eResearch

What is eResearch?

eResearch involves the application of advanced information and communications technologies to the practice of research.

eResearch enables researchers to:

draw on global perspectives and resources
develop new insights and solutions to complex problems
collaborate with researchers around the globe
expand the scale and scope of research issues that can be addressed.

Technologies in eResearch include:

large-scale data sharing and storage
high speed networks
online collaborative tools
high performance computing for simulations, modelling and visualisation.

The successful practice of eResearch generally involves and depends upon the following.

Managing large datasets

In the age of the 'data deluge', research is increasingly reliant on good data management. As volumes of raw data from imaging and monitoring equipment, and from instruments such as telescopes, sensors and microscopes grow, so too does the need for data to be well-managed, easily accessible and discoverable.

Collaborations

Collaboration between different research disciplines increasingly fosters breakthrough research. Ensuring data collections are made widely available to the research community accelerates the pace of discovery and enhances the efficiency of research. Inter-disciplinary research collaboration is enabled through improved methods of communication and sharing of data.

High performance computing

High performance and grid computing technologies are vital for simulation of complex systems, such as climate modelling, and for the visualisation and processing of large research datasets.

UQ has a High Performance Computing facility, which offers data storage and advice for researchers in addition to HPC services.

In research fields as diverse as astronomy, climate change, chemistry, genetics, geosciences and medicine, eResearch is enabling Australian researchers to achieve high quality results and to share this knowledge and the underlying research data with others.

eResearch can now be seen as the cornerstone of modern research by providing 'increasingly powerful computer-enabled simulations and modelling currently necessary in some fields and increasingly necessary in many others, and an avenue to manipulate, manage, share and integrate the increasing volume and complexity of datasets and collections. The insights from shared data sets will drive the next generation of innovation.'

Discussion Paper, 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure

Current infrastructure projects such as RDSI and NeCTAR will provide data storage, collaboration tools, virtual laboratories and other eResearch capabilities and services.