is connected someone from clicking on a harmful study you will learn how UM the hackers gradually worked their link, but awareness remains crucial’, handled the crisis and what to the Dutch education and research network SURFnet, was hit by a major way into UM’s network. ‘Their goal says Bart. considerations were made before was to map out our network as well ransomware attack. After thorough investigation and serious consideration, the proceeding with the ransom as possible and stay under the radar institution decided to pay the requested ransom. We spoke with Bart van den in the meantime. By abusing unsafe payment. Heuvel, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at UM. ‘A cyber attack is going backdoors, the hackers were able to get further and further into our network. to happen to you anyway. It is a matter of preparing yourself as well as possible For example, they managed to use an and limiting the impact.’ encrypted password of an administrator, which was in the memory of a certain server, to gain access to the next server’. Words: Davina Luyten, Belnet

06 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 07 Security

find the infected laptop. It also quickly 267 servers became clear that if we had to restore locked in just 30 our backups and rebuild the other systems, we would have months minutes of work.’ The actual ransomware attack took place on 23 December. The hackers executed a command installing ‘Clop’ A serious moral ransomware on 267 servers of the dilemma Windows domain. As a result, almost all of UM’s operational processes were In the meantime, UM contacted the disrupted. Several online backup servers attackers. As the mail servers had been were encrypted as well. affected, the communication took place Bart Van den Heuvel: ‘We via Bart’s personal email address. ‘We immediately activated our crisis communicated with them very regularly: management plan and, in view of the on the one hand to gain time, on the impact, very quickly decided to call in other hand to make sure we were talking external help. We got this from Fox-IT. to the right party. For the latter reason, They took on the forensic investigation we also came up with both technical and monitoring and assisted us with and financial control questions such as advice throughout the crisis. We making a test payment.’ were also assisted by SURFcert, In the week between the attack and the NCSC (National Cyber Security the decision to pay the ransom, UM Centre), the police, etc. Internally, the carried out analyses and investigated full breadth of our organisation was various options. ‘In three days, we involved: IT services, management, managed to set up a new mail server. our finance department, Marketing & Its database was not encrypted. The Communications and our legal team... archive system, on the other hand, In total, more than 150 people were was not usable: you can do without involved in the crisis.’ an archive for a few days, but not for months. Our external partner Fox-IT had up about the crisis, the Ministry of Pictures managed to unlock one small file, but Education concluded that UM did not Left: MU buildings Transparent it had taken them a whole night to do act negligently and handled the situation so. We knew that we would lose a lot of very satisfactorily. ‘This crisis had a Above: Bart van den Heuvel, Chief communication valuable time if we chose this option.’ huge impact, but on the other hand it Even so, the decision to pay the Information Security also taught us a lot and enabled us to Officer (CISO) at UM immediately shut down its network ransom constituted a serious moral improve our security policy. In addition UM to prevent the situation from worsening. dilemma for the UM Board. ‘The Board Furthermore, the university decided to our long-term actions, we were did not make the decision lightly and able to carry out several quick wins. from the outset to communicate considered all interests thoroughly. After transparently and openly. ‘Everything For example, on 2 January we already long deliberation they finally decided decided that students had to set a new, that was communicated internally also to pay the ransom in the interest of the reached the outside world. Unlike most strong password. That decision would continuity of education and research at undoubtedly have met with resistance organisations that fall victim to cyber our institution. The fact that the teaching attacks, we wanted to be open with in other circumstances but was now and the exams in January were able to adopted without a murmur.’ Case study: our stakeholders from the beginning. continue without too much hindrance In any case, in the Netherlands we are and that there was little impact on bound by the Act on public access scientific research has strengthened our to government information, which idea that we made the right decision.’ Knowledge gives citizens the right to inspect the sharing What Maastricht government’s actions. Transparency was therefore an obvious choice for us’, Quick wins Even after the crisis, UM continued to says Bart. communicate in a very transparent way. Through regular updates on the UM Exactly one week after the incident, ‘We absolutely wanted to share our University learned from website, end users were able to follow UM proceeded to pay the ransom lessons learned with other institutions. the status of the incident. There was also and the university received the key to On 5 February this year, barely a month proactive communication to the press, unlock the servers. ‘Obviously, we had a after the crisis, we already organised a although speculation and inaccurate further in-depth investigation carried out symposium to share our experiences.’ reporting could not be completely afterwards. Fox-IT found no evidence of ‘Above all, we want to emphasise that the ransomware attack avoided. ‘Contrary to what was claimed data exfiltration except for the passwords this is about more than UM. Last year in some media, we did have backups and our network topology. We have we were the victims, today is the turn that were still usable. Not all our data carried out an additional investigation of a different institution and tomorrow a was encrypted either.’ ourselves – which is still going on – and different one again. It is important that (part 2) Even so, the impact of the attack have come to the same conclusion: we take cyber security to a higher level, was huge. Quite a few critical systems no evidence has been found that our as it is one of the greatest challenges in were affected. ‘267 locked servers: this data has been deleted, modified or our society,’ Bart concludes. Words: Davina Luyten, Belnet meant that a lot of people were involved. made public.’ In addition, it took us several days to In the report that was drawn

08 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 09 Security

Chinese Empire: it seems that the organisation, as ransomware does. Mongol emperor Genghis Khan was able But they all obey some rules, based Tactics: Elicitation Mitigation to pass the Great Wall of China by simply on the emotional nature of human In the context of social engineering, Advice could be infinite, and the space tricking the enemy soldiers: unable to behaviour, and this knowledge can help elicitation is used to draw targets out for this article is almost up! directly attack the impregnable passage, us to recognise and mitigate them. through a set of questions that stimulate Don’t trust anyone, any mail, he decided to lure the Jin soldiers out them, leading them to the behaviour don’t reveal your personal or working for an open field battle. After several that the social engineers want. Elicitation information, don’t click on links in small attacks, the Mongol soldiers threw Principles of Social is quite low risk and extremely difficult suspicious emails, don’t download down their weapons, left their horses to detect. More often than not, targets and open any attachment. If an object and fled (pretending to be afraid). As Engineering never know where the information leak you won is too good to be a prize, expected, the Jin soldiers on guard left Cyber criminals know that social about them comes from, and, even if a probably it is not the real prize. Report the passage to chase them. Suddenly engineering works best when focusing request does seem suspicious, targets any suspicious case to your local IT numerous Mongol soldiers, who were on human emotions and risk. Taking usually put it down just as a question department. hiding nearby, easily conquered the (now advantage of human emotion is that they should or should not answer. And finally, the golden rule: unmanned) passage. much easier than hacking a network Nobody cares or even remembers the Remember the National Cyber Security But the most famous social or looking for security vulnerabilities. content of the withdrawn information. Alliance tag line: STOP, THINK, engineering attack in history is in Virgilio’s These examples of social engineering Just ask the target the right question CONNECT™ Aeneid, when Ulysses was able to take emphasise how emotion is used to at the right moment and all doors the city of Troy by tricking its inhabitants commit cyber-attacks: will open. into allowing in the city walls a beautiful and incredibly large wooden horse. As • Authority: people will tend to obey everybody knows, the horse was packed authority figures, even if they are Types of Social with Greek soldiers. The trick of the asked to do strange things. “I’m the Engineering trojan horse is so exemplary that we call President of XXX Bank (or Police It’s now or never! “trojan horse” the kind of malware that Office Chief or President of the own Now let’s see the most common type of persuades the victim to be harmless and working organisation) and ask you social engineering vectors used in our bona fide, while it plans to destroy or to do YYYY” digital scenario. steal data from a device. • Urgency/Panic/Fear of getting into Pretexting: it is the art of creating a – and it never is trouble: “You have a virus (both fake but realistic world. It is where the digital and biological)! Before losing attacker becomes anyone in a position Cyber security all your data (or dying) click HERE!” to influence the target into making context • Scarcity: “there are only 2 places some decisions. The attacker chooses left… It’s now or never!” a certain personality that befits the as expected In the cyber security context things are • Greed: “Give me 10 euros and I’ll character he or she opts to become not so different, and this kind of attack give you back 100” or “You won the during the social engineering attempt. About the author can be very dangerous or harmful to our lottery!” or “I have this big wooden With the advent of the internet, it is easy Simona Venuti is security manager When it’s time to talk about social engineering it’s organisation, and to ourselves too. horse as a gift for you” to become anyone, for example on at GARR, the Italian research One of the latest big social • Sense of guilt: “I know what you difficult for me to decide from where to start, because it is Facebook or Twitter. Pretexting can also and education network. Since engineering attacks was carried out downloaded on your PC. Send be used to impersonate co-workers, 2007 she has been working at everywhere around us. The definition of social engineering against Twitter, in July, where 130 VIP money and nobody will know it” police, bank, tax authorities —or any the GARR-CERT (Computer personal profiles were hacked (Barack • And, on the other side, the “secret is “the psychological manipulation of people into other individual who could be perceived Emergency Response Team) of Obama, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff desires”: “Do you want to see your as wielding authority or right-to-know in performing actions that they wouldn’t normally do”. Bezos and many others). In all of these favourite celeb half-naked? Click the Consortium GARR. Her task the target victim’s mind. is to develop automation systems And this happens over and over again, every day. profiles the following post appeared: HERE” “All bitcoin sent to our address below Phishing: It is a systemic-based attack in the reporting and management will be sent back to you doubled!”. Of that utilises a fraudulent email in order to of cyber incidents and to carry out Words: Simona Venuti, GARR course, none of the involved celebrities Human get people to execute malicious code or research in the field of new cyber posted this message. It was a group reveal pertinent information. The email threats, cyber security, monitoring, of teenage hackers, who were able vulnerabilities is crafted in a way that makes it appear defence and containment systems. A fundamental part of My granny used to skip the line at Picture to manage all of the 130 accounts at The underlying principle of social from a legitimate company. Or this can her work is to establish a network the doctor’s by saying she had to cook The Procession of one time: they contacted by phone engineering is to exploit the human just be a really cool advertisement for a of relationships with national for me, but I used to live with my parents the Trojan Horse in selected Twitter IT staff who were factor, which is to put people in situations product that no one would want to in an entirely different location… And so Troy by Giovanni using a custom application to manage where they will rely on the most common live without. CERTs of the European and non- I’ve been an unintentional accomplice in Domenico Tiepolo. Twitter accounts pretending to be the forms of social interactions: Phishing can be targeted to a European Union, security experts, © Copyright The application helpdesk and induced them specific organisation (spear-phishing) company CERTs and Italian Every mum tries to convince her children her little mischiefs! National Gallery, to give their own passwords. And, or to the CEO of one organisation and foreign providers, to share that broccoli is much tastier than Nutella, London • The desire to be helpful and polite, unbelievable but true, some of Twitter (whale-phishing). experiences, studies, solutions, by hiding the green suspect stuff under especially in a public environment IT employees actually gave the hackers • The tendency to trust people and above all to establish layers of more appetising food. And they Historical scams Baiting: baiting takes advantage of the their passwords. • When people are praised, they relationships of mutual trust in the (almost) always win! That young lady at most basic of human traits, curiosity. In If these are only a few examples of The damage was double: Twitter are likely to talk and divulge more eventuality of joint management the supermarket said that I could have a baiting, a social engineer will leave a harmless social engineering, now let’s users lost $140.000 donating bitcoins to information of IT incidents involving several huge 5% discount if I bought 20 kilos of media such as a CD, DVD, USB Stick, have a look at some historical big, hackers, while the celebrities’ accounts • Professionals desire to exude CERTs. pasta, “Hurry, it’s now or never!!” – Then or floppy drive in a conspicuous location risky scams. were breached, their contact list stolen, intelligence and superiority in a field Simona also deals with the I bought it, and now I need a bigger relying on the curiosity factor of a passer- Probably the oldest evidence of and probably their personal data was • Most people respond as pleasantly dissemination of information and cupboard! by to pick up the media and try to take a social engineering attack is in the Bible, ‘nicked’ too. as possible to people who appear training for systems engineers and And what about the boy in line at the look at what it contains. Which is mostly Genesis 27, where Rebecca deceives There are so many examples of to have concern about them security officers. ticket machine, who is missing his train keylogger and malware. her husband Isaac into blessing the social engineering in cyber security that it • Conflict avoidance and needs to jump the queue? It would second-born Jacob, making him his is not possible to list them all: every day Physical: social engineering can also Twitter: @Simo_GARRCERT be very mean of me to let him be late a new technique is used to steal data, successor, instead of Esau, the eldest. take on a physical form where the cyber home. And then he buys a ticket for the Later, in 1211 AC, let’s move to the money and to cause harm inside an following day… criminal will try to gain access to a facility or sensitive/restricted area in a facility.

10 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 11 CONNECT Interview CONNECT Interview: Henry Hughes, Security Director, Jisc During Cyber Security Month 2020 CONNECT meets Henry Hughes, Security Director for Jisc to talk about opportunities and challenges faced by Research & Education (R&E) in the current cyber security landscape dominated by the COVID pandemic.

Words: Interview by Rosanna Norman, GÉANT

The cyber security The new online format will make Cyber security awareness best landscape is evolving the conference more accessible to practice should be part of the curriculum: Jisc runs a number of webinars all the time, what are professionals who either have cyber students should be made aware of how and courses with a security security as part of their remit but might the various areas of social engineering theme. Some of these are free today’s major challenges not be a full-time responsibility. We have operate, the process behind it and how to attend and for others they are and opportunities already registered a higher number of to get help and support. Users need offering a 10% discount (code for R&E? delegates where cyber security may only to be given the tools to deal with cyber is SECCONF10%) to Security Conference participants. Because of the events that have been be part of their responsibility. threats and understand how and why affecting our world in 2020 we have all The online format will also enable us they become targets. Cyber security is Developing effective security become more digitally dependent (and to reach a wider international audience about education and understanding and because cyber security has no borders also about removing the stigma of being awareness campaigns will be so for the foreseeable future). cognisant of cyber risks. The toolkit services. Publicity surrounding the and is not country specific; most cyber cyber-crime victims, it’s about sharing Online Course A major challenge faced by R&E is looks at the challenges represented payment of ransoms by high profile security challenges are shared globally. when things go wrong and mistakes are https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ the extremely lucrative nature of cyber- by limited budgets and limited skills organisations has fuelled an increase in This will also enable R&E representatives made to prevent them from happening training/developing-effective- crime, which contrasts with budget and the requirement to measure the ransomware campaigns. to share their experience, find common to others. security-awareness- pressures across the sector. This is return on investment, which is not a grounds with their international campaigns exacerbated by the rapidly changing straightforward task in security. In 2020, for reasons counterparts and create collaboration threat landscape and the perception that One opportunity is the adoption What has Jisc been doing Hands-on incident response cyber security is purely an IT issue, rather beyond our control opportunities. to support the 2020 Online Course by R&E organisations of standardised online meetings and than one of many significant business managed services as these can drive Cyber Security Month https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ risks. costs down whilst offering greater levels conferences became Cyber security is campaign? training/hands-on-incident- One of the challenges lies around of automation, integration and visibility. the norm. Whilst we everybody’s problem. response encouraging greater ownership of digital We are pleased to support raising all recognise that face- What more can R&E Information security policies resilience amongst senior leaders and awareness of cyber security challenges How has cyber-crime to-face interaction is security professionals do through this exciting programme and Online Course recognition that cyber security is a irreplaceable, could you to empower and educate business risk just like health and safety. been affected by the have been given the opportunity to https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ training/information-security- Cyber security needs to be viewed pandemic? talk to us about some of users to prevent security contribute with some great content policies as an enabler and not a barrier to the There has never been a more challenging the benefits of hosting breaches for their on social engineering and password business and has an important role to time for security professionals than Jisc Security Conference organisations? security. Our thanks go to Laura Pooley, Penetration testing - think like a Information Security Officer for her play in protecting the business. The cost during the Covid-19 pandemic. online? Members of staff are an organisation’s hacker of cleaning up after a successful cyber Overnight, staff and students have had articles ‘Don’t let hackers manipulate Online Course Our fifth annual Security Conference will first line of defence. Cyber security you!’ and ‘Managing Passwords’ and attack, far outweighs prudent defensive to adapt to working remotely, creating a https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ take place online on 3-5 November training should be mandated for all staff Jon Hunt, Cyber Services Delivery measures. range of additional security challenges 2020 with the theme: Building a cyber and students, it doesn’t need to be training/penetration-testing This is being reflected in the that we continue to face. Manager for his article ‘Why having a aware culture together. This year the regarded as a dark art. It’s everyone’s ISO 27001: foundation development of British and international Cyber criminals have been strong password isn’t enough to secure conference’s programme has been responsibility. Online Course standards, such as BS 31111 - a UK capitalising on increased homeworking your account’. extended to three days with the addition The broader challenge for cyber https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ standard which focuses on cyber risk and the extensive use of remote access We look forward to collaborating of more interactive and practical security professionals is to ensure that training/iso-27001-foundation and resilience within organisations. In services (for example VPNs and RDP) by closely with the GÉANT community in sessions covering open source security. organisations recognise the business the field of cyber security in the addition, in the last couple of years, the targeting new and existing vulnerabilities ISO 27001: lead implementer Our objective is to attract at least one risk and individuals understand that they coming months. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in such services. Recent ransomware representative from every Jisc member are an integral part of the cyber security Online Course in the UK, has delivered a toolkit to campaigns have focused on exploiting organisation, 600 approximately. landscape. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ make the boards of organisations more weaknesses and vulnerabilities in RDP training/iso-27001-lead- implementer

