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Submission to Science Lectureships Initiative

Title:
eScience: Applications and Technology (eSci)
Institutions:
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology,
Australian National University.
Department of Computer Science,
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Industry Partners (contact details at end of proposal):
Wizard Information Services Transact Communications Project Fractal Graphics
Contact Officer:
Dr C. W. Johnson,
Head, Department of Computer Science,
Australian National University,
Canberra ACT 0200.
Telephone: 02 6249 4509 Fax: 02 6249 0010
Chris.Johnson@anu.edu.au
Summary:

The eScience: Applications and Technology (``eSci'') project will develop a graduated set of courses for science graduates to be trained in contemporary Information Technology, to become practitioners in what we term eScience. The project will develop special-purpose course material which recognises and builds on the skills and knowledge of science graduates, differentiating it from conventional graduate IT courses. University involvement at ANU and RMIT will allow the development of the course material to be informed by leading edge IT research and development. Industry involvement will allow the courses to be taken in a work-experience mode and will provide feedback on best-practice aspects of current technology. The project will have an outreach element, in which selective components of the courseware will be projected into undergraduate courses at ANU and RMIT, and into the secondary college system in the ACT.
Funding Sought:
2000 2001 2002
$346,200 $429,000 $252,000

   
Background

The eSci project seeks to effect a convergence of the following academic and industrial elements.

Just as eCommerce is the outcome of the intersection of Web technology with conventional commerce, this proposal suggests that eScience might be seen as the outcome of an intersection of Web technology with conventional science. This project is seen as an early exploration of this concept of eScience, by proposing to educate the first generation of eScientists 1.

We give one leading-edge example of the type of project work we see eScience students involved in: The New York Stock exchange has recently implemented a 3D virtual reality trading floor (3DTF) to allow NYSE staff to better comprehend and track stock prices. (see www.nyse.com/floor/3d.html for images and more information).

   
Objectives

The eSci project will develop and deliver Masters, Graduate Diploma, and Graduate Certificate courses for science graduates, with a focus on the interpretation, integration and delivery of scientific, industrial and commercial information over next-generation network services. These courses will have the twin objectives of, firstly, providing a clear career route into the modern IT industry for talented science graduates and, secondly, providing a set of skills for those who may engage in further study, research and teaching in the sciences for the dissemination and outreach of their specialist area.

Students with a general or specialised scientific training will acquire skills in statistical data analysis, web technologies, web programming, data mining, data visualisation, advanced computer graphics and remote interactive networked delivery. These skills, complementary to their existing analytical skills, meet specific industry needs and provide students with the opportunity to contribute to the IT industry in a significant way by bringing to it the problem solving ability, data awareness and experimental rigour of the scientifically trained graduate. Those students with some existing IT skills can extend them with further software development skills such as Analysis and Design and Software Construction.

The courses will produce students trained in industrial and commercial requirements for integrating database technology, data mining, data warehousing, visualisation and computational modelling with Web delivery, display, and interaction. They will be able to mediate communications within enterprises and between enterprises and their customers, suppliers, and partners: over Intranets and the Internet. They will have an introduction to IT work in industrial teams, and to the requirements of creating their own enterprises.

The project has the following objectives.

Data as mediator
The point of view is taken that science graduates, in the last analysis, are trained to work with data: to gather, analyse, interpret, manipulate and communicate data. Modern information technology, in the last analysis, provides unprecedented technical support for data representation and presentation in all its forms. The course will provide the science graduate with control of this technology, to be fully empowered as an ``eScientist''. The course will work towards producing some of the first practitioners in eScience.
Utilisation of Web technology
Put simply, the project is predicated on modern Web technology. On one hand, it will make extensive use of Web-based courseware. Indeed the collaboration of two universities in a common course could hardly be conceived without it. On the other hand, students of the course will be trained to be sophisticated workers in the current Web technology.
Technology transfer
Practical experience with examples of smart Web page construction, hardware and software, and advanced networking in the research laboratory will transfer to industry by way of the students and graduates. In this we include the information service industry, as well as scientific and technically oriented industries adopting Web technology themselves.
Grounding in industrial practice
The proposal crucially uses industrial partners in two ways. Where possible students will do the courses in a ``work-experience'' mode, where their employer provides work release on a fractional or an episodic basis. In addition, the courses will have a strong project component and where possible the projects will be structured with industrial partners to capture contemporary industrial reality.
Software tools
There is a rich and growing collection of commercial off the shelf (COTS) information extraction and creation tools for industry and commerce in the areas of data mining, database, computational modelling, data visualisation. Existing and forthcoming Web-based interfaces will range from common presentation tools, to simple graphics, multidimensional visualisation and immersive virtual environments including sound and sensory feedback. The challenge becomes one of selecting and integrating software with the information needs of industry. Students will gain experience with a wide range of presentation systems, including laptop, desktop and large immersive display environments projected over modems, Large Area Networks, and high performance local and global networks.
Visualisation and simulation
The courses will incorporate the modern notion of computational science and engineering, which provides support for the simulation of dynamic processes and their visualisation using graphical techniques.
Outreach
The embedding of science in the modern electronic domain allows the projection of elements of the science experience over the Web. The project will test this aspect of eScience by projecting appropriate demonstrator systems into selected secondary colleges in the ACT. This will be supported by network connectivity being provided by one of the industrial supporters, TransACT, as part of its ``wired city'' initiative. It is expected that this outreach can help maintain interest in the study of science as the basis of a professional career.

