Internet2: 25 Years of Technology and Community
A Q&A with Internet2 VP Ana Hunsinger
The year 2021 will bring challenges and opportunities to everyone. Internet2 will celebrate its 25th anniversary as it continues to support and lead critical network infrastructure and services nationally while engaging the world's research and education communities. CT spoke with Ana Hunsinger, Internet2's VP of Community Engagement, to learn about some of the highlights of this year's Internet2 initiatives, directions, and programmatic goals.
Mary Grush: As Internet2 moves closer to its 25th anniversary, one can see that there are numerous programs and projects through which it continues to support the research and education communities, just as it did in 1996. What's at the heart of all these programs that will take us into 2021 and beyond?
Ana Hunsinger: Internet2's priority today and always, is enabling research and education communities to advance. Everything we are doing this year, and moving forward, is to make sure that we continue to be there in support of our communities through tailored capabilities for research and education, infrastructure and services that enable scientific collaboration, and learning solutions and training that are built by the community, for the community.
Internet2's priority today and always, is enabling research and education communities to advance.
Grush: So, goals for the community are clearly at the center of Internet2's mission, which you accomplish in large measure through all the advanced networking technologies and infrastructure we think of when we talk about Internet2…
Hunsinger: Infrastructure is important, and that requires advanced networking, hardware, equipment, software, services — and you name it: a lot of technology, from your local campus network all the way to the national infrastructure and beyond… even globally! But what is also integral to Internet2 is engaging the community; bringing together people with both mutual interests and diverse perspectives.
Our role is that of facilitator, to bring people together to engage in dialogue, consider shared challenges, and find solutions that everyone in the community can benefit from. A primary driver for us is enabling our members, through collaboration and community building, to do what no single institution could do on its own. This is a big part of what excites me about what Internet2 does.
Our role is that of facilitator, to bring people together to engage in dialogue, consider shared challenges, and find solutions that everyone in the community can benefit from.
Of course, there are many different stakeholders across these institutions — particularly CIOs and their IT staff. We equip them with the tools and technology they need to enable the many things that they do to support their institutions. We want to be that partner that the CIOs and their staff can depend on to support their education, research, and community service missions.
And just like everyone else, we can hardly wait for the pandemic to be over, so we have more options for face-to-face interactions and engagement again. But meanwhile, we can take this time as both a challenge and an opportunity to re-envision the future. How do we advance new and creative ways to bring our communities together — whether in person or in virtual spaces?
And just like everyone else, we can hardly wait for the pandemic to be over, so we have more options for face-to-face interactions and engagement again. But meanwhile, we can take this time as both a challenge and an opportunity to re-envision the future.
Grush: Then, Internet2 continues to support education and research, not only through infrastructure and services, but also by leading knowledge sharing and collaboration. I know there are too many programs, projects, pilots, and priorities to mention here, but could you highlight just a few initiatives or directions that are particularly impactful at this time?