IU Statewide IT Conference brings together partners from across state
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 12, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On the stage at Indiana University's 13th annual Statewide Information Technology Conference, a panel of deans, professors and leaders from across the university discussed IT and the future of IU. Three of those panelists sat on the stage in Bloomington. The other two appeared on high definition television screens and addressed the audience of IU IT professionals from locations across Indiana using the I-Light high-speed network.
A virtual panel - comprising Nasser Paydar, Interim Chancellor, IU East; Gwyn Richards, Dean, Jacobs School of Music; Anantha Shekhar, M.D., Ph.D., School of Medicine & Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute; and Pat Steele, IUB Ruth Lilly Dean of Libraries; and moderated by VP Wheeler - featured life-sized HD monitors of Paydar and Shekhar appearing via live HD videoconferencing. The panel discussed the various challenges and partnerships that rely on information technology, using equipment and technology made possible by the IU-Sony partnership.
More than 400 IT professionals traveled from IU campuses and organizations across Indiana to discuss key IT initiatives in breakout sessions, leadership talks and networking functions in Bloomington.
This cutting edge videoconferencing technology was on display at the 13th annual Statewide Information Technology Conference, an event developed especially for the extended team of information technology professionals from all of Indiana University and held today (Sept. 12) at IU Bloomington. The gathering at the Indiana Memorial Union highlighted the many diverse partnerships that carry out the strategic initiatives for education, the performing arts, life sciences, research, collaborations, and scholarly communications that are essential for IU - and that all require cutting-edge cyberinfrastructure.
During the morning's keynote speech, "Accelerating the Journey into the Third Era," Vice President for IT and CIO Brad Wheeler laid out the challenges ahead for the university in the areas of information technology to keep IU students, faculty, staff, and external partners empowered in their various challenges, and to keep IU successful in its mission of excellence in research, teaching, lifelong learning, and outreach.
Among the key points that VP Wheeler addressed is IU's forthcoming second Information Technology Strategic Plan that will enable -- in the words of IU President Michael McRobbie -- "the pervasive use of IT to help build excellence in education and research in all disciplines, in administration, in IU's engagement in the life of the State, across all campuses, and in collaboration with IU's key partners."
Wheeler said, "As we embark on this 'third era' of computing and IT at IU, we must think in terms of the human point of view. What do our students, faculty, and staff need to succeed in their endeavors, and what does IU as an institution - and as a partner with other institutions - need to remain an absolute leader in information technology?"