12 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 13 CONNECT Interview

How does all this What initial goals and experience equip you challenges are you for this new EOSC tackling and how? role at GÉANT? The first challenge for me is understanding GÉANT and the NREN A lot of my previous roles have involved community. I’m not from this field so training, consultancy and community am learning lots of new acronyms and building. It seems that will be a really hearing lots about cables! I’ve taken good fit for this GÉANT role as Open the first couple of months to brainstorm Science is a new area of activity for a plan of action and identify potential many NRENs. I will help them explore opportunities or areas of work in the data opportunities and decide what is best space. I’ve started soliciting feedback on for their specific context. I also know this to shape the plan further and am at lots of people across Europe and the stage of talking to NRENs. Speaking internationally from the digital curation, at SIG-MSP at the end of September RDM and Open Science fields. I hope to was really exciting but also a little use this network to broker new contacts daunting. I hope NRENs are interested and collaborations for NRENs. I’m very in expanding their service portfolios and much a people person and am most engaging in Open Science, or I may at ease running events or chatting with need to get quite creative about what I colleagues rather than doing research do on a day-to-day basis! or writing. I’m also working with the GÉANT partner relations team to develop a series of InfoShares on Open Science. I’m What is the purpose introducing the concepts in October, and of the new role? then we’ll work with others on sessions Although my job title is EOSC covering Open Access, FAIR data and Engagement Manager, I don’t want to Research Data Management. I’ve also focus solely on EOSC. I want to work just taught in a free online course about broadly in the field of Open Science. Delivering RDM Services. This may be The federated approach of EOSC of interest to NRENs, to learn about the means that national and domain challenges universities face. And I’m infrastructure is critical, and this is where planning a workshop on this topic GÉANT and the NRENs play a big co-located with the Research Data role. They’re trusted service providers Alliance plenary in November too. in the national context, and I think the GÉANT community at large is really well Tell us about your placed to help coordinate Open Science Good luck with all of CONNECT Interview: background and programmes across Europe. I’d like to that. Perhaps to end what initially inspired foster a partnership between the GÉANT community and the Research Data with, one fun fact your involvement in Alliance, which is where all the about yourself? data community hang out. data management, I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, FAIR data and Open either gardening on the allotment, hiking Science? How will this role or crafting. A few years ago, I actually Sarah Jones, qualified as a drystone wall builder, so During my undergraduate degree in help the work of if work in the data field dries up (or my German and Economic and Social EOSC to unfold? brain gets fried from too many Zoom EOSC Engagement history, we did a project using archival meetings), I am likely to retreat to the material and I really loved exploring the I see EOSC as a follow-on step from country and keep old skills alive. I fell collections. I continued this interest by national investment in Open Science. in love with Tasmania when I holidayed Manager, GÉANT doing a traineeship and then qualifying Many NRENs are already engaged in there this Spring right before COVID as an archivist. I specialised in digital the Governance Board or plan to be a lockdown, so that may be my preservation because I saw that as member of the EOSC Association and retirement plan… a skills gap and thought it would be that’s great to see, but I believe it’s critical As a writer, researcher, trainer and consultant, Sarah Jones has best chance job-wise. It led to work on that they’re well connected and engaged left her mark on the fields of data management, data policy, various EC-funded projects, then at the on a national level too, in order to feed Digital Curation Centre focusing on data into EOSC effectively. FAIR data, Open Science and the European Open Science management, FAIR and Open Science. Research communities also look for One thing has led to another and I’ve support close to hand – in their institutions Cloud. CONNECT spoke with Sarah in her new role as just gone with the flow! or from their peer networks. This is another reason why local support services EOSC Engagement Manager at GÉANT. really matter. Users need assistance from people who speak their language and understand the cultural context in Words: Interview by Laura Durnford, GÉANT which they’re working. With 39 members across Europe, the GÉANT community is uniquely well placed to serve here.

14 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 15 Users CERN, SKAO, GÉANT and PRACE to collaborate on high-performance computing

The next generation of high-performance computers holds significant promise for both particle physics and astronomy but key challenges remain to be addressed

In July, a pioneering collaboration was “Heterogeneous architectures hold compare the performance of different Picture importance to identify optimised agreement, alongside partners and forward to it”, explains Philippe formed that will work to overcome the promise of delivering significantly types of computing resources for data- Eckhard Elsen solutions for the future world-wide communities with which we have a Lavocat, PRACE Council Vice-Chair. (top left), Director challenges related to the use of more computing power which we analysis workflows from astronomy for Research network of SKA regional centres.” long-standing relationship already, “One of the central aspects of this high-performance computing (HPC) have to harness to address the and particle physics. The suite will and Computing The series of pilot ‘demonstrators’ but now specifically focussing on a collaboration that PRACE will lead is to support large, data-intensive computing challenges of the HL-LHC,” include applications representative at CERN; Philip developed will also include systems number of innovative activities that training and education: creating and Diamond (top right), science projects. The members of the says Eckhard Elsen, CERN Director of both communities – reflecting SKA Director- for data access and authenticated aim to scale the synergies between supporting the next generation of collaboration are CERN, the European for Research and Computing. “The today’s needs, as well as those of the General; Erik Huizer workflows. It is indeed vital that data big-data production, data movement, supercomputing experts, and filling Organization for Nuclear Research; smooth integration of these resources future. It will be for running on both (bottom left), Chief can be delivered and accessed quickly AAI services and high-performance the gaps that we currently see in the Executive Officer SKAO, the organisation leading the typically available at HPCs into the HPC resources and high-throughput of GÉANT; and and in a secure manner. computing to the skills available in the HPC ecosystem,” development of the Square Kilometre globally distributed Worldwide LHC computing (HTC) resources, like the Philippe Lavocat “GÉANT exists to serve research next level”. adds Florian Berberich, Member of the Array radio-telescope; PRACE, the Computing Grid [WLCG], will be WLCG. (bottom right), and education and, together with In addition, the four organisations PRACE Board of Directors. PRACE Council Partnership for Advanced Computing essential for the computing model of “With the sheer quantity of data Vice-Chair, signed Europe’s National Research and will work together to establish The agreement was signed on 22 in Europe, and GÉANT. the future,” adds Maria Girone, CERN that will flow from the SKA antennas the agreement Education Networks, we provide a training programme to help July in an online meeting by Eckhard The next-generation of HPC openlab’s Chief Technology Officer. towards two supercomputing for the new networking and access services that researchers make the most of the Elsen, Director for Research and collaboration. technology offers great promise The collaboration between CERN, centres, one in Australia and one are vital to large-scale, highly data- new computing architectures that are Computing at CERN; Philip Diamond, for supporting scientific research. SKAO, GÉANT and PRACE will see in South Africa, developments in intensive projects such as the HL-LHC becoming available. SKA Director-General; Erik Huizer, Exascale supercomputers – machines the organisations work together to high-performance computing and and the SKA,” says Erik Huizer, Chief “Big science needs deep Chief Executive Officer of GÉANT; capable of performing a quintillion, or help realise the full potential of the high-speed networks will be key for Executive Officer of GÉANT. “We look and intense collaboration across and Philippe Lavocat, PRACE Council a billion billion, calculations per second coming new generation of HPC the SKA Observatory,” says Professor forward to further strengthening our disciplines, organisations and borders. Vice-Chair. – are expected to become a reality in technology. During an initial period Philip Diamond, SKA Director-General. long-standing relationship with CERN, PRACE is very proud to see four the next few years. This change in the of 18 months, the collaboration “The value of this collaboration SKAO and PRACE and ensuring large European and international power of HPC technology, coupled will develop a benchmarking test was demonstrated by the recently next-generation HPC technology infrastructures come together in this This text has been slightly with growing use of machine learning, suite and a series of common pilot concluded H2020 AENEAS project,” is easily accessible for all scientific historic collaboration. Now that the modified from the joint release will be vital in ensuring the success ‘demonstrator’ systems. adds Chiara Ferrari, SKA-France communities.” Enzo Capone, Head paperwork is done, the real work can issued by the four organisations, of big science projects scheduled to Establishing a common Director and Chair of the AENEAS of Research Engagement and start, mixing numerical simulation, to take account of past tense. come online this decade, such as SKA benchmark suite will help the General Assembly. “Working with such Support at GÉANT, adds, “GÉANT scientific theories and data even and CERN’s High-Luminosity Large organisations to measure and leading organisations is of paramount is extremely proud to be part of this more intimately, and we are looking Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).

16 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 17 Users

The human brain is a truly amazing and awe-inspiring thing, performing feats that even the most sophisticated computers are only just starting to tackle and doing so using a tiny amount of energy. Consisting of a vast network of around 86 billion nerve cells each The Human with 10,000 synaptic contacts, understanding its multi-level organisation and behaviours is a challenge so extraordinary that no single research project could claim to provide the full picture. And with simulations and analysis demanding enormous computing power, collaboration on a vast scale is needed. Brain Project: Therefore, the Human Brain Project (HBP) is providing a unique, lasting contribution by building a research infrastructure to harness multiple disciplines and computing, to help advance neuroscience, medicine and computing to the benefit of society. the game-changer Together with PRACE (the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe), GÉANT and the NRENs are providing networking and access services that ensure Europe’s in navigating brain supercomputers can be relied upon by HBP scientists worldwide. networks Words: Silvia Fiore, GÉANT

18 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 19 Users

“The Human Brain Project is one of the most prestigious projects in the European Union and with added value beyond Europe. Projects such as the HBP consistently drive us to improving our digital infrastructures and optimising our support to science and innovation. It is a great honour to serve this initiative for the infrastructure and data management community, as it is a concrete realisation of the EOSC project mission, to turn the research data from information to knowledge, to do better science. Open Science, data management, and FAIR in action, via good implementation will open a new era for research and research result dissemination. One of GÉANT’s organisational values is community. We collaborate with our partners around the world proving every day that science has no borders. I am very glad to be able to bring this mission and experience to the HBP community.” Cathrin Stover, GÉANT’s Chief Communications Officer, and Co-chair of the EOSC Executive Board, has joined the Science and Infrastructure Advisory Board (SIAB) of the HBP

information having to leave the hospital. It The The mission is expected that this technology will have GÉANT’s role subprojects There is no research infrastructure an impact for future studies of The data handling requirements of a currently available in Europe that is or rare diseases. project such as the HBP are immense, Under SGA3, the project focuses on and typical of such a large-scale could be similar to EBRAINS in its goals, Improved understanding of the getting HBP firmly operational with collaboration. This is why GÉANT EBRAINS FENIX scope, multi-disciplinarity and level of brain and the ability to harness that 12 Subprojects (SPs) contributing to works with PRACE to ensure that the With the current and third Specific From a technological view, EBRAINS technological development to decode knowledge also provide an important building the HBP infrastructure and European supercomputing centres are Grant Agreement (SGA3) of the project is built on the FENIX infrastructure the human brain’s complexity, and underpinning for Europe’s economic expanding scientific research. These interconnected across the National receiving new funding until 2023, the (Federated Network for Information translate this knowledge into advances competitiveness and digital leadership by Research & Education Networks. In SPs cover such areas as neuroscience – HBP is focusing on expanding its Exchange) which opens up the major in technology, computing and medicine mastering some of the key technologies December 2016, GÉANT and PRACE aimed at unified knowledge and tools to innovative EBRAINS digital infrastructure, European supercomputing centres - that deliver tangible benefits for society. which will determine the terms of future launched a pathfinder project to upgrade address Alzheimer’s and other cognitive the network infrastructure to extremely a unique infrastructure worldwide, in BSC in Spain, CEA in France, JSC in By mastering the knowledge and global competition, including AI, robotics, disorders; infrastructure – with the aim high performance virtual private networks which it provides access to the most Germany, CSCS in Switzerland, and know-how necessary for effective and brain-inspired high performance of creating ICT platforms to access and between all the sites for a simple, secure comprehensive set of brain data CINECA in Italy - to neuroscientists and prevention, diagnosis and treatment computing. utilise brain data by the wider scientific and manageable network capacity. yet made available, along with an other researchers in a cloud-like manner. of brain diseases, the HBP wants to HBP also encourages the major community; and support services such unprecedented array of digital resources With its long-term experience in ensure Europe’s medical sovereignty. challenges for neuroscience to be as legal, ethics and outreach; all of which for sharing, analysing and storing operating federated services for the An increasing number of applications addressed collaboratively, generating the reflect the inter-disciplinary nature of such data. It uses these resources R&E community, GÉANT is working are built on EBRAINS new technologies. necessary synergy between research To read more about the the project and act as instruments to to model and simulate the brain and closely with FENIX for the design, For example, a method for personalized efforts across several different disciplines; Human Brain Project and harness EBRAINS. test the results in virtual neurorobotics implementation, operation and modelling of patient brains is currently providing a unique, distributed digital explore interactive 3D brain experiments with advanced high- continuous evolution of the FENIX undergoing clinical trials, the first of its research infrastructure for all of Europe atlases, visit https://www. performance computing capabilities. Authentication and Authorisation kind. This method is being used in 30 and beyond for a new era in brain humanbrainproject.eu/en/ Infrastructure (AAI). The AAI is a European clinics, enabling analysis of research. core component of the research patient data, without the highly sensitive infrastructure, which aims to connect users as seamlessly as possible to the services offered by the supercomputing centres to the EBRAINS platform and other Generic Community Platforms, using a single set of credentials.

20 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 21 Education

openUp2U was launched earlier this year following two weeks of intensive and dedicated work, mostly based on voluntary efforts. CONNECT spoke with Gyöngyi Horváth, Community Support Officer at GÉANT, to learn more about the potential of openUp2U and its impact on the GÉANT community.

Words: Interview by Silvia Fiore, GÉANT

How is openUp2U supporting students and teachers in these difficult COVID-19 times? openUp2U provides students and teachers with online tools that can be incorporated into their daily teaching practices for fresh and innovative improvements. It helps students develop critical thinking skills and be more independent learners. The platform allows to share school projects and get inspired by those of others that can be replicated. It provides access to a learning management system (Moodle), collaborative editing and document sharing tools (CERNBox, Swan), as well as seamless real-time virtual interactions (eduMEET).

What should students be most excited about using openUp2U: supporting openUp2U services? The platform is non-commercial, With openUp2U we are bringing new GDPR enabled and privacy conscious, technology from the cloud to the Fitting within the UNESCO Global which is valued by most organisations, Education Coalition classroom and back, which leaves who have adapted it for their local students and teachers room for experimenting with the informal educational institutions. Teachers have With 109 countries affected by school closure, the learning spaces and developing new appreciated the easiness to create COVID-19 pandemic is also an education crisis. In June media and tech skills, much needed in courses and convert from traditional 2020, GÉANT joined the Global Education Coalition today’s higher education. teaching methods to virtual, especially launched by UNESCO, alongside other worldwide It is a leading-edge opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic. organisations from the private, media, and non-profit in times of crisis to access learning content anytime, anywhere and for students to sectors, to address the challenges of remote learning In these unprecedented times of crisis independently create their personal Where can teachers and build more resilient education systems for the future. schools and universities have faced About Up2U What is learning path tailored to their own and students access the The Coalition is an open partnership which seeks to great challenges. Desperate to keep learning-specific goals and objectives. ‘facilitate inclusive learning opportunities for children and Up2U is a collaborative project openUp2U platform? their students moving forward they have openUp2U? youth during this period of sudden and unprecedented coordinated by GÉANT with the key taken learning online, but with varying Information about the tutorials and educational disruption’, and to ‘ensure the continuity of objective to bridge the gap between The openUp2U platform is a Next degrees of success. At times like this not openUp2U was materials can be found at the education for all learners.’ secondary schools and higher education Generation Digital Learning Environment only does education need substantially successfully launched following locations: openUp2U is an example of GÉANT’s and its & research by better integrating formal (NGDLE) that is open-source, highly more support, but the importance of earlier this year. What partners’ efforts not only in Europe but on a global scale and informal learning scenarios into a customisable and portable offered on a advanced digital technologies to make Up2U tool tutorials: more open, effective and efficient school best-effort basis to secondary schools can you tell us about the to support the transfer of knowledge, the development of this a success becomes paramount. https://up2university.eu/tutorials/ approach where students can co- and academic communities who wish to achievements so far and skills and a joint response to a crisis. To help ensure that past and design, co-create and use personalised, develop and enhance their teaching and the feedback received? future lockdowns do not turn into openUp2U user guide: collaborative and experimental digital learning skills as it should be to university educational shutdowns, the EU-funded openUp2U was developed and launched https://cdn.test.up2university.eu/ content, tools and services in preparation standards. Up2University (Up2U) project accelerated with the idea of having a simplified and open/docs/user-guide.pdf for university. the development and launch of its scalable version of the original Up2U For more information about openUp2U trusted, remote learning platform – and platform to meet urgent requirements for Up2U users’ video demonstration: visit: https://up2university.eu/open/ offered it to all schools and universities the continuation of education where it https://www.youtube.com/ across Europe. was needed the most. watch?v=tDOMbfGEy_w

