AbstractThe New Zealand Bioinformatics Institute has been funded by REANNZ Ltd and TelstraClear Ltd to develop a BestGrid-enabled application for bioinformatics. They have been doing this in conjunction with Biomatters Ltd. The application is a client that is able to run programs that are distributed across the grid in a seamless manner. To develop this application the Institute has had to develop some diagnostic tools to assist users with workflow management, etc. This presentation will include details of the architecture of the application and the general philosophy behind its development. 
Biodata: Dr. Allen Rodrigo is Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, and the Director of New Zealand's Bioinformatics Institute at the University of Auckland. He has over 70 international publications on bioinformatics and computational biology, phylogenetics and evolutionary genetics, and the molecular evolution of viruses. Prof. Rodrigo is an Associate Editor of Evolutionary Bioinformatics, sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of two New Zealand bioinformatics companies, is a Partner Investigator of the ARC Centre of Research Excellence in Bioinformatics, an Associate Investigator of the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, and is involved in several national and international collaborative projects on genomics and bioinformatics. His major research contributions are in the area of virus evolutionary genetics, where he has developed new methods to analyse time-series genetic data from viral populations.

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Abstract PulseNet International is a series of networks that brings together public health and food laboratories from around the world to share DNA fingerprinting results of bacterial pathogens such as E. coli type O157, Listeria, and Campylobacter. Networks have been established in the USA, Canada, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Network participants have tidentified a large number of food-borne disease outbreaks, resulting in the recall of over 250 million kg of product in the US alone. 
Central to the success of PulseNet has been the development of software to compare DNA fingerprint patterns, and the establishment of national databases - the biggest of which contain the patterns of over 250,000 isolates. A second key has been the enhancement of communication among participants to share information and build trust.
With support from REANNZ, ESR is utilising the KAREN network to help build components required to take PulseNet to the next level. In Asia Pacific we are establishing distributed regional DNA typing databases to allow the archiving of typing performed in the region, and to support inter-country comparisons. A secure discussion forum has been established for the Asia Pacific region and a website for PulseNet International (www.pulsenetinternational.org). Both desktop and room based video conferencing facilities are being explored to improve communication among participants, facilitate training in both laboratory and computer analysis, and for research and outbreak research seminars among participants.
Prior to PulseNet comparison of bacterial isolates required isolates to be physically sent between laboratories, with analysis redone in each lab. This was not only costly, but took weeks at best before comparisons could be made. Now electronic fingerprints can be exchanged and comparisons made within minutes resulting in public health responses that actually make a difference. With 14 countries and regions in PulseNet Asia Pacific meetings can only be held once a year at most. These are very productive with much progress made, but continuing the momentum in between requires new technologies to overcome the travel impediment. Video conference technologies will be crucial to advancing the pace of progress, increasing interaction between participants and provided all participants can access it will reduce inequalities between countries through the provision of regular educational seminars and training remotely. 
Biodata Dr Brent Gilpin is Senior Scientist, Water Group, Environmental Health, at the Institute of Environmental Science & Research Limited (ESR Ltd). Current research interests and areas of expertise include faecal source discrimination, PulseNet, zoonoses, and Campylobacter. Dr Gilpin was awarded a PulseNet International Recognition Award in 2006

