GRIDS@SC:

UNM-DEVELOPED TRIBAL CONSORTIUM FEATURED AT SC2003

The Tribal Virtual Network (TVN), a University of New Mexico-developed consortium of Native American museums and centers that uses technology to overcome the "digital divide," will be among a handful of special technology projects featured at Supercomputing Global (SC2003), an international conference highlighting developments in high-performance computing and networking.

Created by researchers at the Arts of the Americas Institute (AAI) in the UNM College of Fine Arts, TVN connects members using a low-bandwidth connection over an inSORS Access Grid allowing two-way, real time communication via the Internet.

In addition to the AAI, consortium members include the High Performance Computing@UNM, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Jemez Department of Education, Jicarilla Apache Cultural Center, Pojoaque Poeh Arts Center and Pueblo of Zuni.

Representing UNM at SC2003, set to take place Nov. 15-21 in Phoenix, will be AAI Associate Director Maria Williams, TVN Coordinator Julie Frendle and Lee Derks, a TVN systems technologist.

Consortium members will give a 45-minute demonstration "to clarify to the scientific community what the digital divide means to Native Americans and demonstrate how collaborative technologies can unite diverse communities," Williams said.

"The TVN/Access Grid project has the potential to establish virtual interactive environments for exchange, long distance education and potential economic development projects such as e-commerce. The project has already been used by the National Indian Council on Aging for an elders event focused on diabetes awareness," Williams said.

SC2003 is the 15th annual event and includes participation from 60 constellation and satellite sites, representing 12 countries, five sovereign tribal nations and five continents.

For details about SC Global, including the schedule of events and information on how to participate as remote sites, please visit http://www.sc-conference.org/sc2003/global.html.