Earlham College completing `last mile` I-Light connection this month

Media Releases from IHETS

Associate Professor Charlie Peck (left) and Tom Steffes assemble the cluster Peck won at the 2006 SuperComputing conference in Tampa. Using a single screwdriver, Peck competed with six other contestants from across the country to assemble an entire network server—including CPUs, heat sinks, memory sticks, interfaces, cooling ducts, and other parts—in 10 minutes. Peck's accomplishment earned him the coveted "Ultimate Geek" title along with the equipment , free annual user's license, and ongoing software support valued at $40,000.

Move will provide access to more teaching and learning resources, research opportunities, and global community

January 10, 2007
Contact: communications@ihets.org

Administrators and faculty at Earlham College have made completing their connection to the state’s I-Light network a top priority. The work is expected to be finished this month, reported Tom Steffes, Earlham’s director of computing services.

“Our current bandwidth capacity is just not meeting our needs, despite the fact that we kept increasing the number of T1 lines and deployed packet shapers to manage traffic,” Steffes said.

According to Dr. Len Clark, Earlham’s provost and academic dean, “Connecting to I-Light is an opportunity to leverage advanced technology and enhance our academic programs. By accessing and utilizing previously unavailable resources, we can create competitive learning environments and experiences previously available only at large, wealthy institutions. In addition, our faculty and students will be better positioned to participate in and contribute to the global education community.”

When the connection is complete, Earlham’s Cluster Computing Group will use newly acquired computational hardware to collaborate with colleagues at Indiana University, Purdue University, and others. It will also support the development of curriculum modules for teaching high-performance computing to Earlham undergraduates as well as scientists. In addition, two clusters will be available on the Open Science Grid.

The college’s Cluster Computing Group currently supports research on the effects of pesticide runoff in ponds and streams; the study of phylogenetic inference in frog genomes, and an NIH-funded study of inaccurately predicted gene structures in a malaria genome.

According to Steffes, anticipated campus projects that will be possible with the I-Light connection will include:

Language professors and students utilizing Skype to converse and collaborate with native language speakers at institutions around the world.

The incorporation of advanced Internet2 applications into biology courses.

Earlham’s Model UN program, part of the politics and international studies curriculum, will use video conferencing to see and hear current and past United Nations ambassadors share their global perspectives and experiences.

The Athletic Department, student radio station, and the campus Public Affairs Office will begin streaming audio and video content for online accessibility.

For more information, contact Kevin Burke, director of media relations at Earlham College, at 765.983.1323 or burkeke1@earlham.edu or Tom Steffes, director of computing services, at 765.983.1366 or steffto@earlham.edu.

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