Abstract Launched in April 2008, EUAsiaGrid project has been following the guidelines of the EU Research Infrastructures FP7 Programme by “promoting international interoperation between similar infrastructures with the aim of reinforcing the global relevance and impact of European e-Infrastructures”, as well as to fulfill the main goal which paves the way towards an Asian e-Science Grid Infrastructure, in synergy with the other European Grid initiatives in Asia, namely EGEE-III via its Asia Federation, and both EUChinaGRID and EU-IndiaGRID. 
Taking advantage of the existing global Grid technologies, the project plans to encourage federating approaches across scientific disciplines and communities. EUAsiaGrid will act as a coordination action, aiming to define and implement a policy to promote EGEE middleware across Asian countries. That is to say, the mission of EUAsiaGrid project covers spreading dissemination, providing training, supporting scientific applications and monitoring the results. 
To achieve the goals, the project would be aiming to
Identify and aggregate scientific communities which can benefit from the use of state-of-art Grid technology;
Disseminate EGEE middleware in Asian countries by means of public events and written and multimedia materials;
Provide training resources and organize training events for potential and actual Grid users;
Support the scientific applications and create a human network of scientific communities leveraging from the e-Science Grid infrastructure.
Hence, the expected results of the project will be able to:
Offer an effective answer to the demanding computing and storage needs of several common EU-Asia research projects;
Endorse the induction of new user communities to the e-Science Grid infrastructure;
Enhance the scientific communities and applications running the EGEE middleware;
Build partnerships between European and Asian scientific communities, to contribute to the scientific achievements in a global perspective and at a world class level;
Coordinate a common policy towards a common e-Science infrastructure with the other European Grid initiatives in Asia, namely EGEE-III via its Asia Federation, and both EUChinaGRID and EU-IndiaGRID.
Currently, EUAsiaGrid has published its official website as well as embarked on achieving the project milestones and deliverables of each work package. For more status reports and information, please visit the EUAsiaGrid Official Website at (http://www.euasiagrid.org) or (http://www.euasiagrid.org.eu). 
Biodata Hsin-Yen Chen is a senior manager of Academia Sinica Grid Computing (ASGC), Taiwan. He is now responsible for ASGC international network infrastructure and the coordination of the development and deployment of HPC and biomedical applications in the WLCG/EGEE project. He has been working on the IT service of scientific computing at Academia Sinica Computing Centre since 1991. He was in charge of coordinating the high-performance and bioinformatics computing. He coordinated a bioinformatics IT project to develop a portal-based high-throughput computing environment for the National Research Program for Genomic Medicine (NRPGM) project from 2000 to 2004.

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Abstract High performance computing has become a vital tool in nanotechnology and materials science. For instance, as part of the MacDiarmid Institute, our research group uses computer simulation of advanced materials and nanotechnologies at the atomic scale to try to predict and understand their properties. Using computer simulation algorithms we can conduct virtual experiments on materials such as carbon nanotubes and metal nanoparticles by following the motions of their constituent atoms as they grow. This helps us to understand under how the growth conditions influence their final structure and shape, and this understanding can then be used in real experiments in order to control the quality of the final product. Discovery of new materials is also possible using virtual experiments. In this talk I will discuss both the role of virtual experiments in nanotechnology and the potential implications of virtual discovery for the development of intellectual property in nanotechnology. 
Biodata Shaun Hendy is a Principal Scientist at Industrial Research Limited (IRL). He is also a Principal Investigator in the MacDiarmid Institute and has a joint appointment at Victoria University of Wellington in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences. He has a strong interest in e-Science that has developed out of his research, which involves extensive use of high performance computing. He is on the e-Research steering committee at Victoria and is the e-Research champion at IRL. 