22 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 23 Education 2020 Network Performing Arts Production Workshop moves to online interactive version Playing piano over a distance of 8000+ km The 2020 workshop was planned to Domenico, how did helping solve them, sharing tips and best What part did GÉANT take place at Rensselaer Polytechnic the idea of organising practices with the attendees and giving play in organising the during COVID-19 times? Yes, it is possible. In April Institute in Troy, New York, USA at their an interactive webinar them the know-how to unlock a new webinar and how are Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media level of creativity and improve the come up and how was we supporting online 2020, the Network Performing Arts Production and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC). online experience. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 it received by the arts & music performances Workshops (NPAPWs) brought together the crisis, the event was postponed to humanities community? in the future? 2021, leaving more than just a gap in Can you tell us how It was the NPAPW Programme GÉANT was co-host, co-organiser, and international community of students, academics, the list of activities planned for the arts & else the community is Committee who had the idea of moving presenter of the webinar. The GÉANT humanities communities in Europe. supporting musicians the workshop to an online interactive practitioners in the field of music, dance, theatre and teachers during the community, in fact, plays a crucial version. The organisers thought that role in Europe promoting, advocating, to help them teach, run courses, collaborate, gathering in one virtual space long-time COVID-19 crisis? connecting, and enabling remote arts worldwide experts and collaborators This crisis has allowed us to see more tuition, performances, and knowledge rehearse, and perform remotely during these who would share online teaching clearly the impact of new technologies exchange as it is made up of many unprecedented times of crisis. practices with students in the performing extending outside of traditional theatres artists and technologists with specialist arts would be a valuable opportunity in and established recording studios. expertise in networking for the arts. the current circumstances. In fact, several organisations and Therefore, NRENs and RRENs have Words: Interview by Silvia Fiore, GÉANT associations, such as the British Flute the unique responsibility of making What is the biggest Society and the Association of European distributed art performances possible Conservatories, have put together a by providing exactly that high-quality • Outreach to new user communities challenge for making collaborative list of useful tools and connectivity and extended reach they The workshop in the arts & humanities by and performing music technologies to help musicians and need to overcome timing and demonstrating the use of R&E Held in Europe and the United States virtually? teachers during the COVID-19 crisis. latency issues. networks in supporting real-time annually since 2009, NPAPWs are a The list compiles mental health support musical, dance, and artistic The biggest difficulties of live streaming collaborative project of GÉANT, resources, educational advice, livestream performances. We interviewed Dr. Domenico Vicinanza, are timing constraints and latency Internet2, New World Symphony, concerts and useful apps. • Collaboration between R&E Senior Research Engagement Officer issues, which make synchronous and To watch the full webinar and stay GARR and other European national networks and cultural institutions at GÉANT, music composer and asynchronous collaboration almost tuned for future editions, visit: research and education networks worldwide. orchestrator for cinema and television. impossible. During the COVID-19 crisis, (NRENs) and various cultural https://npapws.org/ • Expert knowledge exchange on He is coordinating the arts & humanities these challenges were even more institutions around the world. the use of specific tools to support activities since 2011 and has seen five frequent than usual. That is why the Access the full list of support The workshops have three NPAPW successful editions come to 2020 edition of the NPAPW aimed at teaching, auditions, and remote material here: https://bfs.org.uk/ main objectives: life. Domenico tells us more about the performances. coronavirus-resources challenges and opportunities of remote music performances.

24 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 25 Projects

Pictures Partners Yevhenii The benefciary partners are IIAP NAS Preobrazhenskyi RA (Armenia – ASNET-AM), IIT of ANAS (© URAN), Ramaz Kvatadze (Azerbaijan - AzScienceNet), UIIP NASB (© GRENA), (Belarus- BASNET), GRENA (Georgia), Peter Bogatencov RENAM (Moldova) and URAN (Ukraine). (© RENAM), Co-benefciary partners are DFN Rasim Alguliyev (Germany), EENet of HITSA (Estonia), (© IIT of ANAS), LITNET (Lithuania), GRNET (Greece), Sergei Kozlov GRENA: BASNET: (© S. Kozlov), Eastern Partners GARR (Italy), PSNC (Poland), RoEduNet “I am certain that the new “BASNET will become a more Hrachya Astsatryan (Romania) and SURF (the Netherlands). project will benefit Georgian powerful and recognised partner (© GRENA) The partners will work together R&E in numerous ways. One for supporting national and will be the increased number international projects of R&E in in further conferences, workshops, anticipate benefits of users benefiting from the Belarus, with greater network mentorship relationships and other highly reliable network and the coverage and more services collaborative activities to achieve the implemented services: eduroam, implemented for the benefit project objectives and ensure the eduGAIN, cybersecurity, Cloud etc. of researchers, students and sustainability of research and EaPConnect will help establish lecturers. Thousands of researchers education networking in the Eastern of 2nd EaPConnect new and strengthen existing from Belarus would be able Partnership region. collaborations between Georgian to access EOSC and European and European partners.” e-infrastructures in their projects using GÉANT and BASNET.” Funding Ramaz Kvatadze, Executive Director Sergei Kozlov, Head of Network The project is funded under the project Administration Sector, UIIP NASB EU4Digital initiative of the European Union. The European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighbourhoods and Enlargements Negotiations (DG NEAR) is contributing 95% (€10m) towards the costs, providing funding EaPConnect entered a second phase So what do the to the second EaPConnect project partners anticipate under Grant Agreement number in July 2020. The 60-month EU-funded ENI/2019/407-452; the remaining 5% will be the most is being co-funded by the six ‘EU4Digital: Connecting Research significant outcomes RENAM: beneficiary countries. of the second “It is crucial for research teams EU4Digital aims to extend and Education Communities’ from Moldova to collaborate with ASNET-AM: the European Union’s Digital Single EaPConnect project Market to the Eastern Partner states, colleagues from the EU and EaP “Advanced high-speed networks (EaPConnect) project will build developing the potential of the digital for their countries countries, to work with them on using innovative technologies; economy and society, in order to on the achievements of the first 5 and organisations? joint projects. EaPConnect will a rich portfolio of services to support this collaboration by address the current and future bring economic growth, generate more years, bringing together the R&E providing extended connectivity, demands of academia and jobs, improve people’s lives and help innovative services and by educators; accelerating scientific businesses. Through EU4Digital, the EU communities from EU and Eastern promoting Open Science research by providing state-of- supports Eastern Partnership countries principles to national research the-art e-infrastructures; and the on reducing roaming tariffs, developing Partnership (EaP) countries and and educational institutions”. availability of thematic Research high-speed broadband to boost economies and expand e-services, Peter Bogatencov, Chairman of the Infrastructures shaping EOSC. harmonising digital frameworks across reducing the digital divide. RENAM Management Board These are the outcomes I am anticipating for ASNET-AM society, in areas ranging from logistics and Armenia.” to health, building cyber security, Words: Laura Durnford, GÉANT developing skills, and creating more URAN: Hrachya Astsatryan, Director, jobs in the digital industry. IIAP NAS RA The project aims to: • build knowledge, skills and “One of the most anticipated community through events, outcomes is bringing our digital services for R&E to European • extend the network infrastructure training, mentorships, and standards, as Ukraine is heading Erik Huizer, CEO of GÉANT, to scale up scientific exchange other initiatives. towards EU integration and also foresees that the project Further across borders, standardisation is a very important will further integrate the Eastern information • increase the use and quality of A key goal is to achieve long-term part of the process. We also Partner countries with the AzScienceNet: www.eapconnect.eu services and offer new services sustainability of EaPConnect partners, expect to build powerful new GÉANT community: 100Gb/s channels to a GÉANT PoP “In the new project, I expect we “I hope and expect that to enhance international R&E raise their visibility and show their and Moldova. These will allow us https://eufordigital.eu/ will witness the introduction EaPConnect2 will realise cooperation, value. Interacting with research to connect Ukrainian big data of ever smarter, increasingly a sustainable national scientists to special networks such • strengthen the position of communities that are potential users advanced network services, education and research as LHCONE, or, for example, to EaP NRENs in their national of partners networks and services is that take into account any network on a par with the transfer very large photos of the R&E ecosystems in Armenia, a growing focus of activity. developments arising in the rest of Europe in all Earth from Copernicus.” ongoing Fourth Industrial six countries involved.” Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Revolution and artificial Moldova and Ukraine, Yevhenii Preobrazhenskyi, intelligence technologies.” Executive Director Prof. Rasim Alguliyev, Vice President of ANAS

26 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 27 Projects Building the Next-Generation of Research and Education Networking The GN4-3N project, 100% funded by the European Union, sees the biggest network renewal in a decade, bringing a new phase of connectivity to Europe. CONNECT spoke with Sebastiano Buscaglione, Network Architect at GÉANT, to learn more about what this means for European research and education.

Words: Interview by Karl Meyer, GÉANT

Sebastiano, I know In GN4-3N there are two main sub-optimal solutions, increased costs What about technology tend to be attracted to areas In terms of addressing the digital workstreams dealing respectively with: and situations where it was simply that are already developed, leading to a divide, one of the benefits of the new you and your not possible to provide connectivity at commercial progressive widening of the gap between network will be that high capacity team are busy • Acquisition of infrastructure (Fibre the required capacity cost-effectively. networks? countries, both in terms of infrastructures connections will be available throughout or Spectrum). This has exacerbated the digital divide and in terms of know-how. the network so that interconnections to with the network • Refresh of the DWDM line system. with some regions unable to host data In 2019 the current GÉANT network Without external intervention this other regions can be made throughout implementation so intensive research projects due to lack of carried 2.8 Exabytes of data, an increase vicious cycle will continue, further the network rather than just in a few Regarding the first workstream, (affordable) network capacity. of 17% over the previous year and widening the digital divide. locations. As an example, the European thank you for your essentially GN4-3N changes the way With the GN4-3N project, the we see substantial growth every year. connection for the BELLA-S1 project can time. Briefly, what is we acquire infrastructure to build the approach has been reversed and the The profile of this traffic is very different be made in Portugal rather than having from typical commercial or domestic How will GN4-3N the work involved network, allowing GÉANT for the first infrastructure has been designed based to be back-hauled to a central European time to establish contracts of much on long-term acquisition of dark fibres or network traffic. Commercial networks Help? location. in GN4-3N? longer length than has been possible portions of the (fibre) spectrum. also need to return a profit, balancing In the process we will be building the user requirements against capacity cost, GN4-3N is designed to level the field GN4-3N is a major network refresh before (the IRU covers 15 years). Until The second work stream covers biggest network in Europe, dedicated to and this can limit the capacity they make so that a Gigabit of capacity will cost designed to take advantage of both now GÉANT infrastructure was built the equipment, and here the benefit European research and education. available to users. virtually the same throughout the the changes in technologies and the through short-term leasing of the fibres comes from GÉANT and the NRENs In addition, there is a clear digital network and not only that, because of changing face of network procurement, or circuits, which involved short-term having responsibility for deciding how to divide between European countries (and the 15 year IRU agreements, there will be to give research and education solutions and strategies. implement and share this network. Thank you, also within them), with highly developed consistency and predictability of costs. communities improved performance, The supply of these services from In this way, the GN4-3N project areas from the point of view of access This will enable long-term planning for Sebastiano – we look increased flexibility and reduced expense the telecommunications companies was, enables fairly priced, high capacity to the network and others that are NRENs and research projects across forward to further alongside long-term platform stability. in many regions, very limited leading to connectivity across all of Europe. still poorly served and often penalised Europe, as well as providing countries updates! by high access costs. This involves a with equal opportunities in terms of vicious circle whereby investments in connectivity and their ability to host data intensive projects.

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Veronika, why is also suffers from being geographically More than a project, CAREN has Pictures isolated, with mountainous or desert been a programme, running for 10 Left: Veronika Di Luna, GÉANT’s CONNECT Interview: CAREN such an regions and being far from the sea, years, responding to tangible needs project manager interesting case and making physical connections of these communities and significantly for the CAREN3 Project and what did it with the rest of the world – by land contributing to the reduction of their mean for research or air – has always been difficult. digital divide. Furthermore, it produced Right: Veronika Having family in Turkmenistan and real use cases and allowed R&E visiting the Hisar Observatory communities in having lived there myself at a young communities in CA to grow, prosper (HisAO) at the Central Asia? age, I personally remember travelling and communicate in an international Institute of Veronika Astrophysics of for days and days with my parents in arena through high-quality and high- Central Asia is a complex region, the Academy order to get there. But while physically speed internet connection and using standing on the geopolitical of Sciences of reaching those countries might still be many of the services that the GÉANT Tajikistan. October crossroads between Asia and Europe, 2018, Hisar, quite complex, it can now be easy in a community provides. and it’s extremely rich in natural Tajikistan. digital environment. It was highly beneficial for the resources, culture and history. In terms In that respect CAREN served region that the European Union could Di Luna of Research and Education, the CA GÉANT’s Veronika Di Luna was project manager for the CAREN3 Project, as the enabler of Digital Highways create this opportunity by providing countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, for the R&E communities in Central funding to CAREN projects for the the last of a series of successful initiatives bringing high-speed connectivity Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Asia, offering students, academics past 10 years. In this respect we at and enhancing scientific collaboration for the R&E communities in Central Uzbekistan) have a vast potential and and researchers the opportunity to GÉANT believe that investment in or count on solid traditions, with roots in Asia. CONNECT interviewed her about the project’s achievements and collaborate and take part in global funding for NRENs or regional RENs their Soviet past. However, the area the continuation of its legacy through the CAREN CC. initiatives. supports and enables the national and regional digital agendas. First part in a series of interviews on the CAREN3 Project.

Words: Interview by Leonardo Marino, GÉANT

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Equally, within the region, the countries involved will still collaborate and maintain the regional function, through the coordination of CAREN CC.

What are your expectations for the future of academic collaboration between Europe and Central Asia and what would you like to a succession of different projects After more than that helped the establishment of suggest to the new NRENs, engagement of the R&E 10 years, the coordination team community and networking. Since project just came at CAREN CC? 2009 the European Union (through to a conclusion in DEVCO) started funding the series I very much hope that there will be of CAREN projects, coordinated by December 2019. Will renewed funding opportunities for GÉANT. During my past six years at this mark the end R&E Networks in Central Asia, or for a further phase of CAREN, to GÉANT, I participated in various roles of CAREN? in CAREN and succeeded GÉANT’s support and build on the work we have done, address the requirements Expanding on • Capacity Building: several In my opinion, one of the major Pictures David West in the project manager Here we need to make a distinction workshops and trainings were achievements of the project was Above: CAREN role. It should be noted however that between CAREN as a project, CAREN described by the strategy on EU-Asia your last point, in topology as of as a regional body and CAREN as connectivity, and also to promote and organised in the region for users the establishment of the CAREN April 2017 David was the main lead during most what ways did the and for the NRENs, ensuring their Coordination Centre (CAREN CC), that of the project’s lifetime and that he a network for Central Asia. So yes, further develop the activities of the transformation into strong players was established in 2017 and that took Top right: Veronika has been instrumental in its success, unfortunately the European Union region. The contribution that Central NRENs in the region Di Luna, Istvan was unable to secure sufficient Asia makes to global research is in the global R&E environment the lead on behalf of all NRENs. From Tetenyj and Robert together with a strong team of people benefit from the and creating Knowledge Bases GÉANT’s point of view we see a strong Janz at the Project who worked together for the past 10+ commitment from the Central invaluable. In that respect I have high collaboration with that would benefit the region for value in having regional coordinators, ExCo meeting years. Among them Istvan Tetenyi from Asia governments to continue hopes and expectations. However, with partners with a CAREN project. This is very funding will be a key aspect to many years to come. to facilitate work with international from CAREN the Hungarian Institute for Computer GÉANT? tackle: we will have to see how the • Promotion and visibility: we donors, aggregate the demand and CC, KRENA Science and Control (SZTAKI), unfortunate, especially in light of the Similarly to other international projects organised large conferences spread the knowledge. (KG), TARENA CAREN technical coordinator and recently published strategy on EU-Asia current global pandemic will influence managed by GÉANT, together with our (TJ), TURENA connectivity, with which the CAREN governments and I hope their digital every one or two years, Of course, other key (TM). October closely collaborating with GÉANT in partners in CA, we focused on four attracting users, governmental achievements were also the stable and 2018, Dushanbe, procurement, technical management project was very much in line. agenda will remain a top priority. main directions: representatives, funding high-quality internet connectivity, going Tajikistan. of the services and network roll-out; However, CAREN as a regional My personal suggestion to the organisations, e-infrastructures all the way back to Europe, and the Robert Janz, based at the University network remains connected to coordinator is to continue to be • Connectivity: relying on EU and other relevant international introduction of key services such as of Groningen and involved since the GÉANT. In fact, following the end of proactive, and to remember that funding and on GÉANT’s stakeholders. The discussions eduroam and eduGAIN. initial NATO projects; Askar Kutanov, the project, GÉANT and the CAREN GÉANT and CAREN CC share expertise in project management would then serve as a platform pioneer and ambassador of the CC signed a Memorandum of a history of collaboration which and procurement – we should continue. CAREN is part of for further cooperation and digital CAREN3 is the initiative in Central Asia and current Cooperation [MoC], serving as a basis succeeded in connecting Central development. director of the CAREN CC; Zarlyk for our future collaboration. Together our community, and we would also Asian countries (specifically last successful Jumabek Uulu leading the CAREN we will continue to work on improved like to continue strengthening our Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, chapter in a series Network Operations Centre (NOC). connectivity between the two regions, relationship. It’s only through the Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan at Overall, what and on fostering scientific collaboration power of human networking that we the time of maximum coverage) are the project of collaboration between user communities in Central can improve together. to GÉANT’s pan-European achievements you initiatives in Central Asia and Europe, specifically in the network. Asia. What does the areas of climate change, seismology, • Deployment and promotion are most proud of? water management, telemedicine, of Services: this was made When the project started back project owe to its cultural heritage, educational support possible thanks to the expertise in 2009, NRENs were already predecessors? and gender inclusion. Additionally, shared with CA NRENs by our established but we were lacking a The history of networking in Central there will be further collaboration on European counterparts and legal entity that would act as regional Asia goes back decades, to the the provision of services in the CAREN to the funding that was made coordinator. SILK project initially funded by region and on joint marketing and available for adoption, training NATO. Ever since then there was visibility activities. and promotion.

