2021 Antarctic Subsea Cable Workshop: High-Speed Connectivity Needs to Advance US Antarctic Science
Website:
https://www.pgc.umn.edu/workshops/antarctic-cable/June 29 - July 1, 2021 Virtual Zoom Workshop, 1-5 pm US CDT (6-10 pm UTC)
Attendance capped at ~50 active participants
YouTube live stream with chat open to all (Days 1 and 3), archived for asynchronous viewing
Guest speakers include Vint Cerf (VP and Chief Internet Evangelist at
Google), Margaret Leinen (Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography),
Helen Fricker (Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), and Bruce
Howe (Research Professor, University of Hawaii), among others. For active
participants, on Day 2 there will be a live Q & A with researchers and
support staff at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.
Day 1: Scene Setting, Lightning Talks
Day 2: Workshop Breakout Sessions
Day 3: Summary and Plan for Drafting Report
The goal of this workshop is to produce a report outlining the science advances and impacts that would be enabled by massive improvements in digital connectivity to Antarctica.
Given recent synergistic opportunities, NSF is interested in a visioning exercise to understand the transformational potential of a submarine fiber optic telecommunications cable between New Zealand and McMurdo Station in the type, kind and conduct of research supported by the United States Antarctic Program. Terabit-scale networking capability could eliminate current bandwidth constraints faced by researchers, educators and support functions while also reducing the latency of current satellite-based communication. The cable infrastructure can itself also serve as a scientific platform (a “SMART” cable) with capability to monitor ocean conditions and seismic activity. Direct fiber connectivity to McMurdo may also enable improved connectivity to Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and science infrastructure there.
Please fill out this survey to share your thoughts and register your interest in participating in the workshop.
Initial Organizing Committee Members
Peter Neff, Assistant Research Professor, University of Minnesota
Gwen Jacobs, Director of Cyberinfrastructure, University of Hawaii
David Lassner, President, University of Hawaii
Jonathan Pundsack, Managing Director, Polar Geospatial Center, University of Minnesota
Heidi Roop, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Garret Yoshimi, Vice President for IT and Chief Information Officer, University of Hawaii
Bruce Howe, Chair, Joint Task Force (JTF), ITU/WMO/IOC SMART Cables for Observing the Ocean
Support for this workshop is provided by the National Science Foundation (Award 2130663). Questions and correspondence should be directed to project PI Peter Neff,
pneff@umn.edu.
