Jan 29, 2025

CENIC and its Member Community in 2024: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Equity, and R&E Innovation

Perhaps the most significant development in network-enabled research and education in 2024 was the growing recognition of the transformations promised by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). Recognized as the US locus of AI/ML innovation, the California member institutions of CENIC have embraced their role in creating the next generation of industry innovators and educating the next-generation workforce on which these industries will depend. Meanwhile, implementing the lessons on digital equity learned during the COVID-19 pandemic remains central to ensuring that such benefits extend to all Californians.

As always, improvements to CENIC’s California Research and Education Network (CalREN) and our relationships within and beyond California continue to support the advanced research and education that has enabled California to maintain its position of global leadership technologically, economically, culturally, and socially.

The CENIC AI Resource (CENIC AIR)

CENIC AIR builds on the strength of other R&E network platforms, including the National Research Platform (NRP), originally conceived by networking leaders at UC San Diego. Participating CENIC member institutions can choose to make compute and storage resources available over CalREN to research and education users at other member institutions. Institutions that wish to participate in CENIC AIR or make use of these (or NRP) resources can do so via a secure big-data “carpool lane” at their campus border, also known as a Science DMZ. CENIC also offers network consulting, as well as a variety of models to implement this.

• CENIC AIR and Your Campus: From Concept to Connection
• SDSC at UC San Diego and CENIC Work to Expand AI Education Infrastructure in California
• CENIC Honors San Diego State University and the San Diego Supercomputer Center for their Roles in Developing the Technology Infrastructure for Data Exploration (TIDE) Project

Achievements of CENIC's Network-Enabled Member Community

In addition to the innovations enabled by CENIC AIR, our member institutions continued to push the limits of network-enabled research and education. Several of them were specially honored by CENIC at our 2024 Biennial Conference—The Right Connection—that took place in Monterey in March. In addition to the stories below, readers can learn more about how CalREN and the collaborative environment facilitated by CENIC support innovations at various levels and across multiple segments by exploring The Right Connection 2024 playlists on our YouTube channel.

• San Diego State University’s VERNE: Applying CENIC AIR to Multi-disciplinary Instruction
• Caltech’s Zhan Group of Observational Seismology Honored by CENIC for Research on Fiber-optic Cables as Seismic Sensor Nets
• CSU San Bernardino's High Performance Computing Program Honored by CENIC for Improving CSU Access to National Research Platform Resources
• UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia, CAL FIRE, and DigitalPath Honored by CENIC for Creating AI Tool for Wildfire Detection

Promoting Digital Equity and Network-Enabled Teaching, Learning, and Outreach

The economic and social transformations to be brought by AI/ML and big-data research and education, while promising, threaten to deepen existing inequities if un- and underserved communities are not engaged in these transformations. In addition, many inequities revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unaddressed. In light of these circumstances, CENIC and its member institutions have continued to pursue total broadband availability, access, and adoption throughout California.

• Tribal Broadband Bootcamp Honored by CENIC for Fostering a Network of Indigenous People to Improve Broadband Access and Adoption on Tribal Lands
• Adaptive Teaching and Learning: Artificial Intelligence in the K-12 Environment
• Digital Navigators at California’s Public Libraries Help Bridge Broadband Divide
• The Strength of Community in Research and Education Security Trends
• The Venue is the World: CENIC Helps SFJAZZ Share Music with Everyone

Enhancements to CENIC Networking and Services

To build on and sustain California’s global leadership in the coming century, networks and services must continue to deliver cutting-edge performance. Currently, this includes focused pursuit of a Terabit-per-second backbone; automation tools that allow rapid deployment, management, and upgrade of network paths with fewer resources; improved cybersecurity tools; and access to valuable commercial resources through relationships with other network- and service providers.

Furthermore, CENIC established the CENIC Community Technology Affinity Group (C2TAG) as a forum for representatives from all segments to share information and expertise about network technologies, creating a community of like-minded professionals who can act as trusted advisors to their colleagues. The C2TAG also allows members to engage with CENIC staff and explore recently deployed network services and their applications in CENIC segments.

• 400 Gbps and Beyond: How CENIC Provides the Sustainable Growth in Bandwidth Your Institution Needs
• CENIC’s Integrated, Multi-Tool Approach to Network Configuration Management
• CENIC Network Automation Update: New Network-Source-of-Truth Tool Implemented
• The Easy Button for DDoS Attacks: Fast, Convenient, Cost-Effective Mitigation for CENIC Member Institutions
• New Connections to Major Cloud Providers Boost Performance and Value for CENIC Members
• Juniper Networks Honored by CENIC for Product Innovations, Responsiveness, and Extraordinary Value and Savings for CENIC Member Community
• Major CENIC Line System Upgrade Means Improved Provisioning and Services for CENIC Members

Advancements in National and Global Networking

A networked global R&E community is crucial for meeting the coming century's global challenges. In this context, CENIC has continued to play a pivotal role in facilitating collaborations with other R&E network organizations across the United States and the world.

• North American Research and Education Organizations Launch New Experimental Network and Exchange Collaboration: NA-REX
• Pacific Wave Supporting FABRIC Coast-to-Coast Terabit Testbed with Connections in Los Angeles and Seattle
• Pacific Wave Distributed International Peering Exchange Supports Big-Data Demonstrations at Supercomputing 2024 Conference
• Pacific Northwest Gigapop Honored by CENIC for Efforts that Expand Research and Education Networking in North America and Beyond

Related blog posts

CENIC Internships: Working with Higher Ed to Create a Skilled Workforce for the Future of Networking

CENIC's internship program helps talented engineering students in the CA community colleges learn about network engineering and gain real-world experience that give their resumes a valuable glow-up.

The Venue is the World: CENIC Helps SFJAZZ Share Music with Everyone

Learn how Mount Allen shares musical experiences with the public through his role at San Francisco Jazz (SFJAZZ), which uses CENIC infrastructure to livestream performances to classrooms and libraries across the state.