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Picture Left: Robert Janz, formerly from the University of Groningen, now freelance ICT consultant

Right: Rock formations in the Charyn Canyon, in Kazakhstan

Robert, when did SILK was managed by the What was the the project originate University College of London, with status of academic CONNECT Interview: the Leadership of Professor Peter and which were the T. Kirstein, often recognized as the collaboration in parties involved? father of the European Internet, who Central Asia when recently passed away and who was It depends on what you define as you started? the driving force of the initiative. At first, THE project. The series of CAREN my contribution was on a personal If you ask where we came from, I projects started in 2009, but it was basis as a technical advisor for NATO, would say we started from zero. the continuation of another series while the University of Groningen got But to explain better, I will have to Robert of initiatives, originating in the SILK involved later on, mainly on training go all the way back to the late 90’s, project, which dates back to 2001. activities and events. When CAREN when I first came into contact with Funded by NATO and with some started, I was seconded to the new the NATO Science Programme. We additional funding from the EU, the coordinator organisations DANTE were just out of the Cold War, and all project aimed at creating a “Virtual and then GÉANT, which accepted the former satellite republics of the Silk Highway” by connecting research Janz the many challenges of a project in Soviet Union were left without either communities in five Central Asian Our series of interviews on the CAREN3 Project continues with Robert Central Asia and always provided their a plan or a budget for academia countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, very professional expertise in project and scientific research. Alongside its Janz, formerly from the University of Groningen, now freelance ICT Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and management and procurement. political and military programmes, it consultant. Involved since the early days of the project, he told CONNECT Uzbekistan), plus Southern Caucasus was a key priority for NATO to maintain (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and about his past 20 years of experience in bringing connectivity and and enhance collaboration between later Afghanistan. Afterwards, CAREN scientists from eastern and western enhancing collaboration for R&E communities in Central Asia, focused solely on Central Asia, while blocks. As such they were funding through CAREN3 and its predecessors. countries in the Southern Caucasus several small scientific projects not eventually converged into other only in Central Asia, but also in the projects [now EaPConnect]. Southern Caucasus and in Eastern Words: Interview by Leonardo Marino, GÉANT European countries.

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Furthermore, CA countries were instead from the EU, now willing to major change CAREN had to face paying enormous amounts of money support CA countries on the condition was in terms of technology, as we for connectivity. Even in Europe the that there was also formal and moved from satellite to a fibre optic web was just at its beginnings and economical support from the local network. The establishment of the costs were higher, but in CA we governments. CAREN Network Operating Centre were talking of 64kbps at tens of Coordinated by DANTE – later (CAREN NOC) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, thousands of dollars per month! Peter to become GÉANT –, the first in the was essential for the success of this Kirstein, who at the time was also series of CAREN projects started with operation. chair of the Networking Panel of the a massive technological migration: Then in CAREN2 and CAREN3 we NATO Science Committee, noticed from a distributed satellite network, increased the focus on services and this strong need for connectivity and with its hub in Hamburg, to a fibre on their development in the regional convinced NATO to redirect funding optic network. Our initial aim was to context. Connectivity is essential but from the multitude of loose grants set up a proper regional network, it is also meant to be a vehicle to into one larger grant that would allow interconnecting CA countries among provide advanced ICT services for the CA to build its own communications each other and with redundant academic communities. In CA this network. It was then that the scientific links going out to Europe. However, proved especially challenging, mainly collaboration between CA countries we found out that this was not because of language barriers. In fact, and with Europe really got off. actually possible, mainly due to the as English was not so well known, During this first phase of projects monopolistic attitude of local telecom services and documentation were (SILK, SPONGE, OCCASION), lasting companies demanding huge prices. often provided in Russian or even in up to 2008-2009, we created the The absurdity was that connecting local languages. network (that still included Southern the 80km from Almaty (Kazakhstan) A major advance was the Caucasus countries) and started to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) was more foundation of regional organisations. setting up NREN organisations, not expensive than linking a single CA During SILK, the conversation was yet present in CA. Further, with so country all the way back to Europe! mainly one-way. But if we want our called NATO Infrastructure Grants, we As a consequence, we ended work to be sustainable and for CA started building e-infrastructures within up building 5 separate spikes, going countries to stand on their own feet, the countries to connect academic either to Frankfurt – as the nearest we needed a direct involvement of the centres and universities to the point of presence in the GÉANT pan- local communities and bi-directional Networking Operating Centers of European network – or to Hong Kong, dialogue. Moreover, other than the NRENs. linking to the TEIN Asian network. On providing connectivity to the NRENs, To summarise, at the beginning top of that we built a virtual Central we also needed to pass them the of SILK we had zero, after 8 years Asian network, even if there wasn’t knowledge and capabilities to become we had established NRENs in all CA, a direct connection between the more independent. In this respect, the but it was only through the CAREN countries. Clearly that resulted in foundation of the CAREN Coordination progressive increase of funding and I will renew the Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were Picture project we achieved a proper regional latency problems, because the signal Centre (CAREN CC), was an support from national governments either waiting to join or reopening Robert Janz and question we asked his wife at the collaboration, which finally resulted had to travel 5.000km and then come absolute paradigm shift from the SILK and a consequent decrease of EU dialogue with the EU. Had we CAREN launch in the CAREN Coordination Centre back, but we managed nonetheless period and the first step towards funding. From a first phase of CAREN to CAREN3 project obtained an extension for the project, meeting, with Peter (CAREN CC) to provide access to fundamental sustainability. Professor Askar Kutanov, with very little national funding, the manager Veronika di our perspectives would have been Kirstein (UCL), Hans Frese (DESY), in Bishkek. information, to enable key regional a member of the Academy of Science requirement went up to 10% of Luna. Based on your better and in a couple of years we Chris Dewispelaere collaborations, introduce virtual who I already knew from SILK, was the project cost in CAREN2, to be would have achieved to lower EU (NATO), William environments, video conferencing and appointed as the regional coordinator then based on the country’s GDP 20-years’ experience contribution and to connect up to five Hanna (EU official), The series of SILK Bernard Fabianek distance education to universities and for CA. Then again, the second step in in CAREN3. However, some of in the SILK and countries. Now the situation is more projects ended (EU), David West academia in CA. this direction was creating the CAREN the governments did not consider CAREN series of complex, and if no additional funding (DANTE), Askar in 2009, marking Tajik and Kirgiz academies of NOC within the region. research and education a priority and is provided, I fear that other global Kutanov (CAREN projects, what are CC), Istvan Tetenyi uncertain times for sciences even established joint preferred not to invest further in the your expectations for players might step into the vacuum. (CAREN team), a continuation of doctorate degree programmes, with What would you project and to withdraw. Now instead At this stage, my suggestion to and directors of CA joint dissertations and defences via I feel like there is growing awareness the future of similar the CAREN CC team is to maintain a NRENs. September similar initiatives say were the major 2009, Bishkek, video conference. That, of the potential impact of education on initiatives and what strong leadership, ensure long-term Kyrgyzstan. in Central Asia. in my opinion, is a very nice and challenges you the development and economy of would you like to sustainability by picking up funding What made CAREN significative example of CAREN’s encountered during the region. suggest to the new opportunities and keep the flame alive possible and what impact on the region. all these years? The lack of technical during these difficult times. infrastructures in CA also posed a big coordination team at impact did the There were several, depending on How did CAREN differ challenge throughout all our work. CAREN CC? project have on the timeframe we are looking at, but Even now, the status is quite poor When CAREN3 ended we were in a from its predecessors overall I would say the main one was within the countries, as capitals are the region? near optimal situation: the CAREN and what were its sustainability. connected but provinces still rely on Towards the end of the 2000s, NATO’s CC was growing stronger, the NOC One of CAREN’s main objectives radio connectivity. This however can focus shifted, as they believed the key achievements? was operating well, more and more was to accompany CA research be tackled, if enough funding initiative had gone out of their scope. CAREN differed from SILK in several services were being supported and communities through a transition is provided. New opportunities for funding came aspects. As I was mentioning, the first towards self-sufficiency, with

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This new role adds up to my primary How will the new Picture job as director at the Department From left to right: of Information Technologies at the management Askar Kutanov, Arianna Akmatova, American University of Central Asia. influence the future Almaz Bakenov. Coordinating the CAREN CC will not be of CAREN CC and CAREN CC, an easy task, but I decided to accept National Academy its work in the next of Sciences, this responsibility also because of my Kyrgyz Republic personal history with the initiative. I have period? And how do been involved in the series of CAREN you plan to ensure projects since their start back in 2009, the sustainability of and in their predecessor SILK, funded by the initiative? NATO, on which I started collaborating with professor Askar Kutanov as soon as AB: Our activity is currently going well I came back from the US to Kyrgyzstan and prices for connectivity are getting in 2003. lower. At this stage, we need to rethink our role as CAREN CC, and work to bring on board neighbouring Central Askar Kutanov: After 20 years passed working in R&E, I thought it was a Asian countries as new members. good time to step down from my role Clearly, CAREN CC should also help in as CAREN CC’s regional coordinator the process, and in the development of and director. I will keep helping and services and infrastructures, as not all supporting Almaz and I trust that he will NRENs receive subsidies. We would also successfully continue the work done need to increase the involvement of both until now. CAREN CC and our NRENs in the global market and focus on finding further Central Asia is an funding opportunities. In fact, I believe that a key indicator in my next years as area of historical and director of CAREN CC will be the funding strategic importance that we will have obtained to help and the series of scientists and educators in the region. CAREN projects We are well aware that Central Asian countries – due to their economic accompanied the condition – do not have much funding region during times available for the scientific community Almaz, first of all of profound change. and for higher education, especially congratulations How did this reflect during the current Covid-19 pandemic. CONNECT Interview: on your recent Nonetheless, we aim to develop a solid on regional and local funding strategy, catalyse intra-regional appointment as new development? collaboration, join forces to initiate new director of CAREN CC. projects, and even develop new services, AK: In the beginning it was the SILK round table with the Could you and Askar project, that established regional even if to do so we would first need to tell us more about connectivity, but it was satellite-based, solve the key issue of funding. the CC and its role in so limited by bandwidth and quite Do you foresee an CAREN Cooperation Central Asia? expensive. Even today a poor regulation of the telecommunications market involvement of other Almaz Bakenov: The CAREN CC was maintains prices quite high for local countries in the next established in April 2017 to sustain NRENs. However, starting from 2009, period? Center the achievements of the EU-funded the three phases of the CAREN project CAREN project. Its role is to support greatly helped to increase bandwidth Arianna Akmatova: From my In the final chapter of our CAREN3 series, we interview the new regional the development and strengthening and expand services for our NRENs. perspective, within R&E communities, coordinator and director of the CAREN Cooperation Center (CAREN CC) of research and education networking Through CAREN, isolated academic we have many partners who are in Central Asia, and to promote communities of the Central Asian particularly interested to be involved Almaz Bakenov, his deputy director Arianna Akmatova and the former cooperation between academic region became part of the global R&E in CAREN activities and would like to director Askar Kutanov. Together they explain the current status of communities, both within Central Asia, community, and advanced network cooperate with the CAREN CC. This is and with other regional networks in technologies and services were surely true in Turkmenistan, and even Research and Education in Central Asia following the end of the Europe and in the rest of the world. introduced to local users. Furthermore, in Uzbekistan, where our partners CAREN projects and their plans for the future of the initiative. the several regional conferences do not have their own Research and we organised in each CA country Education Network yet but are interested contributed to strengthen collaboration in establishing one and in starting to Words: Interview by Leonardo Marino, GÉANT between scientists in the region. work with us. In Kazakhstan some

38 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 39 Projects considerations on commercial interests might be necessary: their prices for connectivity are cheaper so it could be less economically beneficial for them to join. However, the interest from their research exponents remains high, as a collaboration with the CAREN CC would greatly benefit their work. So – even if on a higher level there might be political issues – I believe that in the near future it will be possible to get all countries together, because all these organisations understand the benefits of cooperation, the value of the services provided and of e-libraries, and the economic advantages of joining forces in a consolidated region.

What is the current status of scientific collaboration in Central Asia and how does CAREN CC support it? AK: Researchers of NRENs in Central Asia continue to make great efforts for international collaborations in such areas Regional collaboration between The global Covid-19 Tell us more about Will the collaboration Could you tell us Picture as environmental monitoring, water archaeologists among all Central Asian Toktogul Reservoir, management, telemedicine and distance pandemic is the services and with GÉANT continue more about your Talas Region, countries also led to a great number of Kyrgyz Republic. learning, through which they share their applications in the fields of e-culture and increasingly affecting benefits that and how? What vision and plans for Credits to experiences and gain knowledge from digital heritage. the region. How CAREN provides are its benefits for the next few years Robert Janz. leading experts. can scientific to researchers and NRENs in Central and about your As an example, the Central-Asian AA: Another extremely important topic Institute for Applied Geosciences we cover is telemedicine. With CAREN collaboration help? NRENs in Central Asia? hopes for the future partnered with the German Research CC we are continuing our collaboration AA: The pandemics showed the Asia. Will they still AB: CAREN CC has signed a of CAREN? Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Memorandum of Collaboration with with TEMDEC, the Telemedicine weakness of the medical system in be available via AK: We hope to enable other countries Potsdam on water management and on Development Centre of Asia, based our countries: the poor healthcare GÉANT to ensure continued access to to join CAREN CC, improving the CAREN CC? global advanced ICT services of the pan- environmental monitoring, with a focus in Japan. management, the lack of medical regional collaboration, to further : A decade ago, high-speed internet European GÉANT network. This currently on glaciers, that are extremely important They provide training on early doctors, the absence of necessary AA strengthen our ties with Europe and Asia connectivity in Central Asia was only a benefits the more than two million users in Central Asia and that have been detection of gastric cancer, involving equipment. Sharing best practices and perhaps also to have a continuation dream of the researchers but CAREN at academic institutions represented melting of about 29% of their original both medical doctors and network of infected patient care, developing to CAREN projects. projects brought not only a high-capacity by NRENs in Central Asia, who can CAREN CC will continue its mission volume for the past few years. Such engineers of hospitals, in Japan, Russia telemedical solutions, initiating projects network but also advanced ICT services. exchange data and access to European to support Central Asian NRENs with collaborations and data and Kyrgyzstan. Until last year – when to design mass ventilator systems in CAREN CC aims to become the Centre R&E resources. We consider GÉANT our a focus on information security, on exchanges between scientists are the CAREN project was still active – we hospitals with a large number of of Excellence for advanced ICT services key partner and we look forward for our strengthening the human capacity, fundamental to tackle challenges related held several face-to-face conferences patients in critical conditions would be for academia in Central Asia and does good history of collaboration to continue, and increasingly on the development to climate change. in which doctors came from Japan to priceless support. its best to keep the infrastructures hopefully also through new projects. of services, as we will need to In Tajikistan instead, there are very deliver hands-on training for our doctors, and services established during the compete with commercial providers. : A possible fourth CAREN project good conditions for space and planetary but at the moment we are ensuring the AK: In the current situation e-learning CAREN project. We continue to provide AK Covid-19 changed the plans of many would be extremely beneficial for observation and as such there are sustainability of the initiative by regularly became especially relevant. In fact, from such services as eduroam, eduGAIN, organisations, but it also showed the e-learning and video conferencing tools Central Asian countries and for their powerful telescopes in the region. The organising teleconferences. A big September all schools and universities importance of e-learning and proved and platforms, digital libraries and cloud development, and together with further Institute of Astrophysics of the National problem throughout all Central Asia is in Kyrgyzstan will start distance classes, to universities and users in Central Asia services like the G Suite for Education. improvement of regional connectivity, it Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan that there is a scarcity of good doctors, using e-learning technologies and that NRENs provide unique services that could help implement the strategy on commercial providers could not deliver. collaborates and shares data with many but now thanks to distance education networks, and NRENs made special EU-Asia connectivity adopted last year. research institutes in Europe and in the and e-learning doctors from big cities are efforts to expand their services to the I believe that our region, with its AB: I agree with Askar, and I especially US, monitoring asteroids that could fall able to teach to doctors in provinces and communities and provide our users with strategical geopolitical position would look forward for more countries to join on Earth and cause substantial damage. save lives by spreading their knowledge. a variety of key tools and platforms. be key in connecting Europe and Asia, the CAREN network, to represent the full and that R&E networks would serve as picture of our region, its rich culture and a driving force for the development of history and its contribution to bilateral partnerships. global research.

