On campuses across the US, research technology and library units face increasing demands to support digital resources and cyberinfrastructure that serve specific academic disciplines. Such resources may be known as science gateways, collaboratories, virtual research environments, web portals, and virtual laboratories, and what they have in common is that they allow science & engineering (and other) communities to access shared data, software, computing services, instruments, educational materials, and other resources specific to their disciplines. The challenge of developing these resources is that the creators who initiate such projects are often isolated from like-minded individuals tackling the same problems in different disciplines, leading to inadequate awareness and implementation of existing solutions and best practices. The Science Gateways Community Institute (SGCI) was funded by the NSF to address this problem; it helps gateway creators leverage their funding by providing free or low-cost services and resources that facilitate the sharing of experiences, technologies, and practices. Services include specialized consulting and hands-on development, training and events, and targeted online resources for the gateway community, all with the goal of building community and capacity to grow gateway resources across disciplines. This presentation will outline the NSF-funded services and resources available through SGCI, with examples of projects served, so that CNI meeting attendees can easily identify how the SGCI might engage with members of their institution. Attendees may be particularly interested in the ways that SGCI can supplement or guide the formation of campus-based groups that develop gateways for local, national, or international communities.
https://sciencegateways.org