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Abstract Arising from the need for state of the art facilities to conduct cutting edge scientific research and balancing the logistics of maintaining and operating such facilities, there is a global trend in pooling resources and establishing communal experimental and computational facilities. These facilities are linked together by advanced networks and specifically designed telepresence and teleoperational tools which allow researchers to access these resources seamlessly from a remote location. These networks not only empower researchers to conduct experiments previously not possible, but they also provide venues to facilitate international research collaboration and resource sharing. The collaborative nature of these networks has promoted rapid ideas dissemination and uptake, an important aspect in translating earthquake engineering research into increased global community resilience against seismic hazards. The introduction of KAREN has allowed New Zealand researchers to participate and contribute to this new expanding medium for research. It is a medium which benefits New Zealand researchers by eliminating the disadvantages of geographic isolation.
Since 2006, New Zealand researchers have established the New Zealand Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NZNEES). NZNEES was modelled on the experience of USA. NZNEES currently conducts research with corresponding networks in the United Kingdom, Taiwan and the USA. This paper presents example projects which showcase the new exciting research capabilities enabled by KAREN. A focus is placed on the experience of a recent collaborative project involving teams from the USA, Taiwan and New Zealand. This project clearly demonstrates the use of video conferences in mitigating the production of carbon emission by minimising international air travel. 
Biodata Rick Henry (presenter) is currently studying for a PhD at Auckland University in "Structural seismic validation of self-centering precast concrete wall details". His research involves strong collaboration with Iowa State University and the National Centre for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Taiwan. 
Quincy Ma obtained his lectureship at the Department of Civil Engineering in 2006 and is the co-principal investigator for the NZNEES@Auckland facility. (www.nznees.auckland.ac.nz). Quincy has wide interest in the field of structural dynamics and earthquake engineering, specifically the mechanics of rocking structures for seismic protection, nonlinear structural analysis, finite element analysis, pseudo-dynamic and hybrid testing and in-situ monitoring of structures. 

Abstract The presence of, and reasonably easy access to, high speed network connections within New Zealand is already benefiting the NZ Geospatial Sector in three key areas: 

Facilitating global collaboration on world-leading research
Supporting nascent global commercial opportunities
Enabling the NZ geospatial sector itself to become sustainable

This speaker will discuss the benefits already being realized under each of these three areas based on the recent and planned experiences of the team at the Geospatial Research Centre in Christchurch, NZ. 
Specific case studies and examples will be presented ranging from: collaboration with academics in France and UK on advanced software radio research (including the transfer of multi GigaBit files) to remotely accessing the Blue Gene supercomputer at The University of Canterbury in order to process varied geospatial data sets in near real time using an array of open-source tools, to enabling – for the first time – relatively easy and very low cost engagement between key players in the NZ Geospatial sector (30 – 60 representatives from academia, industry, government, users, etc) who are now seriously working to ensure the sustainability of the sector itself within the country. Conclusions will include the author’s personal views on the likely future trends in this space in the coming 5 years.
Biodata David Park is CEO of the Geospatial Research Centre (GRC), a Christchurch-based SME providing research and consultancy services in the fields of positioning and orientation, with particular expertise in sensor integration, image analysis, data visualisation and electronics. With a growing research team (currently 20 people), GRC is focused on not only leading the world in its areas of specific R&D excellence but in successfully realizing the value of its growing IP portfolio. David has been involved in the research, development and testing of applied technologies for over 10 years. Over the last five years he has been responsible, in both academic and industrial settings, for securing and managing funding worth in excess of $7.5M from a range of sources including: UK research councils, industry and government (NZ, UK, US); NZ government; the European Commission and the European Space Agency. 

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Abstract The development of Grid computing and the creation of the KAREN high speed network within New Zealand have provided new ways for collaborative activities linking social researchers both nationally and internationally. In New Zealand the development within the social sciences is being led by the five-year Building Research Capability within the Social Sciences (BRCSS) initiative funded by the Tertiary Education Commission 2004-9. The paper will document the role that Access Grid Technology has played in the building of a national social science research network and outline some of the key issues that have emerged in attempting to develop both the technological platform for collaboration and a new culture and methodology of research practice. This in turn has led us to establishing a research programme that is researching the Access Grid as a new space for knowledge creation. This programme is generating questions around how this complex arrangement of technology and social actors actually works. Among the questions we are exploring are how well this simulates face to face interactions, who constitutes the group and how does it shape our ideas of who is present in a meeting/discussion and the relationship between real and virtual spaces.  Biodata Professor David Thorns, Director of the Social Science Research Centre at the University of Canterbury, is researching the role that Access Grid Technology plays in the building of a national social science research network, and within that, questions how well virtual communication simulates face to face interactions. Read more about his work here: http://www.reannz.net.nz/karen-and-social-scientists/