Chair's report
Attribution:Demand and usage have never been higher following the availability of new capacity last year, and a better understanding by the science sector of the value of increased computing power and the capabilities which came with it.
A study of the case studies set out elsewhere in this review illustrates the ways NeSI integrates advanced digital capabilities into a range of eResearch services, and ensures the range of scientific and computational challenges being tackled by researchers are backed by the power necessary to make them a reality.
Joint investment in NeSI by collaborators and the Crown enables public good research across a wide range of institutions, delivering high value outcomes with optimal efficiency. This relationship between the Crown and collaborators has served us well.
Looking ahead, we plan to investigate a range of new models to support NeSI’s ongoing growth and evolution. We’ll look to address the shortcomings of our current structures, and attract new investors on an equitable basis. A vital fully functioning and cyber secure e-infrastructure is a key element in modern science systems worldwide, and we need to ensure we maintain our own in New Zealand.
Also looking into the future, NeSI and collaborators are embracing a more diverse offering, encompassing machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics. Data curation and management and the increasing demand for “native” cloud services are also ramping up, and we are looking to provide a suitable platform to sit alongside others in New Zealand and possibly Australia, with whom we have strong linkages. This in turn will mean NeSI will have to retain new people with the relevant skill sets and these are increasingly drawn from the international market, from which NeSI has learned much over the last three years to help formulate our own strategic goals and aspirations.
Our relationships with major user groups have further developed during 2019, exemplified by the work we are doing with and for Genomics Aotearoa, and with other significant examples including NIWA, the Deep South National Challenge, and QuakeCoRE. We have benefited from national consultation with our own research communities to ensure our investments and activities are fit for purpose and match the needs of our scientists.
We acknowledge the input of our Research Reference Group into our future strategies as they have worked closely with the Board over the past year. In 2019, we saw changes to the Board and with the retirement of Prof. Andrew Rohl we were fortunate to have Prof. Amanda Barnard from the Australian National University join us; likewise Dr Barry Biggs has replaced Murray Poulter, who retired in late-2018 after many years as NIWA’s representative.
Finally, NeSI greatly values the operational partnerships we have with our Collaborators, especially NIWA and the University of Auckland, who make the major investments into the two platforms Māui and Mahuika. Our Collaborators, including the University of Otago and Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, host our teams and also share the job of advancing New Zealand science and facilitating researchers’ application of advanced computational capability.
And NeSI does all of this within a strong partnership with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) and team, always in the national interest.
Rick Christie
Chair, Board of Directors
