e-Research

What is e-Research?

In the last few years the need for researchers to increase their collaboration on research projects has been made clear by government and various institutions, including Universities. We, whether at the level of Faculty, University or even country, can no longer afford to replicate expensive equipment for every similar project, answer critical questions working with our own guarded and limited data sets, or share information and skills by constantly transporting people and equipment by land, air and sea.

The term “e-Research” encapsulates research activities that use a spectrum of advanced ICT capabilities and embraces new research methodologies emerging from increasing access to:

• Broadband communications networks, research instruments and facilities, sensor networks and data repositories
• Software and infrastructure services that enable secure connectivity and interoperability
• Application tools that encompass discipline-specific tools and interaction tools

Using technology, e-Research aids researchers in utilising and managing data for technology transfer and collaboration, helping find the answers to difficult questions.

While e-Research is already playing a significant role in the economies and culture of Europe and the USA, it is still relatively undeveloped in Australia.

Victorian e-Research Collaboration

The Victorian e-Research Collaboration Group is a forum for Directors of e-Research at Victorian Universities to discuss cross-collaborations and joint projects to help leverage the NCRIS Platforms for Collaboration funds and other funding. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the following; grid technologies, policies and MoUs, service agreements, access and security issues, joint purchases, cross-skilling on technical advances, joint workshops/meetings and so on.