Last week, to what seems to be relatively little fanfare, the Computer Sciences and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) of the US National Academies released a report from an NSF-funded study titled "Future Directions for NSF Advanced Computing Infrastructure".

There is a press release here

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=138529

and the report (also linked from the press release) is available as a free PDF  download from the NAS at:

http://www.nap.edu/catalog/21886

At least the executive summary will be of interest to many CNI-announce readers. Advanced computing infrastructure here is viewed broadly, not just very high performance computing. Among the interesting reccomendations:

- the need for a more explicit and transparent planning process ofr advanced computing infrastucture that includes clearer long-term directions and roadmaps.

- and explicit recognition of the need to adjust to a growing use of commercial cloud services: this will have implications for the evolution and funding of campus cyberinfrastructure.

- Explicit recognition of the need for funding streams to support infrastructure (including software) and not to confuse this with research funding (also needed, of course) on advanced computing systems and services.


Clifford Lynch
Director, CNI