Biomatters Limited and New Zealand’s Bioinformatics Institute announce the first release of new Geneious software for grid computing on BeSTGRID, the Broadband enabled Science and Technology Grid running on KAREN, the Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network that provides high-speed, high-capacity internet to New Zealand academics, researchers and educators.

KAREN Members have been quick to take advantage of the REANNZ Capability Build Fund (CBF), with round two of the project fund now under consideration by judges on the Advisory Panel. An unenviable task judging a fund that is oversubscribed by 700%; but a strong indication that the KAREN community is recognising the need for capability growth to participate in the new potential offered through eResearch and education collaborations over KAREN.

Saturday 15 December marked the first-year anniversary of KAREN.

Media release

ITPs and wānanga offered free KAREN membership for 2008

REANNZ Ltd is accelerating the reach of KAREN by offering free network membership to institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) and wānanga for the 2008 calendar year.

The Institutional Capability Build Fund is now open for applications. The purpose of this negotiated round of the Capability Build Fund is to accelerate our members’ institutional capability to exploit KAREN’s full value. $50,000 per member institution is available to support staff time investment in KAREN capability development and awareness raising activities.

If you are quick off the mark you might be able to attend the next AAF Workshop at Macquarie University in Sydney, 17 - 18 December.

Aspiring grid researchers are invited to participate in an international grid school, hosted by The International Collaboration to Extend and Advance Grid Education.