40 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 41 THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43 AND GN43N

THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43 AND GN43N

THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43OPTIMISING THE AND NETWORK FORGN43N ALL USERS The GÉANT network continues to deliver excellent service and extremely high performance for all HIGHLIGHTSusers, while implementing the largest network refresh of a generation to maintain and strengthen 3.65 THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43European and international AND high-speed GN43N networking for the research and education community. exabytes TOTAL TRAFFIC • Future-proo ng the network: procurement and implementation of a major, pan-European VOLUME network refresh (GN4-3N) to create a more resilient infrastructure, increase network footprint, HIGHLIGHTSThis document presents the highlights of Period 1 ofand the future-proof EC-funded connection GN4-3/GN4-3N speeds. projects, from 1 January 2019 to 30 April 2020. GN4-3/GN4-3N form the last• Decreasingof three thephases digital divide implementing: GN4-3N will bring the dark actions bre to more de ned European regions.in the • Cost-eective: Data Centre Interconnects (DCIs) deployed on dark bre routes enable €27.6M HIGHLIGHTS68-month Framework Partnership Agreement, establishedcost-eective between IP trunk capacity the upgrades GÉANT to meetConsortium growing data requirements.and the value services European Commission that started with GN4-1 in May• Prototyping 2015. components, modules, services, and applications: Delivering new monitoring 340 INSTITUTIONS This document presents the highlights of Period 1 oftools, the investigating EC-funded Quantum GN4-3/GN4-3N Key Distribution (QKD). projects, from 1 January using the • Pushing performance to the limit: Low-Latency (LoLa) applications for e-health and real-time IaaS offerings GÉANT’s2019HIGHLIGHTS to 30 visionApril 2020. is GN4-3/GN4-3N to provide usersform the equal, last ofperformances three high-performance phases to support implementing distanced analyses and network the learning. actions access de ned in to the 68-month Framework Partnership Agreement, established• Procurement between expertise: Dynamic the GÉANT Procurement Consortium System successfully and set the up to support large scale This document presents the highlights of Period 1 oftendering the EC-funded for new routes; improvedGN4-3/GN4-3N processes help projects, to lower costs from without 1 compromising January quality 157 Europeanthe research Commission infrastructures that started with and GN4-1 e-infrastructure in May 2015. resources across Europe. 2019 to 30 April 2020. GN4-3/GN4-3N form the last of service. three phases implementing the actions de ned in the The GÉANT projects are a fundamental element• ofGÉANT the Connection European Service e-infrastructure.: used to provision all Layer Through 2 circuits. its FTEs 68-month Framework Partnership Agreement, established between the GÉANT Consortium and the 500+ contributors EuropeanintegratedGÉANT’sThis document Commissionvision catalogue presents is ofthatto the connectivity, provide started highlights with users ofcollaboration GN4-1 Period equal, in 1 May of the 2015.and high-performance EC-funded identity services,GN4-3/GN4-3N GÉANT, network projects, together fromaccess with 1 January its to Projects theNational2019 researchto 30 Research April 2020. infrastructures and GN4-3/GN4-3N Education Network form and the (NREN)e-infrastructure last of partners,three phases provides implementing resources users with the across unconstrained actions Europe. de ned access in the 15739 partners to68-month communication, Framework computing, Partnership analysis, Agreement, storage, established applications between and the other GÉANT resources, Consortium whenever and the and eduVPN42 countries TheGÉANT’s GÉANT vision projects is are to a provide fundamental users element equal, of the high-performance European e-infrastructure. network Through access its to FTEs whereverEuropean Commissionneeded. that started with GN4-1 in May 2015. 157500+ contributors THE GÉANT PROJECTintegratedthe research catalogue infrastructures of connectivity, collaborationand e-infrastructure and identity services,resources GÉANT, across together Europe. with its CONNECTIVITY & NETWORK REAL-TIME CLOUD TRUST & IDENTITY, PROFESSIONAL 39 partners NationalInGÉANT’s a rapidly Research vision changing andis environment,to Education provide Network GÉANTusers (NREN) andequal, its partners,NRENMANAGEMENT high-performance partners providesCOMMUNICATIONS are usersresponding with networkSERVICES unconstrained to the accesschallengesSECURITY access to SERVICES FTEs The GÉANT projects are a fundamental element of the European e-infrastructure. Through its 42 countries (GN4-3 AND GN4-3N)integratedtoposedthe communication, research by pandemics catalogue infrastructures computing, andof connectivity, the resultant analysis, collaborationand global, storage, e-infrastructure economic applications and identity and political and services,resources other crises resources, GÉANT, by across ensuring together whenever Europe.connectivity with and its 500+157 contributors whereverdespite changing needed. trac pro les. GN4-3 also continues to deliver excellence in networking services, 39 partners National Research and Education Network (NREN)Optimising partners, the provides network users with• unconstrainedServices of the futureaccess: highly FTEs enablesThe GÉANT integrated projects High are a Performance fundamental Computing, elementDEVELOPING of andthe Europeansupports SERVICES FORopene-infrastructure. A RAPIDLY science, CHANGING which Through WORLDreinforces its Europe 42 countries Into acommunication, rapidly changing computing, environment, analysis, GÉANT storage, andfor its applications all NREN users partners and are other responding resources, to successfulwhenever the challenges workshop and on Future 500+ contributors asintegrated a global catalogueresearch hub. of connectivity, The data demands collaboration of GÉANT’sthe research and range ofidentity user-focused and educationservices, connectivity, GÉANT, collaboration community together andService identity are Strategy services withevolving remainheld its for vitally 70 posedwherever by pandemicsneeded. and the resultant global, Theeconomicimportant GÉANT to research,network and education politicalcontinues and to ancrises evolving by European ensuringattendees e-infrastructure. connectivity from Shorter project and partners, more agile 39 partners fasterNational than Research ever, and and GÉANT’s Education exible, Network agile (NREN) and long-term partners, approach provides remainsusers with vital. unconstrained access deliverdevelopment excellent cycles service ensure andservices extremely continue to meet user needssupporting in a rapidly development changing environment. of future 50M despite changing trac pro les. GN4-3 also continues to deliver excellence in networking services, 42 countries Into acommunication, rapidly changing computing, environment, analysis, GÉANT storage, andhigh its applications performance NREN partners for all and users, are other while responding resources, to services.whenever the challenges and • Services of the future: highly successful • Growing cloud usage: IaaS framework HIGHLIGHTSposedenableswherever by integrated pandemicsneeded. High and Performance the resultant Computing, global, implementingeconomic and supports the and largest political network open crisesrefreshscience, by whichensuring• Accelerated reinforces connectivity development Europe : users workshop on Future Service Strategy held for services now consumed by 340 institutions, to THEIn September, GÉANT PROJECT the EC-funded GN43 GN4-3/GN4-3N AND GN43N projects as a global research hub. The data demands ofof the a generation research to maintain and education and strengthen community eduMEET are serviceevolving launch brought despite changing trac pro les. GN4-3 also continuesEuropean70 attendees and to from international deliver project partners, excellence high-speed supporting in networkinga value of €27.6M. services, development of future services. forward to meet rapidly growing successfully completed (via VC) a three-day review by fasterIn a rapidly than ever,changing and GÉANT’s environment, exible, GÉANT agile andandnetworking itslong-term NREN for partnersthe approach research areand remains responding vital.• InAcademia to the: onlinechallenges student validation service SUPPORTINGenables integrated THE High KNOWLEDGE Performance Computing, COMMUNITY• Accelerated and supportsdevelopment : eduMEETopen science,service whichlaunched,demand reinforces allowing for growingremote Europe numberlearning of 50M the European Commission and its panel of independent posed by pandemics and the resultant global, educationeconomic community. and political crises by ensuring connectivity THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43 AND GN43N as a global research hub. The data demands of thelaunch research brought forward and to meeteducation rapidly communitymerchantsapplications. to are validate evolving whether a customer is a experts of Period 1 (January 1 2019 to April 30 2020). Here Bydespite interconnecting changing trac Europe’s pro les. NRENs GN4-3 and alsofacilitating continuesgrowing high-speed demand to deliver forOPTIMISING remote links excellencelearning withTHE NETWORK other in networking• studentglobal FOReduroam ALL or aliated regions, USERS: services,global to education GÉANTWi-Fi roaminginstitute. users faster than ever, and GÉANT’s exible, agile and applications.long-term approach remains: vital. we present a few of the highlights from the projects, which • Future-proofingThe GÉANT the network network continues to• Leadershipdeliverservice excellent in reached cyber service security and 1 billion extremely: many international project high performance for all 50M enables integrated High Performance Computing, and supports open science, which reinforces Europe connects schools, universities and the world’s largest• eduroamprocurement : researchglobal Wi-Fi andusers, roaming implementationprojects, while serviceimplementing enabling the largestpartners scienti c networkauthentications took refresh part discoveries,in ofCyber ain generation 2019, Security marking Monthto maintain a and strengthen HIGHLIGHTSare now in Period 2 which runs to the end of August 2021. reached 1 billion international authentications awareness-raising campaign; workshops 3.65 SUPPORTINGas a global research THE hub. KNOWLEDGE The data demands COMMUNITY of theof research a major, pan-European Europeanand education and networkinternational community high-speed33% networking year-on-yearare evolving for the research increase. and education community. supporting remote learning and upskilling communities.in 2019, marking a 33% year-on-year increase. organised on DDoS Mitigation and Security usersexabytes refresh (GN4-3N) to create a more • Increased eduVPN uptake: a faster than ever, and GÉANT’s exible, agile and• Increased long-term eduVPN approach uptake: a valued remains service, vital.Operations Tools. TOTAL TRAFFIC resilient infrastructure,• Future-proo ng increase the network: procurement and implementation of a major, pan-European 50MVOLUME Words: Paul Maurice, GÉANT valued service, providing more HIGHLIGHTS By interconnecting Europe’s NRENs and facilitatingproviding high-speed more secure access links to public with and other• Trustglobal & Identity regions, Mentorship GÉANT: new initiative network footprint,network and future-proof refresh (GN4-3N) to create a more resilient infrastructure, increase network footprint, 805 secure access to public and private This document presents the highlights of Period 1 of the EC-funded GN4-3/GN4-3N projects, from 1 January SUPPORTING• Supporting NRENs THE in KNOWLEDGE a changing landscape COMMUNITYprivate: networks,• Closing eduVPN the experienced digital divideseeks: specialist to develop new support AAI services and support THE GÉANT PROJECT GN43 AND GN43N 2019 to 30 April 2020. GN4-3/GN4-3N form the last of three phases implementing the actions de ned in the connects schools, universities and the world’s largestconnection research speeds.and projects, future-proof connectionenabling speeds. scienti cnetworks, eduVPNdiscoveries, experienced attendeesusers Supporting the knowledge • Linking EuroHPCextensive centres requirements: gathering, service increased interestfor South and uptake East in line Europe with (SEE)talent in in tandem community. with the 68-monthGÉANT’s Framework vision Partnership Agreement,is to established between the GÉANT Consortium and the • remoteDecreasing learning growth. the• Decreasing digital divide the digital: divide: GN4-3Nincreased will bring interest dark bre and to moreuptake European in line regions. This document presents the highlights of Period 1 of the EC-funded GN4-3/GN4-3N projects, from 1 January workshop organisedBysupporting interconnecting with five, remote major learningEurope’s NRENsand upskilling and facilitating communities. high-speed links with other• Networkglobal monitoring regions,: new GÉANT versions of the European Commission that started with GN4-1 in May community2015. outreach and proactive engagement activities GN4-3NWorld will bring •Bank, Cost-eective dark fibreaimed : toData more atCentre furthering Interconnectswith remote (DCIs)collaboration deployed learning on growth. dark bre routes enable €27.6M 2019 to 30 April 2020. GN4-3/GN4-3N form the last provideof three phases implementing users the equal, actions de ned in the high-performance computing centres • eduTEAMS: providing a platform to enable production perfSONAR and NMaaS software value services connectsSUPPORTING schools, THE universities KNOWLEDGE and the world’s COMMUNITY largestcommunitiesEuropean research and regions. researchcost-eective projects, projects to IP create trunk enabling capacity released.upgrades scienti c to meet discoveries,growing: providing data requirements.a platform to 68-month Framework Partnership Agreement, establishedGÉANT’s between vision the is GÉANT to provide Consortium users and the equal,By high-performance interconnecting Europe’s network NRENs access and to to identify requirementsto support and future NRENs during uncertain times, across the region and introducing• eduTEAMS new project European Commission that started with GN4-1 in May 2015. and manage their virtual• :Prototyping Data teams Centre and components,manage modules, services, and applications: Delivering new monitoring 805 high-performance facilitating high-speed links with other • Supporting NRENs in a changing landscape• : Cost-effective• Closing the digital divide: specialistenable communities support and research 340 INSTITUTIONS strategies forsupporting networking157 needs, remote learning and upskilling communities.secure, group- and role-basedtools, investigating access to shared Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). the research infrastructures and e-infrastructure resources across Europe. ensuring a range of services they and their Interconnectspartners. (DCIs) deployed on global regions, GÉANT connects schools, By interconnecting Europe’s NRENs and facilitating high-speed links with other globalprojects regions, to create GÉANTand manage their attendeesusing the HIGHLIGHTSGÉANT’s vision is to provide users equal,network high-performance access network to access to enabling pre- extensiveand exascaleFTEs projects.requirements gathering, service resourcesdark andfibrefor services, routesSouth• Pushing using enable East existing performance cost- Europe to (SEE) the limit in: Low-Latency tandem (LoLa) with applications the for e-health and real-time IaaS offerings The GÉANT projects are a fundamental element of the European e-infrastructure. Through its virtual teams and manage secure, the research infrastructures and e-infrastructure resources across Europe. universities and the world’s157 largest connectsusers need. schools,: universities and the world’s largestfederated identities.researchperformances projects, to supportenabling distanced scienti c analyses and learning.discoveries, integrated catalogue of connectivity, collaboration and identity services, GÉANT, together with its • Closing the digitaloutreach 500+divide contributors and proactive engagement activities effective• CommunicatingWorld IP trunk Bank, capacity aimed upgrades with at furthering audiences collaboration: streamlined 805 the research group- and role-based access to research projects, enablingFTEs scientific specialist support• Supporting for39 South partners East NRENs in a changing landscape: • Closing• Procurement the digital expertise divide: Dynamic: Procurementspecialist System support successfully set up to support largeMAGAZINE scaleCONNECT GÉANT IMPACT The GÉANT projects are a fundamental elementNational of the European Research e-infrastructure. and Education Through Network its (NREN) partners, provides users with unconstrained access •supporting Global collaboration remote learning and serviceand upskilling leadership communities.: to meetcommunications growing data requirements. channels nowshared include resources and services, using integrated catalogue of connectivity, collaborationinfrastructures and identity services, GÉANT, together and with its discoveries, supporting500+ remote contributors learning Europe (SEE) toin tandem support42 countries with theNRENs during uncertain times, across thetendering region for new and routes; introducing improved processes newhelp to lowerproject costs without compromising quality #27impact.geant.orgattendees This document presents the highlights of Period 1 of the EC-funded GN4-3/GN4-3N projects, from to1 January communication, computing, analysis, storage, applications and other resources,39 partners whenever and extensive requirements gathering, service • Prototypingfor South components, East Europe (SEE) inexisting tandem federated with identities. the #28 National Research and Education Network (NREN) partners, provides users with unconstrained access and upskilling communities. World Bank, aimedenhancing at furthering relationships, global connectivity CONNECTof service. community website, magazine and 2019 to 30 April 2020. GN4-3/GN4-3N form the last of three phases implementing the actions de nedwherevere-infrastructure in the needed. 42 countries outreachensuring aand range proactive of services engagement they and activitiestheir modules,Worldpartners. services, Bank, and aimed at furthering collaboration: IaaS #29 68-month Framework Partnership Agreement, establishedto communication, between the computing, GÉANT Consortium analysis, andstorage, the applications and other resources, whenever and collaboration across the region and • GÉANT Connection Service: used• toGrowing provision all cloud Layer 2usage circuits. 805 #30 wherever needed. • Supportingand services NRENsto support in a international changing landscape users; : applications• Closingweekly: Delivering newsletter; the digital new the divide IMPACT: specialistframework website services support now consumed European Commission that started with GN4-1 in May 2015. In a rapidly changing environment, GÉANT and its NREN• partnersSupporting are responding NRENs in to a thechanging challenges introducing newtousers project support need. partners. NRENs during uncertainOPTIMISING times, THE NETWORK FORacross ALL USERSthe region and introducing new project resources across monitoring• ©Communicating GÉANT tools, Association investigating on behalf of the with GN4-3 and audiences GN4-3N Projects. As part: streamlined of the GÉANT 2020 Framework To learn more about attendees posed by pandemics and the resultant global, economic and political crises by ensuring connectivity building network capacity and connectivity, showcases user communitiesby supported 340 institutions, by to a value of GN4-3/GN4-3N visit extensive requirements gathering, service for South East Europe (SEE) in tandem with the MAGAZINE CONNECT In a rapidly changing environment, GÉANT and its NREN partners are responding to the challenges landscape: extensive requirements • Communicating with audiences: The GÉANT network continues to deliverPartnership excellent Agreement service (FPA), and the extremelyprojects receive high funding performance from the European for all Union's Horizon 2020 research and GÉANT’s vision is to provide users equal, high-performance network accessdespite to changing trac pro les. GN4-3 also continues to deliver excellence in networking services, • Globalensuring collaboration a range of services and service they and leadership their : Quantuminnovationcommunicationspartners. Key programme Distribution under (QKD).Grant Agreementchannels No. 856726 now (GN4-3) include and Grant Agreement 856728 (GN4-3N). www.geant.org/geantproject500+ posed by pandemics and the resultant global, economicEurope. and political crises by ensuring connectivity gathering, service outreach and users, while implementing the largest network refresh of a generation to maintain and€27.6M. strengthen or use the QR #27code 157 streamlined communicationsincludingoutreach andnew proactive 100Gbps engagementlinks between activities Japan GÉANTWorld Bank, and its aimed NREN at partners;: furthering social collaboration media the research infrastructures and e-infrastructuredespite changing tracresources pro les. across GN4-3 also Europe. continuesenables to integrated deliver excellence High Performance in networking Computing, services, and supports open science, which reinforces Europe 3.65 The GÉANT projects are a fundamental proactive engagement activities to enhancingusers need. relationships, global Europeanconnectivity and international • Pushinghigh-speedCONNECT performance networking forcommunity the to researchthe limit and website,education• InAcademia community. magazine : online and student #28 eduVPN enables integrated High Performance Computing,as a andglobal supports research open hub. science, The whichdataFTEs demands reinforces ofEurope the research and education community are evolving channels now include CONNECT Low-Latency• Communicating (LoLa) applications with for audiences: streamlined #29 articles The GÉANT projects are a fundamental element of the European e-infrastructure. 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© GÉANT Association on behalf of the GN4-3 and GN4-3N Projects. As part of the GÉANT 2020 Framework To learn more about GN4-3/GN4-3N visit ©Partnership GÉANT Association Agreement on (FPA), behalf the of projectsthe GN4-3 receive and GN4-3N funding Projects. from the As European part of the Union's GÉANT Horizon 2020 Framework 2020 research and To learn more about innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 856726 (GN4-3) and Grant Agreement 856728 (GN4-3N). GN4-3/GN4-3Nwww.geant.org/geantproject visit Partnership Agreement (FPA), the projects receive funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and or use the QR code innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 856726 (GN4-3) and Grant Agreement 856728 (GN4-3N). www.geant.org/geantproject or use the QR code

www.geant.org www.geant.org CONNECT Interview

Tell us about OCRE, CONNECT Interview: what’s the aim of the project and what are its current activities? The OCRE project has two primary ambitions:

