Heidi L. Alvarez, Florida International University, Center for Internet Augmented Research and Assessment (CIARA) Proposal Number: OCI-0636031Proposal Title: CI-TEAM Implementation Project: Global CyberBridges (GCB); A Model Global Collaboration Infrastructure for e-Science between US and Int'l Partners Project AbstractThe Center for Internet Augmented Research and Assessment project 'Global CyberBridges' is a new model for the research workforce to develop competency in using CI. Global CyberBridges is not a locus for fundamental CI research; it does create a new generation of scientists and engineers who are capable of fully integrating CI into the whole educational, professional, and creative process of their diverse disciplines. Global CyberBridges has the potential to increase the rate of discovery for science faculty by empowering them with CI, to foster inter-disciplinary and international research, to improve the effectiveness of minority graduate education, and to institutionalize this change process. The hypothesis is that augmenting graduate student education to include a foundation of understanding in research and education CI will bridge the divide between the information technology communities and the disciplines. This will result in an improved system for the effectiveness, penetration, and utilization of CI with an underrepresented sector of our society. Broader Implications: At the core of CyberBridges is an opportunity for bringing together graduate students of diverse disciplines, and disparate academic communities. The larger the number of graduate fellows collaboratively building their understanding in research and education CI, the greater the opportunities are for cross discipline communication. Global CyberBridges amplifies this impact by involving students from around the world, including the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, City University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Global CyberBridges project is jointly funded by the Office of Cyberinfrastructure and the Office of International Science and Engineering.