Project Structure

Project Staff

The proposal involves a project staff of five over the period mid-2000 to end-2002, with the following roles calibrated in fractional terms.
project director role (0.5) academic C }
course development and delivery (2.5) academic B/C } aca. total
industrial liaison (0.5) academic B/C } 1 level C,
outreach development and support (0.5) academic B/C } 3 level B
technical support (1.0) ANUO 6(IT) or equivalent  

The positions will be distributed between ANU (3.0) and RMIT (2.0). Appointments will be made progressively during the year 2000, starting with the director, 1 x level B and technical staff in 1st semester.

Management

There will be a project Advisory Group (with university and industry representation) which will have overview of the course curricula and project evaluation. The day-to-day management of the project will be carried out by the senior academic appointment. Financial management will be provided by the normal university structures.

Supporting Groups

The project will utilise a rich set of research and teaching resources at ANU and RMIT.

Content

eSci will provide the following graduated set of courses (with credit points benchmarked at 24 for a full-time semester load).

Course Duration Coursework Project
Graduate Certificate 1 semester 18 cp 06 cp
Graduate Diploma 2 semesters 36 cp 12 cp
Masters 3 semesters 54 cp 18 cp
The metric here is a full-time semester load is 24 credit points.

The courses will need the development of new units and the adaptation of some existing undergraduate units at ANU and RMIT. Some 6 new units are planned to be developed from scratch.

The courses will be supported by a pool of core units, whose content will combine an understanding of the evolving hardware and software for visualisation, computation, remote delivery and interactive presentation with the relevant psychology of human-computer interfaces and an introduction to management and commercial practices. The project component (which is 25% of each course) will either be focused (and located) in an industrial context or will address communication and outreach requirements of scientific research and teaching groups. Indicative core units are:

Size Subject
6 cp Internet and intranet technologies
6 cp Dynamic Web programming
6 cp Databases and data mining
6 cp Scientific data analysis and representation
6 cp Computer graphics and virtual environments
6 cp Process modelling and simulation
6 cp Modern document technologies

The core units will be augmented by a set of optional units indicative examples of which are:

Size Subject
6 cp Java programming foundations
6 cp Modern display systems and technologies
6 cp Scientific co-laboratories
6 cp Elements of IT management
6 cp The human-computer interface
6 cp Elements of eCommerce (including security)
6 cp Object-oriented software design and construction
and depending on students' prior knowledge, other 2nd and 3rd year Information Technology units such as Analysis and Design.

Course delivery

Whilst our aim is to eventually put our course delivery where our subject matter is (on the Web), some initial courses will be mediated by staff contact and others will be trialed as remote teaching between RMIT and ANU.

Outreach

The very nature of the Web is ``outreach'' and we intend to exploit this by including student projects to present the attractions of studying science to secondary students and also by visiting secondary schools to promote the possibilities offered by the technological advances of modern communication providers. We see the provision of a schools-oriented Web page and associated links as an integral part of our proposal.

   
Outcomes

Course material:
New core and elective units will be developed progressively from mid 2000 to the end of 2001 (two new units per semester for a total of 6 units). Refinement and evaluation of all aspects of these and other units will take place progressively during the project but particularly during 2002.

Enrolment profile:
The student enrolment profile will be increased progressively from a low base. The full complement of units will not be available until the end of the grant period, in 2003. These students will be distributed between ANU and RMIT and it is planned to cap enrolments for the duration of the eSci project to the following numbers, and then to increase.
semester 2000S1 2000S2 2001S1 2001S2 2002S1 2002S2 2003S1 $\cdots$
new enrolments   10 20 20 30 30 50 $\cdots$
existing enrolments     10 20 20 30 50 $\cdots$
Industry support of students:
It is estimated that 25% of the students will be fully-funded by industry.
semester 2000S1 2000S2 2001S1 2001S2 2002S1 2002S2
new enrolments   3 5 5 8 8
existing enrolments     3 5 5 8

Additional industry support is detailed in the Budget section below and in the attached letters.

Program Continuation:
An important feature of this proposal is that after 2002 the courses should be self-sustaining. Assuming that DETYA and industry funding will enable the rapid development and deployment of the courses, as well as their evaluation and refinement, it is very likely that a removal of the student intake cap will lead to a rapid increase in enrolment to the extent that they will be self-funding. By way of justification, we note that the Computer Science Department at RMIT already has two self-sustaining graduate diploma programs in Computer Science and Web and Internet Technology. Enrolment in these programs exceeds 500 students. The proposed SLI initiative would complement and extend these programs, but retain its emphasis on meshing the skills of scientists with advanced IT, and might be expected to double its student enrolment after the funding period. A similar ramp-up in enrolment would be expected at ANU. The program will continue to be delivered on two or more campuses and will encourage continuing co-development and marketing.

