CTAB Tuesday April 7, 2020
Attending
- David Bantz, University of Alaska (chair)
- Mary Catherine Martinez, InnoSoft (vice chair)
- Pål Axelsson, SUNET
- Brett Bieber, University of Nebraska,
- Rachana Ananthakrishnan, Globus, University of Chicago
- Tom Barton, University Chicago and Internet2, ex-officio
Ercan Elibol, Florida Polytechnic University
Richard Frovarp, North Dakota State
- Eric Goodman, UCOP - TAC Representative to CTAB
- Chris Hable, University of Michigan
- Jon Miner, University of Wisc - Madison
- Chris Whalen, Research Data and Communication Technologies
- Jule Ziegler, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre
- Robert Zybeck, Portland Community College,
- Ann West, Internet2
- Albert Wu, Internet2
- Jessica Fink (Coltrin), Internet2
- Emily Eisbruch, Internet2
Regrets:
- John Pfeifer, University of Maryland
- Marc Wallman, North Dakota State University, InCommon Steering Rep, ex-officio
Discussion
Promoting REFEDS R&S Adoption
- There has been a push to get the message out about the importance of adopting REFEDS R&S to support work in the research community to fight COVID-19:
https://refeds.org/a/2430 - InCommon staff has been reaching out to the community around REFEDs R&S
- Many institutions have responded and signed up for REFEDs R&S
- https://www.incommon.org/federation/research-scholarship-adopters/
- There are discussions around deprecating InCommon R&S (see explanation at the bottom of this page: Research and Scholarship Category
- In some cases, InCommon R&S is hidden from discovery
InCommon Metadata Signing
- InCommon is changing logistics around metadata signing to accommodate online signing
- Have been doing parallel signing for a few days.
- Hope to move to online signing within a few days
Other
- Revisited business continuity and disaster recovery plans
- Not spinning up a bunch of new working groups at this time
CTAB check-in on well-being and revised priorities
- NIH - Much going on, clinical trials, some using federated identity, institutions joining REFEDS R&S has been helpful
- U of Alaska - most staff asked to sign a form that they will not show up on campus
- U Chicago -buildings are locked, everything has gone online,
- U Chicago has a huge research program, everything has pivoted to projects around managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the re-channeling is impressive
- Florida Polytechnic -using remote learning / teaching tools. The new normal is under control
- UC Office of President -hits close to home when you know someone who passes away from COVID19.
- U Wisconsin - U Wisconsin experts are working on the issues around COVID-19. Promoting use of REFEDs R&S.
- Eastern Washington U - School is closed for remainder of school year. Recalled students studying abroad. Using Zoom now for learning/teaching. Fielding questions on Zoom security, including Zoom Bombing. Moving to online course evaluations.
- InnoSoft - chance to reach out to clients since much of the normal business is closed during shutdown.
- SUNET - Pal: Sweden is not “locked down,” social distancing is in place per usual, universities have moved to online, using Zoom. No issues scaling up for Zoom to private cloud. Changing certificate service. Leveraging the InCommon work on the certificate service. Working on issues around logging in for certificates. There was official uptake of REFEDS R&S after Ann West’s email outreach on that
- Globus: already a distributed team, and transition to remote work was not an issue: people don’t go to downtown office now. Challenges for staff balancing work commitments with the impact of the pandemic. Globus has played a part in the research efforts to deal with COVID-19.
- North Dakota - no stay at home order yet, Fargo / West Fargo metro issued directives
- Germany - Jule: rules are different in different areas of Germany, social distancing is in effect, stay at home order is at least until April 20 in area where Jule lives.
- Portland Community College - moved teaching/learning online. Things going pretty well.
- U. Michigan - lots of effort to get the university online. Helping faculty make the adjustment. Providing support materials. Supporting Town Halls for the health system and the University CIO. Presidential debate was scheduled to be in Ann Arbor and IT staff had been preparing. Uncertain if that will happen.
- Albert - at InCommon, focus on REFEDs R&S, seeing progress, LA has never been quieter or had cleaner air quality, LAX is pretty quiet, birds chirping, LA mayor providing daily updates. Growth of problem seems to be slowing, Critical weeks coming up
- Challenging situations around childcare for many IT staff
Did not discuss the remaining items, add to next CTAB call agenda:
- Entity attribute WG update (Albert)
- Followup/reaction/discussion on the Call to Action to help with COVID-19 research and more…
- Could CTAB host ongoing office hours to help participants adopt best practices:
R&S or
https endpoints or
SIRTFI… - Discuss Office Hours in the slack channel.
- Noted that UC is only at 50% R&S support level. Eric will be doing outreach to increase that.
- Standing updates from related working groups/committees - who would you like to hear from?
- REFEDS Baseline
https://wiki.refeds.org/display/GROUPS/Baseline+Expectations+Working+Group
▪ No update
REFEDS ErrorURL https://wiki.refeds.org/display/GROUPS/Best+Practice+around+Error+Handling
▪ No update
REFEDS Assurance (the MFA/SFA entity category discussion) https://wiki.refeds.org/display/GROUPS/Assurance+Working+Group
▪ No update, next call will take place on Thu 9th of April
◦ Seamless Access Entity Attributes WG https://seamlessaccess.org/about/community/
◦ Others?
- REFEDS Baseline
https://wiki.refeds.org/display/GROUPS/Baseline+Expectations+Working+Group
Next CTAB Call: Wed. April 21, 2020