1. Making Cloud and related digital Dave Heyns services easily consumable by the research community in Europe. 2. Driving the adoption of these Dave Heyns is the project director for OCRE (Open Clouds for services and promoting them within the research communities, funding Research Environments), the project set to accelerate cloud related initiatives and producing adoption in the European research community. CONNECT had compelling case studies. a chat with him to learn about the status of the OCRE IaaS+ OCRE will provide access to commodity cloud services and at the same time tender and its related open funding calls, its role in EOSC, the seek particular solutions for Earth opportunities it offers for both researchers and service providers, Observation (EO) services, providing added value to Copernicus data. and how the project will redefine cloud consumption in Europe. How does OCRE Words: Interview by Leonardo Marino, GÉANT Meanwhile, on the Earth Observation What added value intend to achieve its side, we are registering a Dynamic objectives? Procurement System (DPS), on which can cloud services OCRE started in January 2019, focusing existing suppliers of EO Cloud services – and especially on the procurement of cloud services will register through affiliations with commercial cloud – on behalf of the European research EARSC and ESA, the European Space community and executed a cloud tender Agency. This procurement system is offer to NRENs and to which registered an unprecedented quite different from the 4-year fixed the R&E community? response from the market. We gathered framework, as its dynamic nature will Will OCRE impact the around 10,000 institutes across 40 allow suppliers to continuously register countries eligible to procure cloud and onboard their commercialised way research is done services under the OCRE framework. products as they develop them, in Europe? throughout the duration of the DPS. After From a market perspective it’s a very Opportunities for NRENs are substantial. the initial selection, through a process big opportunity. OCRE provides real tangible benefits of evaluation and scoring, we will ask Now we will engage in contracts with to the R&E community and significantly research projects themselves to describe suppliers of commercial cloud services enhances the NRENs’ relevance in terms the specific Earth Observation services in each of the 40 participating countries, of Cloud and Digital Services support for that they require, and this will allow us to favouring suppliers that have structures their local institutes. publish their requirements on the DPS. in those countries that can provide In that OCRE is primarily focused Basically, we will run mini competitions the best possible support for the R&E on the research community, I will and procure services on behalf of the community. This way researchers can discuss cloud benefits in terms of projects. consume services from local resellers of their needs. Traditionally researchers In both calls we will be reaching out hyperscale platforms as well as original procured physical servers through grant to research institutes for projects where infrastructure providers (OIPs) best able funding, that were then simply installed their activities and outcomes could be to support their needs. under their desk. Now however, virtual significantly accelerated through cloud Our pan-European procurement is a machines, virtual environments, and services. Our final aim is to develop framework that will run for four years, in a whole host of cloud services have compelling case studies that the OCRE which GÉANT will act as a Centralised become more accessible. Commodity project can leave as a legacy for the framework. As their group Director for to Cloud Points of Presence (POPs) and Procurement Body (CPB), while institutes cloud services undoubtedly give you a Dave, when did you broader EOSC environment, that will Research, Education and Healthcare, developed procurement frameworks so will be able to easily consume services lot more agility on compute capabilities continue to motivate the consumption start working at I focused on driving the adoption of that NREN communities could easily by the means of a Call-Off Agreement and data storage services, for which of cloud services based on their added cloud and related services in the global consume cloud related services via their through the local NREN, and even today there is a high need, and that you GÉANT and what is agility and enhancement of research research and education community, local network providers. I also come to make use of OCRE’s support and can easily consume, pay for as they are your background? activities and outcomes. working with the likes of Internet2 in from a R&E tech background, as prior to expedited processes in case they need being consumed and then - when you I started working at GÉANT in June the US, AARNet in Australia, and with that I had been the head of the solutions to run mini-competitions between completed your research - simply shut 2019, moving from Dimension Data (NTT NRENs all over the world. Specifically, we enterprise at the University of Cape Town suppliers in their countries. down and stop paying for them. That’s Global) in the UK, which was one of the helped NRENs connect their networks for twelve years. obviously a lot more efficient than buying IaaS providers for GÉANT on the 2016 ... continued on next page

44 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 45 CONNECT Interview

OCRE is also part of Specifically, how that the call is open. The funding team working and becoming heavily will identify projects that we think make dependent on cloud services to do that. the larger European does the OCRE for great case studies, have a “coolness In fact, all the online services that Open Science Cloud IaaS+ framework factor”, are covering a significant allowed this shift are cloud-based by initiative. How agreement research discipline (e.g. research on definition: video conferencing itself is a COVID), and that demonstrate how cloud service! does OCRE fit into expand and digital services have accelerated their Cloud services allow global the complex EOSC update the GÉANT activities and improved their outcomes. collaboration, and that is fundamental Once we have selected the projects, the in the field of research. I am sure that European researchers will consume ecosystem? IaaS Framework OCRE External Advisory Board (EAB) more and more commodity commercial OCRE gives a new meaning to the word agreement? And how – a body made by representatives of cloud services and increasingly rely on Cloud in EOSC. The project is part of the the broader research community - will will OCRE influence bespoke cloud services focused on very diverse EOSC landscape, however ensure transparency by validating our their specific realm and on platforms EOSC has not yet really considered GÉANT’s activities decision. that allow computations and advanced where commercial services fit within its in the field of cloud Then, the first funding call for EO analytics and that support the use of context. This will need to be defined services? Services was launched on 14 October, machine learning, robotics, artificial by the Rules of Participation Working after the registration of the DPS. This call intelligence – to name a few. This is a very interesting question Group that I recently joined, because the provides a great opportunity for scientists I would really like OCRE to become because it does speak to my actual research community is very interested in that use Earth Observation data. What is central to the short-term strategies day job. A really important point - that the agility and flexibility that commercial really interesting, is that we are not just regarding above the net services of services provide. has generated some confusion - is that talking about EO Sciences but about any both GÉANT and the NRENs, for which Commercial solutions are evolving all the contracts in the 2016 GÉANT science or discipline that consumes EO it provides huge opportunities, and to at a very rapid rate. Every time you pick IaaS framework will come to an end data (e.g. all the sciences that focus on become the bridge to bring both the up your cell phone there is a new app, in December 2020. As a convenient planning, environment, travel, and so on). researchers and the NRENs closer to that does the same old thing in a much consequence of the timing of the OCRE There is so much information coming EOSC. It’s a very exciting project to be project, the IaaS+ contracts made working on. a physical server and investing in the complex procurements and competitive better way, and it’s far easier to use. That down from satellites, and we want to available through the OCRE framework hardware, that at the end of your project tenders, instead they can easily is the nature of commercial services: make it available for researchers. will seamlessly support any new IaaS will probably lie dormant. consume services through the OCRE it’s a very robust and agile market that consumption, effectively providing for a There are many different advantages framework. This is a lot more significant keeps investing in development and You can read more from the of moving towards cloud services. than it sounds because these cloud innovation and that’s why I believe large continuation of the previous framework. To conclude, how interview at Research activities often require High services have been carefully vetted by e-infrastructures will need to coexist with Contracts supporting consumption do you imagine the CONNECT online Performance Compute services and a the OCRE team: they are compliant in commercial services, or cease to exist that is already taking place under the researcher would previously need to get terms of GRPR and ISO standards, and at all. GÉANT framework will continue to future of cloud in big research workloads to a HPC centre. they are connected to the GÉANT and EOSC is still quite conceptual. What run their course. All of the entities that European and global With current network capabilities and NREN networks. CERN, in collaboration OCRE offers are real tangible solutions were eligible to procure off the GÉANT improved bandwidth, the researcher can with the ARCHIVER project, provides to many of the EOSC questions and framework remain eligible to procure via R&E? simply consume the compute services the test suite to make sure that these requirements, to be delivered in short the OCRE frameworks. These days no research can really and compute capabilities of hyperscale services are compliant. Finally, as it was term, with ready to use and consumable (More information on this question is take place without creating data and cloud platforms, which are increasingly requested through the procurement, commercial services available by the end available at CONNECT online.) requiring a certain level of computation. more agile and comparible in compute providers should waive any ingress of 2020. During the current global pandemic, capacity to the traditional HPC systems. and egress charges, so the institutes As a starting point, OCRE signed a researchers are moving to remote Regarding data storage instead, won’t have to pay for all the additional MoU with EOSC-hub and we are now The next few months one of the biggest benefits to research bandwidth of cloud providers’ networks looking at how we will make our services communities, is scalability. You will never (be they Microsoft, Google, Amazon, will be quite busy for available and list them on the EOSC need to buy additional storage, you or European providers as CloudSigma Portal Marketplace. Specifically, we OCRE, what should can literally just scale up and consume, or TI Sparkle). are discussing how to make space for we particularly keep and then stop paying when you stop There is also plenty of country-specific consuming these services. Moving your support and training materials on the use commercial services on a marketplace an eye on? that is currently focused on services data into a hyperscale cloud storage of those cloud platforms. In fact, some of Keep an eye open for the suppliers that that EOSC provides through its own would also help us tackle the “R” in the our funding will allow for consulting from will get awarded and will start appearing e-infrastructures. The position of the RoP FAIR data principles, so the reusability cloud companies, to help you get going. on NREN Cloud Catalogues and in the Working Group is to consider services of your research data. Certain of these The NRENs will also be able to develop GÉANT Cloud Catalogue. It will be quite solutions, cloud storage for example, the relationship between the market, the being free at Point of Demand, but based interesting to see who supplies which come at a fractional cost and – once supplier and the researchers and to host on the fact that a lot of research is done service in each country. Similarly, when requested – may take 24 to 48 hours to training and webinars for suppliers, to on grant funding, I am not sure that this we launch the Dynamic Procurement come online. broker many of those facilities and drive would be the only way… I actually think System (DPS), we will also see which Additionally, most cloud platforms their own relevance in terms of above the that the research community should be suppliers of Earth Observation Services have become more sophisticated and net services. able to procure all the available services will be among early registrants. host marketplaces, where you can We are excited on the NRENs’ and do it through EOSC. I’m sure we will Our first funding call for Cloud access and consume new cloud based behalf, as we have seen through be challenging some of the dominant services was just launched on 15 capabilities such as platform support for the 2016 GÉANT framework that ideologies in the next six months. advanced analytics, machine learning, when NRENs strategically commit September and it will remain open for algorithms that provide you insights resources and effort to supporting cloud six weeks, closing at the end of October. through AI. As you see it’s no longer just activities, cloud consumption scales up The research community was expecting compute and storage. dramatically (e.g. in the Netherlands, it: more than 70 institutes have already With OCRE, research institutes where it has doubled annually since the registered their interest and we predict don’t have to run time consuming and framework has been in place). that number to increase dramatically now

46 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 47 TNC18 had over 160+ 50M 700 FTEs users participants 500+ contributors from 73 countries

Services

Switching Capacity Sharing Storage Data 4.3 BILLION capacity AVAILABLE IN Computing Research NATIONAL 59 COUNTRIES capacity software AUTHENTICATIONS 100 Now in 101 countries eduGAIN welcomes 150 G PB 315 PB 400+ CSTCloud to the PF CSTCloud eduGAIN Family Portal HPC Cloud computing Data & Information Software Rooted in the advanced cyberinfrastructure and digital information of Resource storage resource pool resource resource Pool pool pool the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Science and Technology Cloud (CSTCloud) is a national platform to provide scientists with efficient and integrated cloud solutions in the retrieval, access, use, transaction, delivery Network resource pool and other aspects of sharing scientific information and relevant services. As big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are now the three chariots driving cutting-edge information technology worldwide, PetaBytes respectively. To support These huge global projects require these services on top, CSTCloud has CST researchers to access data and CSTCloud combines all three fields into a single, massive platform initially realized the integration and systems worldwide and for access to CSTCloud – Supporting which will provide strong data and cloud computing services to cloudification of high-speed research the CSTCloud systems to be enabled for COVID-19 research networks, massive data storage, distributed research teams. collaborations support scientific innovation and socioeconomic development. large-scale computational analysis, These requirements for easy-to- scientific data, software resources and use, secure and open access resulted To address urgent challenges brought by the pandemic, Words: Karl Meyer, GÉANT other information, etc. Mechanisms in the work to incorporate CSTCloud CSTCloud worked with CAS Shanghai Institute of and technical systems for open source into the eduGAIN interfederation Materia Medica to develop the antiviral drug screening and service convergence have been service. CSTCloud now joins 68 other platform, with self-developed parallel distribution This platform connects all the institutes established to support resource federations worldwide supporting module of the high-performance computing application in China Academy of Sciences (CAS), registration, management, dynamic millions of users and helping support middleware to overcome bottlenecks such as many national research institutes, release, and federated services. international collaborations to speed up scientific data centers and more than unbalanced computing task load and low distribution Transformative technologies to research worldwide. efficiency. The platform completed a virtual drug 80% of national research infrastructures. support the network and cloud have screening and evaluation task in five days, selecting 30 It also supports over 100,000 been developed such as high-speed candidate components from around 70,000 compounds. researchers across China in a wide range virtual private networks for scientific Extensive supercomputing resources have been of fields of study. CSTCloud can provide research and transmission acceleration, “Becoming the allocated to support key COVID-19 research teams at efficient and integrated cloud computing unified scheduling and sharing of member of eduGAIN, CAS Institute of Microbiology in various areas such as solutions to support the storage, heterogeneous computing resources, will help facilitate transmission, computing, analysis, and distributed data storage, and unified virus genomes, metatranscriptomes, metagenomics application of scientific data towards new better flow of research splicing, pandemic spreading dynamics simulation and authentication and authorization across resources between discoveries. multiple resources. The core network sequence data mining. CSTCloud also established a CSTCloud was announced by switching capacity has reached China and her mirror site for COVID-19 data visualization in partnership CAS during the Fourth World Internet 100G, with 121G of domestic Internet partners around the with Peking University. Conference in December 2017. bandwidth and 113G international globe and guarantee Achievements include one-stop Internet bandwidth. the consolidated and tailored services for scientists, foundation for advanced demonstrations driven by the connectivity key research initiatives and SDGs, eduGAIN – the path For more information about CSTCLOUD visit: technology development and multilateral between CSTCloud collaboration for interconnection and to international and other research http://cstcloud.net/ interoperability. collaboration e-infrastructures in After a prototype portal in April 2018, For more information about eduGAIN visit: CSTCloud is extremely active in a range the world.” the improved 2.0 version was released https://edugain.org of advanced research projects from at the end of 2019 which supports Gaogang Xie, Deputy Director fusion energy research with ITER and 409 software programs running online, General of CNIC (CNIC is particle physics with LHCONE to radio classified into nine service categories responsible for the operation telescope observations with the Five- and 52 tailored platforms with the total and management of CSTCloud). hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio computing capacity and cloud storage Pictured left. Telescope (FAST) reaching over 315 PetaFlops and 150

48 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 49 Services eduVPN – providing secure, privacy-enhancing remote access to research and education With the growth of working from home and distance learning, the need for secure access to institutional services is increasing across the community. Commercial VPN services providing remote access are expensive and don’t necessarily scale to the thousands or tens of thousands of users required in a university setting. Therefore GÉANT, together with support from RIPE NCC, the NLnet Foundation and the Vietsch Foundation have developed eduVPN.