   
Budget

Parameters:
Details:
$ x 1000 2000 2001 2002 total
salaries + oncosts (29% of base) 186.8 366.4 381.0  
Overheads (40% of base) 57.9 113.6 118.1  
Travel 10.0 10.0 10.0  
Staff equipment 40.0 20.0 0  
Laboratory equipment and software 50.0 150.0 150.0  
Educational evaluation 10.0 10.0 10.0  
Fee Income -40.0 -280.0 -440.0  
Total 314.7 390.0 229.1 933.8
plus 10% GST 346.2 429.0 252.0 1027.2
The projected increase in student intake from 2003 is sufficent for full self-funding.

   
Implementation Timetable

The following development points are involved

March 2000
First draft of curriculum document available.
May 2000
Academic appointments (2) made.
July 2000
Controlled student intake (1 core unit).
October 2000
Academic appointments (2) made.
November 2000
Curriculum document refined.
February 2001
Computing laboratory commissioned.
March 2001
First major student intake (3 core units).
July 2001
Schools outreach commences.
November 2001
Curriculum document refined.
November 2001
Completion of new unit offerings.
July 2002
Commencement of final semester and unit refinement phase.
December 2002
Completion of final course evaluation. Report to DETYA.
March 2003
course continues with larger intake.

   
Evaluation Plan

The project evaluation plan will be built into the project. Formal evaluation will be carried out by the Centre for Education Development and Academic Methods (CEDAM) at ANU. CEDAM has considerable experience in project evaluation of this type and operates independently of the teaching enterprise within the university.Funding for this evaluation is included in each year of the budget. Evaluation by industry will be in the form of follow-up studies of garduates, and feedback through the Advisory Committee from the industrial partners.

Summary: Responses to Selection Criteria

Extent that needs of industry and business are met:
This is covered in the Background to this proposal and attested by the enthusiastic support of our industry partners.

Extent that the courses will increase the flexibility in course delivery:
The Web-based courses which will result from the joint development by ANU and RMIT will be very modularised and flexible. The industry based nature of the projects, and the representation by industry on the course Advisory Committee, will ensure that the courses remain responsive to the needs of industry and business.

Extent to which the products/outputs will enhance the quality of teaching and learning:
By specifically targeting graduate students with science backgrounds, this proposal aims to provide a unique bridge between the modern IT industry and those students. The quality of the educational experience will be much enhanced over traditional ``conversion'' degrees which are independent of student background. Some of the course material will be derived from areas in which ANU and RMIT have research expertise (for example, virtual environments) - this leading edge nature to the material will enhance the educational experience.

Demonstration of an innovative approach:
The whole notion of eSci is, we believe, innovative and timely. Once the developmental phase of the courses is completed, we are confident of a strong student response.

Extent of industry support:
We have had enthusiastic support from industry - especially given the limited time available for preparation of this proposal. We are confident that this support will grow significantly during the lifetime of the project. The notional 25% of fully-funded students by industry could well be an underestimate. Industry will be well represented in the management of the project.

Extent of collaboration between universities and between universities and industry:
This project is a uniquely collaborative effort between two universities. As mentioned above, the extent of industry collaboration is significant and can be expected to grow during the lifetime of the project.

Institutional and industry commitment to support following the project:
See the section on Program Continuation. Based on the experience of RMIT, the new graduate courses will be self-funding once the initial developmental period has been undertaken.

Financial viability of the institutions and industry:
All of the institutions involved in this proposal are financially viable. Further details may be obtained if desired.

Value for money:
This project will result in innovative, quality courses developed in a uniquely collaborative manner between two quality Australian universities with strong input from industry. The amount of estimated fee income, in kind support, and industry support will approximately match government funding over the lifetime of the project. Although government funding is crucial to enable this project to proceed, we believe that the example that it will set to other universities means that it could well be a model for future collaboration in higher education and, as such, will be excellent value for government. The outcomes of the rigorous, independent, evaluation process will be widely available.

Qualifications and Experience of proposers:
This proposal has been formulated by senior staff members of ANU and RMIT who, between them, boast considerable educational and research expertise attested by significant publications and awards. Although not requested by the Guidelines, Curriculum Vitae are available on request. This proposal sees that course development, delivery, and evaluation will be done by personnel recruited specifically for that purpose. The project will be overseen by an Advisory Committee, the planning and coordination of which will be carried out by the staff named in this document. An estimate of one day per month in the initial year of the project, dropping to one day per quarter in the subsequent two years, would be a reasonable figure for the amount of direct involvement.

   
Industry Contact Details

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Footnotes

...tex2html_comment_mark1
For the purposes of this proposal "science" is taken to include all flavours of pure and applied science as well as engineering.
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Chris Johnson
1999-12-16