User Requirements
and Web based
Access for eResearch
Malcolm Atkinson
Director
& e-Science Envoy
e-Science Institute
Edinburgh
www.nesc.ac.uk
19th May 2006
Overview
Introductions
Questions
Call to Action
Goals of this meeting
Two Hypotheses & a Principle
Hypothesis 1
Many researchers in virtually all disciplines could
benefit from e-Science methods and resources
Hypothesis 2
The proportion of those researchers who actually
benefit from e-Science methods and resources is very
small indeed
Principle
We should find ways of rapidly and significantly
increasing that proportion
Why are so few infected by the
e-Science meme
Because the e-Science virus isn’t well adapted to its
target hosts
Probable forms of mal-adaptation
Only the select few know about it
The investment (time, learning, behaviour change) to use it is far
too high
It is far too risky
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“After I have spent time on finding out how to use it, it doesn’t deliver what is
needed for my research, and I’ve a gap in publications & funding”
“If I learn to use it, it might then disappear”
“If I tell my research students to use it, it might change just when they need
to use it to generate their results – indeed, experts say it will”
New technologies have seriously damaged research and careers in the past,
simply by distracting good researchers; the wise wait until calm has returned
and the significant has emerged from the mere corroborative detail adding
artistic verisimilitude
If I work in this context I will not be able to publish or get funded
because reviewers and readers will not understand what I did
Proposed method Today
Work with existing users to understand what works
Today’s focus is those who use portals and perhaps find they work
Understand why those things worked
What facilities: services, data sources and tools were needed?
How were they constructed, supplied and supported?
Devise specific ways in which that success can be replicated for
many more researchers
More researchers in the same discipline

What do we need to achieve this?
More disciplines
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What is needed for each discipline?
Can we amortise the costs across disciplines?
Can we avoid reinforcing the disciplinary silos?
Support new aspects of each discipline’s work
Given limited resources, what should we do first.
Method another day
Work with people who have shown some interest and
then chosen not to engage with e-Science methods and
resources
Understand why they chose not to engage
What was the worry, risk or practical difficulty that stopped
them?
What facilities: services, data sources and tools were needed?
Devise specific ways in which those impediments can be
addressed
Work with some of them to see if these ways are
efficacious
Given limited resources, what should we do first?
Strategy
Integrate understanding of
Reasons users do not manage to gain benefits
Approaches that work – why & how they work
From multiple efforts to engage & learn
At the same time
Do the best we can NOW
To improve the usability & accessibility
Of e-Science methods and facilities
Goals for Today
Deliver a specific recommendation
How to address usability using portals so that we significantly
increase the take up of e-Science methods by researchers in a wide
range of disciplines.
What further meetings do we need in the next 12 months?
Topics and participants
To answer what critical question
What are the immediate steps (n12m) we can take to improve
access to e-Science?
Building on current UK investment and programmes
Addressing priority needs
Using feasible resources
What are the priorities? 1 to 3 year horizon.
Disciplines & facilities
Minimum resources and services to make significant progress
How do we refine and socialise priorities?
How do we engage more investment in improving access?
The ultimate goal
Democratised e-Research
At universities
In schools
In companies
At home
Amateur research
Understanding decisions
Modelling personal / community options
When Linda Snell uses the Grid we’re done!
Agenda
10.00 Malcolm Atkinson: A road map for widening
engagement in e-Research
10.20 Portals case studies
11.00 Coffee
11.15 Portals case studies
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Rob Procter: Selection of breakout discussion issues
14.15 Parallel breakout sessions
16.00 Jennifer Schopf: Feedback and close
User/Developer Presentations
10.20 Discovery Net: Michelle Osmond
10.40 e-Minerals: Arnaud Marmier & Rob
Allan
11.00 Coffee
11.20 GEMEDA: Simon Peters
11.40 myGrid: Paul Fisher & Robert
Stephens
12.00 e-HTPX: David Meredith & Robert
Esnouf