Words: Tangui Coulouarn, DeiC eduVPN is about accessing your Another example of a new private and public IP ranges. There are institute’s network or the Internet using eduVPN Success deployment is CNOUS in France. typically several hundred simultaneous Flexible Delivery an encrypted connection. eduVPN aims Stories CNOUS manages services for the 2.6 connections on the eduVPN server Models eduVPN Key Features to replace the traditional closed source million students in France (for example at CNOUS, which is relatively light (4 Marco Teixeira from the University of In the Netherlands, eduVPN is offered as • Fully open source, both server VPN concentrators by an open-source by allocating grants, managing student cVPUs, 8 GB memory). But how does Minho in Portugal explains: a managed cloud service. This means and clients. audited alternative which integrates restaurants, dormitories). It consists of eduVPN scale for larger organisations? “Amid the COVID-19 first-wave the eduVPN servers are maintained smoothly with your federated identity 27 entities (the national CNOUS and 26 This increase in the number of • Integrates natively with many types pandemic, and the increasing necessity by SURF. Melvin Koelewijn (Technical environment. regional CROUS) at different locations deployments was particularly significant of identity management systems, of teleworking that derived from the Product Manager SURF) is responsible The number of eduVPN instances in France. As the COVID crisis started, in countries where the NRENs confinement period, the Information for the Dutch eduVPN servers. When e.g. SAML, LDAP, RADIUS, X.509 grew considerably during the COVID-19 CNOUS heard about eduVPN from communicated about eduVPN to and Communications Systems Services asked about his experience with eduVPN Certificates. pandemic as people were sent home RENATER. It got their interest as the their member institutions and created Unit of University of Minho, was tasked server scaling aspects he says: and had to access resources at their VPN solutions in use at CNOUS could guides to explain how to deploy • Scales up indefinitely[*]. with the development of a contingency “Our largest university handles 750 university remotely. Many universities not scale up to the potential 15,000 eduVPN and how the NREN is willing plan in several areas, regarding this new concurrent users effectively with a 2 CPU • No (per seat) licensing fees. were confronted with license, software users. In less than two weeks, they put to support institutions deploying the scenario. Remote Access service (VPN) cores. Based on this I expect a 16 CPU and hardware limitations of their existing in production a full eduVPN solution service (support, documentation...).​​​​​​​ In • Secure and modern cryptography out was one of the areas for which there core VM would be capable of handling VPN solution. Some bought extra covering all 27 organisations. CNOUS France for example, with the support of the box. was the need to increase the service up to 5k concurrent users. The eduVPN licenses, other turned to eduVPN. also developed a specific web interface of RENATER, universities were able capacity to support an exponential software also supports multi server New instances of eduVPN used as which allows the IT department at each to configure their newly deployed • Easy to install on modest (cloud) growth in remote workforce. After some scaling and we are now deploying an corporate VPNs were deployed in CROUS to monitor their own users instances of eduVPN so that they could servers. research, we preselected the eduVPN, a eduVPN cluster with 4 VMs in order to Cyprus, France, Indonesia, Kenya, (number of concurrent connections, list use SAML and become SPs in their community project supported by GÉANT. handle 10k+ concurrent users.” • Supported by the NREN community. Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, of current users, throughput, etc.). They federation. RENATER advertised for the This community project has the features Most institutions start with a Portugal, Uganda. These added to configured different profiles for eduVPN. service on its website, through Twitter that meet our requirements and is based single server, but it is also possible to the existing deployments in Finland, The “generic” profile offers an encrypted and mailing lists, produced some guides on well-known and tested open source deploy multiple servers with OpenVPN Germany, the Netherlands, Pakistan, solution between the client device and both for operators and end-users in technologies. After a brief assessment processes in order to allow for a higher Poland, South Africa. As the software is the central infrastructure of CNOUS French. As a result, today there are at we decided to adopt it. The main points number of concurrent users or distribute fully open source and freely accessible, for users authorised by their regional least 8 universities using eduVPN and To find out more about eduVPN visit in favor are: i) the absence of licensing over different locations. Typically, a the eduVPN team often becomes organisation (using SAML). End-users others working on it in France while there and financial costs; ii) simplicity of use server (with 16 cores and >= 10 Gbit) https://www.eduvpn.org/ aware of new deployments only when can then have access to the intranet of weren’t any before the COVID19 crisis. for our end-users especially those with can allow up to 1,000 clients to connect organisations ask to be added to CNOUS. But they also created specific mobile clients; iii) has applications for all (depending on Firewall and Connectivity the applications. profiles where a regional organisation the major platforms; iv) an architecture capacity). can choose to customise which servers capable of horizontal scalability that an end-user has access to, routing, allowed us to repurpose some servers for the project.”

50 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 51 Services RENU Deploys 300 eduroam Hotspots For Off-Campus Internet Access Students, researchers and staff of learning institutions connected to the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) will now be able to access their institution Internet beyond their campuses after the NREN introduced the metro deployment of eduroam to enable users to connect to the wireless network while working away from their institutions.

Words: Hastings Ndebvu, UbuntuNet Alliance

eduroam is a secure wireless RENU Communications Officer Following the decree, staff, students international roaming internet Caroline Tuhwezeine Kumwesiga says and researchers that relied on campus network which enables staff, the innovation is one of the measures networks have been unable to access researchers and students from higher the NREN came up with to help member affordable internet connectivity due education institutions to access internet institutions cope with the COVID-19 to high cost of data bundles from connectivity when visiting another pandemic. commercial Internet Service Providers. institution using credentials provided by “The world-wide outbreak of The metro deployment of eduroam their own institutions. COVID-19 has challenged RENU to be in Uganda, therefore comes as a relief to RENU unveiled the innovation on innovative and offer alternatives to the the users who will still be able to access 1 September after deploying eduroam education and research communities. high speed, secure, dedicated and in over 300 spots in Kampala, Mukono Prior to introducing this off-campus affordable internet connectivity during the and Entebbe to connect students, eduroam, RENU removed caps on COVID-19 pandemic. researchers and university staff that have its international traffic to support the The solution will also go a long way challenges accessing the campus Wi-Fi research agenda to fight the COVID-19 to help students to effectively participate due to the COVID-19 restrictions. spread, increased its web conferencing in online study which seems to be the Under the initiative, the RENU IT packages to support social distancing most viable option for many learning team is helping institutions connected to and introduced a cloud-based e-learning institutions if they are to pursue their the RENU network to deploy the secure, solution based on Moodle for remote programs while keeping their students wireless network, allowing staff, students learning and instruction. The NREN and staff safe from the COVID-19 and researchers from such institutions continues to cast its net wider for more pandemic. to use their devices to connect to the solutions to enable the education and campus network while off-campus. research community to keep on its feet “Before the deployment, staff, in the current times,” adds Kumwesiga. To read more about metro students and researchers could access Universities in Uganda have eduroam, visit RENU website at eduroam only when they were working remained closed since March 2020 https://renu.ac.ug/ within the premises of their institution. following a presidential decree aimed Now they can access eduroam within at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 the comfort of their residences, malls, pandemic in the East African country. restaurants, parks, streets, airports, etc,” reads a statement released by RENU.

52 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 53 Community Italy in the race for the Einstein Telescope Italy has formalised the proposal to build the Einstein Telescope (ET) in Sardinia, the third generation pioneering observatory for gravitational waves that will considerably contribute to improve our knowledge of the universe.

Words: Maddalena Vario, GARR

The candidacy involves the main national the region is playing a leading role in Pictures developed within the Infn, also supports achieved by the Virgo experiment, institutions in the field of research such astrophysics and space research. A Top right: the candidacy. The Italian school has funded by the National Institute of as the National Institute of Nuclear recent agreement with NASA and is Neutron star its roots in Edoardo Amaldi, a pupil Nuclear Physics, which opened the Physics (Infn, coordinator of the project showing the territory’s ability to host of Enrico Fermi, one of the founding doors to multi-message astronomy and together with the Dutch Nikhef, National a large research infrastructure. In this Bottom right: fathers of CERN, of which he was the revolutionised our understanding of the Institute of Subatomic Physics), the context, the financing from the region of representation first General Director. Italy also was universe. National Institute of Astrophysics (Inaf) €1 million to the GARR network, which of European the birthplace of the fathers of scientific The Italian candidacy will compete and the National Institute of Geophysics already connects the Sardinia Radio Einstein research in this sector, Adalberto with another European site, the Euregio and Volcanology (Ingv). The Region of Telescope with fibre, represents the first Telescope Giazotto and Fulvio Ricci, and it hosts a Meuse-Reno, on the borders of Belgium, Sardinia, as well as the universities of step to bring connectivity to the Sar-Grav world-renowned school on gravitational Germany and the Netherlands. The Sassari and Cagliari have expressed laboratory. Other interventions will follow waves at the Gran Sasso Science decision on the future location of the their strong motivation to install this to extend the GARR fibre infrastructure Institute (GSSI). Einstein Telescope will be made within innovative infrastructure. to all the actors involved with the support The international coordinator of the the next five years. Beyond the scientific Sardinia has a site with of the Region. The goal is to provide a project for the realisation of ET is Michele prestige, the success of the Italian exceptional technical characteristics high-speed connection between Sardinia Punturo of INFN and many other Italian candidacy would transform Sardinia into and the construction of the Sar-Grav and the international scientific community researchers have made an exceptional one of the world capitals of astronomy, underground laboratory in Lula, and to ensure that the data collected contribution to multi-message with important benefits not only at hosting the INFN-funded Archimedes by ET can travel in real-time to the astronomy: among these, Professor scientific level but also for infrastructural experiment, is a demonstration of most important international computing Eugenio Coccia, rector of the GSSI and related industries. this. Sardinia also hosts the Sardinia centres through the pan-European and the researcher Marica Branchesi, Radio Telescope, one of the largest network GÉANT. recognised among the top ten scientists and most advanced European radio The 40-year experience of Italy in 2018 according to the journal Nature. For further information: telescopes. Thanks to its presence, in the study of gravitational waves Not to mention the important results http://www.et-gw.eu/

54 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 55 Community

Pictures Left: Photo by Wes Hicks, Unsplash

Right: Albert Hankel, SURF

This article was also published in SURFmagazine - SURF’s corporate magazine

Awareness Films and Available free essential multiple choice of charge SURF develops “More and more institutions are realising The e-modules contain topics that The e-modules can be downloaded that awareness among staff and students or employees encounter free of charge, in Dutch and in English, students plays an important role in cyber in the field of security and privacy at as part of Cybersave Yourself, the security,” says Hankel. “In addition to their institution. For example, a movie SURF campaign through which e-modules on having technology and policy in order, about phishing: a student receives an institutions increase staff and student people must have knowledge of online e-mail that seems to come from his awareness of security and privacy. risks. That way, they can support a safe institution, asking him to update his Cybersave Yourself consists of a online environment.” password with a handy link directly in website and an online toolkit with internet dangers the mail, so he can easily change the ready-made materials that institutions password. The message is that they can use, such as various means of Part of should not just click on a link, even if the communications and a game. curriculum e-mail seems to come from a reliable sender. The e-modules consist of theory The idea of a digital certificate, the for students and staff and practical examples in the form of e-modules, was born at the end of text, image, film and multiple-choice 2018 at a conference on cyber security. More questions. How do you make students and staff aware of online risks? Hankel: “Institutions expressed the information need to educate (new) students and How do you make students and staff aware of online risks? “Institutions in staff on keeping themselves and their Next step: cybersaveyourself.nl organisation cyber secure. They wanted Cybersave Yourself e-modules: the Netherlands were looking for a way to achieve a basic level of knowledge to be able to test this and to give cyber in-depth modules https://edu.nl/webmh among students and staff, and to significantly raise awareness,” says Albert security more weight”. For example, by The ambition is also to develop in-depth making the lessons part of the curriculum modules. “Think of extra modules Hankel, Product Manager Security & Privacy at SURF. “That’s why we via the learning management system and specifically for HR or for students developed two sets of e-modules, called the security and privacy license, letting students receive one study credit working on their graduation research”, for following the e-module. Or institutions Hankel explains. “We are also looking for students and employees on how to deal safely with security and privacy.” can stipulate that employees must obtain at additional working methods so that this certificate before they are allowed to lecturers can integrate (parts of) the start work. Hankel: “It’s possible, but it e-modules into their lessons, such as a Words: Marieke Linn, SURF doesn’t have to be. Institutions can make workshop or work lecture.” it as important as they want.”

56 CONNECT ISSUE 34 2020 57 Community

Videocast is a live broadcast service that the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), provides through their FCCN unit – the Portuguese National Research and Education Network (NREN). Videocast allows the transmission of live events to the whole world, via the internet. FCCN provides a customisable web page where video and audio streams, from a specific event, are displayed. Whether the event is a class, an internal TV channel or life inside a seabird’s nest, it is possible via this service, without invasive advertising or commercial breaks interrupting the stream. Nuno Oliveira, a marine conservation biologist at SPEA – ‘Sociedade What are the main Are there any other How do you foresee Pictures Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves’ Left: Nuno (Portuguese Society for the Study of advantages offered similar projects the evolution of the Oliveira at Birds) describes the role that Videocast by this initiative to planned? relationship between Berlenga Island played in the project “Shearwaters – photo rights in the Berlengas Island | Nature on the general public? The success of “Shearwaters in SPEA and Videocast? belong to SPEA the Web”. The initiative seeks to The main goal of this initiative is to show Berlengas” and the encouraging support Videocast is a tool that has come to “promote environmental education and people something that previously would by the public, has led us to adopt this stay at SPEA and has an enormous Middle: Shearwater and awareness” through the uninterrupted not be normally accessible: life inside a type of tool for other projects. We are potential that we intend to continue live transmission from a nest of currently preparing the installation of its baby in the seabird’s nest, the shearwaters. Thus, exploring. In this sense, Videocast and nest - by Miguel shearwaters. two similar systems for recent initiatives with minimum disturbance, people can FCCN represent essential support that Lecoq visit the nest and monitor the growth of that we are developing in Ria Formosa we cherish and hope to keep. We think Natural Park - Life Ilhas Barreira in How did the the chicks or their feeding by the adult that the potential of these tools goes far Right: Artificial birds. Seabirds, despite being one of the Algarve. One of the cameras will be beyond promotion. In the future, it could nest with possibility to use the most threatened groups of birds globally, broadcasting the activity of a colony of be used for remote monitoring systems shearwater Videocast service are also the least known. Audouin gulls, while the other will be in places with difficult access, for incubating an placed in a colony of chirps hopefully in arise for the project example. When working in small islands egg - by Nuno early spring next year. and islets, Videocast systems could Oliveira “Shearwaters in What Videocast revolutionise the way we study, monitor, Environmental Berlengas | Nature on features were ideal Are there any other and protect our planet’s natural values. the Web”? And what for integration into SPEA initiatives that can you tell us about the project? And how you would like to And how do you education project in this initiative? do you evaluate the disclose? evaluate the The opportunity arose as an invitation experience so far? The first is an initiative led by BirdLife possibility of from FCCN in 2019, when the Including “Shearwaters in Berlengas” International (of which SPEA is a partner) integrating other revitalisation of the “Nature on the in a more comprehensive initiative that calls for the United Nations to FCCN services? Portugal receives Web” programme was planned. The and in partnership with other entities declare a healthy natural environment as “Shearwaters in the Berlengas Island| contributes to increase the potential for a fundamental human right, through a We would like to look into other FCCN Nature on the Web” is part of a set of showing what is happening in these petition available at: services to maximise the dissemination of SPEA’s mission. Last year, during my activities developed by SPEA to promote birds little nests. On the other hand, https://www.spea.pt/campanhas/ support from FCCN visit at their studios, I thought that some education and environmental awareness maintenance costs for this system, ambiente-saudavel-um-direito- of their spectacular equipment could - one of the pillars of our mission. As we although low, are a significant burden humano/. see it, a well-informed citizen will more for a non-profit organisation without The second follows the “Life be used for the documentaries we are The Portuguese NREN offers technological support likely understand the importance of self-financing, as SPEA. For this reason, Berlengas” project, which, after its planning for so many of our projects preserving our natural values. FCCN’s support was vital for the long successful completion, was selected and initiatives. On the other hand, in the to an environmental education project to raise term life of this project, as it allowed for as one of the 8 final projects for the current reality affected by the corona the cost reduction associated with the Natura2000 European Prize. Voting is virus pandemic, we could certainly environmental protection awareness and help explore the use of Colibri, FCCN’s streaming service. This way, we can open and can be carried out at: https:// remote meeting services. create a more sustainable future. guarantee access to images on the web www.spea.pt/life-berlengas-entre- to a virtually unlimited number of users. finalistas-do-premio-europeu- The support of FCCN technicians has natura-2000/ Words: Ana Afonso, FCCN and Fábio Rodrigues also been fundamental and has allowed Live link to the nest this ‘boat to reach the harbour’. https://videocast.fccn.pt/live/ fccn/nnw_cagarra_berlengas

