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Borderless eResearch

18 October 2006

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish, Minister for Information and Communication Technology Ms Marsha Thomson, and Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty at the Australian Synchrotron. (Photo: Les O'Rourke, University of Melbourne.)

Australian scientists will be able to work online and share data with overseas colleagues, following the launch of a new eResearch initiative last week at the Australian Synchrotron.

The Victorian eResearch Strategic Initiative (VeRSI) involves Monash, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government. It is part of a collaboration to enable eResearch and sharing of scientific knowledge globally, using advanced information and communication technology.

The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Ms Marsha Thomson, Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty of the University of Melbourne and Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish spoke at the launch on Tuesday 10 October.

"Advanced broadband is networking scientists to highly complex instruments, databases, libraries, supercomputers and colleagues, not only around the corner but across the globe," Ms Thomson said.

"VeRSI will provide the infrastructure, applications and services to give Victoria's researcher community concrete examples of how eResearch will transform their work. This innovative approach will stimulate the widespread adoption of eResearch, and improve the commercial opportunities and status of Victoria's academic and R&D institutions," Ms Thomson said. 

Professor Cornish said research at the Australian Synchrotron would create huge amounts of data, but this would have limited impact if it could not be shared effectively.

"VeRSI will mean we are linked to the global scientific research community and, by staying connected, we stay relevant and our work has more impact," she said.

VeRSI is funded through $4.75 million from the Victorian Government's Healthy Futures initiative, with the two universities jointly contributing the remaining funds.

The VeRSI joint venture will later be expanded to include LaTrobe University and the Department of Primary Industries.