federal and state agencies , industry and research and education networks .
Dr . Jaroslav Flidr , research professor of business and information systems in the Shepherd University College of Business , is spearheading the effort . Belonging to Internet2 will connect Shepherd to a consortium of about 500 colleges and research centers across the country that are working together to solve technology challenges and develop solutions to advance research .
“ Being part of Internet2 is like being part of a country club . You pay your fee for entrance , and you get to meet people ,” Flidr says . “ What this means for Shepherd is an endorsement of capabilities . We ’ ll be invited to do things together . We will have the technological capacity to engage nationwide — such as sharing resources , for example .”
The grant will cover the cost of connecting the university ’ s data center in Ikenberry Hall , the Robert C . Byrd Science and Technology Center and White Hall to the Mid-Atlantic Research Infrastructure Alliance , which connects along Interstate 81 to Virginia Tech ’ s Internet2 portal . Flidr estimates the project will take about one year to complete .
Flidr says Shepherd will benefit in several ways once the connection to Internet2 is established . For example , Dr . Conor Sipe recently received a grant for neuroscience research that will require him to share large amounts of data with WVU , Marshall University and West Virginia State University . Having Internet2 will make that possible . It will give Shepherd access to high-performance computing data centers as well as the ability to share data with other Internet2 members and participate in more research .
Access to Internet2 will open opportunities for new degree programs , such as an applied cybersecurity major within the business college . Flidr plans to develop a cybersecurity program with hands-on experience as its cornerstone .
He says joining Internet2 will give Shepherd the ability to attract , hire and retain faculty whose research is data intensive , make the university more attractive to students in technology and dependent fields and give Shepherd the opportunity to ask for more grant awards .
“ This opens a huge avenue for Shepherd to get access to resources and funding that has been unattainable until now ,” Flidr says .
This is the second NSF grant Shepherd has received to facilitate joining Internet2 . In 2020 , the university received a $ 99,999 NSF planning grant . In 2022 , it received $ 135,000 of Congressionally Directed Spending through the Subcommittee on Labor , Health and Human Services and Education for technology and equipment to improve broadband access and to identify opportunities to connect to Internet2 .
Go D . O . Program Gives West Virginia Wesleyan Students Path to WVSOM
Abigail Patterson of Charleston , WV , was in her sophomore year of high school when she discovered her passion for medicine . Today , Patterson is a student at West Virginia
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