58 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 59 Sponsor

support commercial applications have The cloud offers evolved to provide technical capabilities an opportunity for high performance computing (HPC), while maintaining reliability, availability, for workforce and durability. HPC clusters can grow and shrink, and use of containers development and NextFlow can make it possible The cloud is an opportunity to grow skills to execute tightly coupled and loosely in the research computing workforce. coupled workflows efficiently on the New curricula and internship programs cloud, demonstrating the building blocks are available to train research computing of research computing gateways on professionals and address major gaps in AWS. Check out our tutorial. existing training (such as reproducibility and project management). As scientific fields evolve to take advantage of Beyond modern computational resources, researchers need more support in how science: HPC for to use computers for research. This is humanities an opportunity to teach technical skills to students with an interest in science. As Many speak of the crisis in humanities a professor, I made it a point to engage at universities, where students turn undergraduates in my research, often away from majors such as art history through National Science Foundation or literature to majors that are the (NSF) supplements to support research fastest growing in the job market. But experiences for undergraduates. science gateways have moved beyond But research computing is just one science—bringing the growing job facet of the technological skills that market to the humanities. organizations around the world need to The SnowVision gateway is a develop. At AWS, we address this at pioneering application of HPC to scale through initiatives such as AWS humanities. Archaeologists recognized Educate, which provides students and long ago that the designs on fragments educators access to self-paced training, of Native American pottery from the collaboration tools, and hands-on southeastern United States could be learning pathways for careers in areas used to track populations and evolution such as ML, data science, application of artistic designs, but this pattern development, and cloud architecture.. matching was done by humans, and was slow and laborious. SnowVision AI and ML uses advanced computer vision, Building tools accelerated by HPC, to automate this continue to process, allowing researchers to upload expand in for research: a shard of pottery and match its design Emerging trends in right away. application Gateways, We also saw ML take an art history Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine workbenches, twist: a paper by Paul Rodriguez and learning (ML) continue to expand in their and workflows colleagues described the potential application to advance research. Besides application of deep learning to group cloud for advanced historical paintings, opening up basic research in methods, machine Research computing experts can build learning is being used in applications things that enable research discoveries interesting questions about what is ranging from digital pathology to and outcomes. Many papers center possible if models could be trained exploring collections of research on science gateways, workbenches, on features that trained art historians papers using steerable AI. and workflow managers. Workflow can see. research computing managers are software products that Data and analytics have the power Cloud technology is a natural fit for AI and ML, both in terms of supporting allow researchers to express and to impact every field, and this power can the computational demands of training, execute complex parallel pipelines that be realized as more digital collections Research computing has come a long way from and in collecting, storing, and sharing might take advantage of HPC resources. are created (such as Oxford University’s data at scale. At a booth presentation Workbenches are environments Global Heritage Collections), using AWS the mainframes of the 1960s. At the recent Practice at PEARC, AWS demonstrated that provide a simpler development to reduce the costs of digitization. how researchers can use Amazon environment to workflow managers. and Experience in Advanced Research Computing SageMaker, AWS Lake Formation, and Science gateways are web-based AWS Glue to extract information from resources for accessing data, software Learn more about research data stored in Amazon Simple Storage services, and computation. These and technical computing on (PEARC) conference, I noted four emerging themes represent different levels and approaches Service (Amazon S3), build a metadata https://aws.amazon.com/ for allowing researchers to access and that underscore how the field continues to evolve: store, query this data, and then analyze education/ or contact us results using advanced AI and ML process data more effectively, advancing with your questions. frameworks in a Jupyter notebook and accelerating science. environment. If you missed the demo, AWS presented a tutorial on “Best Words: Tara Madhyastha, Ph.D. you can read about the approach in the practices for research HPC in the cloud,” AWS Machine Learning Blog. emphasizing how cloud technologies which were developed primarily to

60 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 61 Sponsor Research networks in 2020 Research and Education networks demand performance, sometimes on the edge of what is commercially practical. Yet collaboration with the research networking community has long driven technology from an idea through lab testing to deployments, often first in R&E networks and later in service provider and enterprise networks. Nokia has long been amidst these technology evolutions, from invention of the laser through today’s coherent optical processors maximizing fiber capacity very close to the Shannon limit. These innovations enable institutions to collaborate freely, supporting massive file transfers, high capacity computing, remote learning and research.

Words: Chris Janson, Product Marketing Manager, Nokia

keeping network data secure from theft. under a GÉANT framework agreement to 2020: A year The number of data breaches continues Solutions supply these solutions to NREN GÉANT unlike any other to grow at an alarming level. The Breach Constructing this hyper-flexible network members. This agreement makes it Chris Janson Level Index (published by Thales) requires a consumable NREN, meaning easier for you to approve and procure Today, current events are pushing Chris Janson is Product Marketing Manager in reported that in 2018, there were an a robust optical foundation upon which solutions from Nokia. Learn more research networks in ways not seen Nokia’s IP and Optical Network business unit where average of 214 data breaches every rides an IP routing structure, supported through the resources below or in the past and outside the realm of second, every day. Research networks through OpenFlow™ software that contact us directly. he follows trends in optical networking technology technical development. For example, are not immune to this threat and need allows institutions to easily configure and its application to finance, healthcare, utilities, the Covid-19 pandemic forced to ensure data is protected through a and use precisely which network institutions to adopt remote research manufacturing, government, education and other set of protections, including physical resources are needed. This solution Further reading: to an extent not seen in the past while enterprise network operators. Chris has held product network layer encryption. includes elements of Nokia’s optical teaching became nearly 100% remote development, management and marketing roles in the At the same time, all these needs networking portfolio such as super- NREN Photonic Nation: Nokia’s almost overnight. This didn’t just change must be met in the face of a hard reality: coherent Photonic Service Engine (PSE) role in research and education communications equipment and semiconductor fields. total capacity needs on the network, it money is not unlimited. Cost constraints processors and advanced IP routing networks He has been a speaker at many conferences including shifted where capacity was needed to are felt by the institutions responsible embodied in our FP4 silicon, controlled Interop, Internet2, and other executive forums. He has reach people working or learning from for research networks and budgets through our NSP software. Detail on how White paper: Nokia PSE V their homes. It was hyper-flexibility forced also shared his work through many webinars, written which were already strained now may these solutions work together can be Coherent Solutions Beyond by a crisis. Research networks, much be further stressed by budget cuts due publications, on-line videos and articles. Chris holds an found in this application note. the Limits like commercial networks largely were MBA from Boston University and Bachelor of Science in to global recession and geo-political These network solutions, including up to the task, adapting well to the shifts factors. Technology maturity and industry Nokia’s optical transport platform can GÉANT webinars: Nokia in R&E engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology. and keeping the wheels of research and standardization can help with this, transform your research network into networks - Nokia optical trials education in motion. enabling research networks to remain a consumable resource at reasonable Concurrently, though not a result of on the cutting edge without extreme cost. Recently, Nokia was approved crisis, pressure continues to mount on expense.

62 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 63 Sponsor

“the proposed approach has the Pre-training potential to revolutionize the way we Getting started AI models to analyze protein sequences.” Elnaggar with Google points out that “this work couldn’t have accelerate been done two years ago. Without the Cloud combination of today’s bioinformatics TU Munich and the BMI Group in Zurich genomics data, new AI algorithms, and the are just two of the many innovative computing power from GPUs and research—for biomedical projects in EMEA that build TPUs, it couldn’t be done.” In pandemic conditions, everyone on Google tools and infrastructure to make research easier, faster, and more The problem is urgent: the search for efficient in these difficult times. To start a COVID-19 vaccine and treatments Creating the or ramp up your own project, we offer biomedical researchers depends on first deciphering the virus’ largest-ever DNA research credits to academics using molecular mechanisms. Manipulating GCP for qualifying projects in eligible 3D models of chemical compounds is a search engine— countries. You can find ourapplication crucial step in developing drug therapies, form at www.cloud.google.com/edu. where molecules must fit together like at 4 petabytes develop innovative tools puzzle pieces. A team at Rostlab in the The Biomedical Informatics (BMI) Group Technical University of Munich (TUM) run by Dr. Gunnar Rätsch at ETH Zurich developed ProtTrans, an innovative (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) “IT procurement in way to use machine learning to analyze draws on huge datasets of genomic universities is often with Google Cloud protein sequences. By expanding information to answer key questions optimised for long access to critical resources, ProtTrans about molecular processes and diseases makes protein sequencing easier and like cancer. Their research benefits research projects. As researchers struggle to advance urgent biomedical faster despite the challenges of working from the massive increase in genomic You’re locked into during the pandemic. information now available in datasets like infrastructure for four research, these teams have optimized their workflows to Ahmed Elnaggar, an AI specialist the National Center for Biotechnology to five years, without and a Ph.D. candidate in deep learning Information’s Sequence Read Archive much flexibility to process more data more efficiently. , and Michael Heinzinger, a Ph.D. (SRA), the largest public repository of adapt in fast-paced candidate in computational biology high throughput sequencing data. By projects. Google Cloud and bioinformatics, pre-trained models storing vast amounts of raw sequencing lets us constantly Words: Nicole DeSantis to “read” up to 393 billion amino acid data, the SRA helps life science sequences from over two billion proteins researchers facilitate new discoveries readjust the setup to that make up the protein universe as we through data analysis. our needs, creating know it today, including viral diseases This flood of data has disadvantages new opportunities and like COVID-19. By using Google Cloud’s as well as advantages for researchers: preventing us from high-speed Tensor Processing Units for example, each time they need spending money on (TPUs) for data-intensive processing, to analyze a DNA sequence dataset infrastructure we can’t they were able to train different they first have to download the huge models, including a model with 3 billion files and access the algorithms locally. use optimally.” parameters on Google TPU V3-1024, That consumes time and resources, André Kahles, Senior Postdoc, which took several days to converge. so with Google’s help the BMI Group BMI Group, ETH Zurich The team has already done most of the is developing a cost-effective search heaviest computational lifting; now they engine for DNA sequences that could are starting to distribute their pre-trained bring algorithms to the data, instead models to other researchers who can of the other way around. Now the apply it to their tasks from any location, BMI Group team uses Google Cloud with ordinary consumer hardware. Storage to manage sequencing data and “This work couldn’t Compared to traditional methods which Compute Engine’s Virtual Machine (VM) have been done two required expensive hardware to collect instances to process them. Called the years ago. Without the similar proteins via time-consuming Metagraph Project, this flexible solution combination of today’s database searches, ProtTrans models is able to process four petabytes of can be accessed and run by any genomic data, making it the largest DNA bioinformatics data, researcher on a single GPU. Also, recent search engine ever built. new AI algorithms, and results show that the new ProtTrans Faced with a rapidly-changing the computing power models capture aspects of proteins research climate, both TU Munich and from TPUs, it couldn’t The COVID-19 pandemic devastating They need access to powerful tools to to help researchers and organizations which were not accessible by the BMI Group found creative ways to be done.” the world has sped up the demand scale up their data processing to get apply cloud technologies for the benefit previous methods. rethink their workflows with the flexible, for innovative solutions in biomedical results faster. of all.” says Joe Corkery, M.D., Director As more models are trained, the powerful resources of cloud computing. Ahmed Elnaggar, Department of research. At the same time, researchers Early in 2019 GÉANT and Google of Product, Healthcare and Life Sciences algorithms themselves become better at “IT procurement in universities is often Informatics, Bioinformatics, and everywhere face unprecedented working agreed to expand support for academic at Google Cloud. “We’re so grateful predicting complete protein sequences optimised for long research projects,” Computational Biology, Technical conditions that have made in-person researchers in EMEA, enabling them to for the work of these experts, and from partial strings of amino acids, says André Kahles, Senior Postdoc University of Munich (TUM) collaboration, travel, and planning for leverage the benefits of Google Cloud, want to support them with tools and which in turn generates faster and more in the BMI group. “You’re locked into the future much more difficult. Everyday our suite of cloud computing solutions technologies that can help them combat accurate results. By the end of 2020 infrastructure for four to five years, tasks like managing clinical trials have for storage, compute, big data, and this pandemic.” the Rostlab team hopes to launch a without much flexibility to adapt in turned into complex challenges. In the machine learning. “Google Cloud’s Here are two examples of European website where researchers can plug in a fast-paced projects. Google Cloud lets current situation, GÉANT’s members commitment to supporting educational labs that are re-imagining how they string of amino acids and quickly access us constantly readjust the setup to our Visit https://edu.google.com/ need a flexible infrastructure to support and academic research is core to our conduct their research: a 3D model of the protein’s structure. needs, creating new opportunities and programs/ remote work and distributed computing. DNA, and we’ll continue to find ways According to Heinzlinger, preventing us from spending money on infrastructure we can’t use optimally.”

64 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 65 Eastern & North Africa & West & Central Southern Canada & USA Latin America Europe Eastern Mediterranean Africa Africa

Central Asia Asia-Paci c Other R&E Networks GÉANT is Europe’s leading collaboration on network and partners and the wider research and education networking related infrastructure and services for the benefit of research community. Together with our NREN partners, we intercon- and education, contributing to Europe's economic growth and nect 50 million users at 10,000 research and education competitiveness. We develop, deliver and promote advanced institutions; and via extensive global partnerships and network and associated e-infrastructure services, and support GÉANT-managed networking projects, reach over 100 innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst our members, countries worldwide. We’re bringing you greater content across a wider range of channels: from our Annual Report to showcasing the amazing research projects the GÉANT Canada & USA community supports. And now CONNECT is online with a new website (connect.geant.org) and weekly newsletter. You can also get involved on social media – see you online! Latin America

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Powerful Vaccine Discoveries Accelerated Have you visited our Asia-Paci c The Race to Combat Infectious Disease “Our ambition is to create a platform to react quickly to disease, which involves the creation of IMPACT website recently? terabytes of imaging data. Using Oracle Cloud, we can distribute the data across multiple Other R&E Networks processors and get results in a fraction of the time of a traditional on-premise system.” —Imre Berger, Professor Biochemistry and Chemistry, University of Bristol Check it out to read about the

Imre Berger, University of Bristol, and Imophoron researchers watched as the infectious mosquito-borne disease Chikungunya, a resilient science, education disease once confined to sub-Saharan Africa, began to march its way world-wide at an alarming pace. and technology projects Research has proven vaccination is a powerful front-line defense in the war against viral and pathogenic diseases. Traditional vaccine design and production technology resources impeded innovative vaccine GÉANT and our NREN partners support! discoveries. University of Bristol researchers needed a new approach.

Lorem ipsum University of Bristol and Imophoron researchers wanted to design a novel vaccine delivery system that is easy to produce in high volumes—an advantage for combating fast spreading infectious diseases. Lorem ipsum They envisioned a vaccine delivery system from a lab-produced, thermostable protein molecule that could be readily manufactured at low-cost and did not require refrigeration to retain viability— important for vaccine shipment to and storage in warmer climate locations.

On-premise super computers needed the power of enterprise computing to process the very large data sets from University of Bristol’s cryo-electron microscope which is integral to digital modelling for their pioneering vaccine research. University of Bristol researchers turned to Oracle’s high-performance cloud ADDomer©: Synthetic multiepitope display scaffold for next generation infrastructure to develop a novel computational approach to vaccines. We developed ADDomer, a next generation synthetic vaccine thatmimics features of Chikungunya virus, to efficiently prime the immune create an accurate, high resolution digital model of their synthetic system to protect against this pathogen. vaccine in a fraction of the time and at a much lower cost than Image credit: University of Bristol previously thought possible.

Performance Characteristics Oracle Cloud Architecture •Best suited to heterogeneous high-throughput tasks Login - Cluster in the Cloud •Pipelines needing different node type(s)for different (SSH) parts •Can be much more specific than the average on- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Bare Metal Standard 52 Core premise cluster Submit Job (Cluster in the Cloud, Batch) •Always have access to the latest hardware Running job •Nodes are only switched on and paid for while jobs (on) are running Management VM •Nodes are switched off automatically when idle Running job •Great for teaching clusters (off) Timing Running job •Full system test ~ 20 minutes on Oracle (on) •Create Cluster from scratch •Submit job, Run job. Tear down whole cluster Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners •Job submit → job start: < 3-4 minutes

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oracle.com/oracle-for-research Addomer and Imophoron are trademarks owned by Imophoron Ltd. 66 CONNECT ISSUE 35 2020 67 Eastern & North Africa & West & Central Southern Canada & USA Latin America Europe Eastern Mediterranean Africa Africa

About GÉANT Central Asia Asia-Paci c Other R&E Networks GÉANT is Europe’s leading collaboration on network and partners and the wider research and education networking related infrastructure and services for the benefit of research community. Together with our NREN partners, we intercon- and education, contributing to Europe's economic growth and nect 50 million users at 10,000 research and education GÉANT at a Glance competitiveness. We develop, deliver and promote advanced institutions; and via extensive global partnerships and network and associated e-infrastructure services, and support GÉANT-managed networking projects, reach over 100 innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst our members, countries worldwide. We’re bringing you greater content across a wider range of channels: from our Annual Report to showcasing the amazing research projects the GÉANT Canada & USA community supports. And now CONNECT is online with a new website (connect.geant.org) and weekly newsletter. You can also get involved on social media – see you online! Latin America

Europe

North Africa & Eastern Mediterranean

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Central Asia

Asia-Paci c

Other R&E Networks

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This magazine is produced as part of the GÉANT Specific Grant Agreement GN4-3 (No. 856726), that has received funding from the European Union’s 2020 research and innovation programme under the GÉANT2020 Framework Partnership Agreement (No. 653998). The content of this document is the sole responsibility of GÉANT and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. CONNECT/1020