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Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (2008) / Chapter Skim
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5 Use of Information Technology
Pages 51-56

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From page 51...
... NAI CONTRIBUTIONS Applications of information technology within the NAI have been focused in two major areas: improving communications among widely distributed research teams to enhance interdisciplinary research and cross-disciplinary training of graduate student researchers and improving communications with the public to enhance education and public outreach. The NAI has achieved significant progress in both these areas.
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From page 52...
... : The initial efforts to develop novel approaches in information technology were neither very successful nor were they truly novel. However, in recent years the NAI has very successfully employed mainstream applications such as WebEx.
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From page 53...
... Social factors included the difficulty of finding times for video conferences that fit into the busy schedules of NAI members; lack of enthusiasm on the part of some NAI members for virtual collaborations; and differences in member abilities to master new technologies. Technical factors included platform incompatibilities, differences in Internet connection speeds, lack of local information technology expertise and support at some nodes, and coping with security policies at some sites.
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From page 54...
... To this end, it is notable that the NAI was the host of a NASA Science Mission Directorate Web workshop held in November 2007 and organized a session on the use of social networking to promote scientific collaborations. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ASTROBIOLOGY PROGRAMS The use of modern information technology to enhance interdisciplinary and collaborative research among widely distributed investigators is a characteristic of the NAI that sets it apart from the other components of NASA's Astrobiology program.
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From page 55...
... This approach not only would give NAI objective advice about how to improve its support of virtual teams but also might help to identify opportunities for future joint work. • NAI Central is encouraged to continue its current efforts to develop strategic alliances with Silicon Valley companies in the collaboration/information technology sector.
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From page 56...
... 2. The NAI Newsletter is archived at http://www.nai.arc.nasa.gov/newsletter/past_issues.cfm.
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