The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division (UC ANR) and the Corporation for Education Network
Initiatives in California (CENIC) have connected key UC ANR
facilities to CENIC’s ultra-fast 100Gbps research and education
network, extending ultra-broadband capacity to UC researchers in
rural sites across California.
UC ANR is comprised of nine Research and Extension Centers
(RECS) and 57 local UC Cooperative Extension offices. These
facilities, until now, have been hampered by poor Internet
connectivity to support the 700 UC academic researchers who are
engaged with community and industry partners to ensure that
California has healthy food systems, environments, and
communities.
The UC ANR RECS extend from the Oregon border in the north,
through the Sierra foothills and Central Valley, along the Pacific
Coast and south to the Mexican border. The REC facilities are
situated among California’s rich and unique agricultural and
natural resources, and they connect both applied and basic
scientific research and extension activities to regional challenges
and issues in these diverse settings. Today nearly all research and
data analysis involve remote collaboration. In order to work
effectively and efficiently on multi-institutional projects,
researchers depend heavily on high-speed networks and access to
large data sets and computing resources.
One of the first RECS to be connected is the UC Kearney
Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located in rural Fresno
County between the small cities of Parlier and Reedley. The Kearney
REC now has very high-speed broadband capability, far surpassing
the speeds typically available outside urban centers.
“The Internet at Kearney was like a drinking straw delivering
and retrieving information, when what we needed was a fire hose,”
said Gabe Youtsey, chief information officer for UC ANR.
“High-speed, broadband Internet at Kearney will allow UC ANR to
lead innovative, on-farm agriculture technology research and
extension for the UC in the Central Valley. It will allow Kearney
researchers to share big data and big computing among UCs and
globally.“
Currently, offices, laboratories and meeting facilities at
Kearney have access to this high-speed Internet. In the coming
months, high-speed wireless connectivity will become available
throughout the 330-acre center. Researchers will be able to collect
and upload data without having to make a stop in their offices or
laboratories.
“You can’t do big data with dial-up Internet speed,” said
Jeffery Dahlberg, director of the UC ANR Kearney REC. “Before this
upgrade, our Internet was slower than my home internet speeds. Now
we have speeds more like you will find on UC campuses.”
Dalberg noted that high-speed Internet will become a powerful
research tool allowing our researchers to collect and share data in
real-time.“For instance, a researcher can use an infrared camera in
a field collecting readings to determine how a crop responds to
heat as it changes throughout the day, but even this modest
instrument needs significant bandwidth,” he said. “We now have the
bandwidth to do that.”
The research center draws hundreds of farmers to the site for
meetings and field days. With the new capability, those that live
too far way to travel to Kearney will be able to tune into
real-time video streams.
Many of UC ANR’s research and extension centers are in areas
even more remote than Kearney. The Hopland (Mendocino County) and
Desert (Holtville, Imperial County) RECs are now online and
connected to the CENIC Network. By the end of the academic year
(June 2017), West Side (western San Joaquin Valley), Hansen (Santa
Clara Valley), South Coast (Orange County), Intermountain
(Tulelake), Sierra Foothill (Browns Valley) and Lindcove (Tulare
County), will all be on the CENIC Network. UC’s environmental
education center for Bay Area youth, Elkus Ranch, will also be
connected to high-speed Internet via CENIC.
“CENIC is one of the most advanced research and education
networks in the world and a critical resource for University of
California research, education, and clinical communities,” said Tom
Andriola, UC Vice President and Chief Information Officer and CENIC
Board member. “Extending the CENIC network to the full UC community
— including UC ANR’s key research and education sites — is
essential to the UC mission. Today we have achieved a significant
milestone, thanks to the dedication of both CENIC and ANR
leadership.”
About UC ANR | www.ucanr.edu
The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is a
statewide network of University of California researchers and
educators dedicated to the creation, development and application of
knowledge in agricultural, natural and human resources. The
University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural
Resources is the bridge between local issues and the power of UC
research. ANR's advisors, specialists and faculty bring practical,
science-based answers to Californians.
ANR works hand in hand with industry to enhance agricultural
markets, help the balance of trade, address environmental concerns,
protect plant health, and provide farmers with scientifically
tested production techniques and Californians with increased food
safety. ANR is comprised of
- 200 locally based Cooperative Extension
advisors and specialists
- 57 local offices throughout
California
- 130 campus-based Cooperative Extension
specialists
- 9 Research and Extension Centers
- 6 statewide programs
- 700 academic researchers in 40
departments at 3 colleges and 1 professional school:
- UC Berkeley College of Natural
Resources
- UC Davis College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences
- UC Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine
- UC Riverside College of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences
About CENIC | www.cenic.org
CENIC connects California to the world—advancing education and
research statewide by providing the world-class network essential
for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. This nonprofit
organization operates the California Research & Education
Network (CalREN), a high-capacity network designed to meet the
unique requirements of over 20 million users, including the vast
majority of K-20 students together with educators, researchers, and
other vital public-serving institutions. CENIC’s Charter Associates
are part of the world’s largest education system; they include the
California K-12 system, California Community Colleges, the
California State University system, California’s Public Libraries,
the University of California system, Stanford, Caltech, and USC.
CENIC also provides connectivity to leading-edge institutions and
industry research organizations around the world, serving the
public as a catalyst for a vibrant California.
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CENICLee Ann Weber, 714.220.3465lweber@cenic.org