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IBM Academic Initiative partners with UT [The Daily Texan] THE DAILY TEXAN University | 2/25/2005 IBM Academic Initiative partners with UT By Kimberly Garza Media Credit: Annie Snodgrass Linux Security lead Doc Shankar speaks to college dignitaries from over 30 colleges at the sixth annual IBM CAS Conference on Thursday at the IBM campus. Representatives from more than 30 universities, from Puerto Rico to Wisconsin, descended on Austin Wednesday to take part in the sixth annual IBM Austin Center for Advanced Studies Conference. During the event, IBM announced that UT-Austin, along with UT-El Paso and two other universities, will be named a partner in IBM's Academic Initiative program. "[This program] deepens the partnership between IBM and academia on preparing the workforce of the future," said Margaret Ashida, director of IBM's university talent programs and the conference's keynote speaker. Academic Initiative, launched earlier this year, offers selected schools free access to IBM hardware and software, technology and curriculum development, and training for both faculty and students. IBM estimates the value of this new relationship with the University to be nearly $5 million. Ashida described the future relationship between the industry and the University as "symbiotic," with IBM supplying faculty with various grants and technological training, and the University providing IBM with future contracts. "It's really a collaboration between IBM and the UT System. I think that's what's unique about it," she said. J. Strother Moore, chair of the UT computer sciences department, said that the partnership will be good for the University. "Our department is one of the top 10 computer science departments in the country. We've long had a really great relationship with IBM," he said. "It's necessary. It's like saying that astronomers need to have a good relationship with stars." Also announced Wednesday, the University will be awarded an additional IBM Shared University Research Grant for its grid computing program, headed by Texas Advanced Computing Center. "We're attempting to create a campus-wide grid for research and education here at UT," said Tina Romanella de Marquez, TACC manager for development and external relations. The grid would be a computer network for distributing knowledge and information. She said the grant would go toward retaining two IBM employees who are currently assisting with the project for another year. "Having [the IBM employees'] expertise from an implementation standpoint is critical to making sure that this project is successful," said Romanella de Marquez. Jason Huie, a computer sciences senior, is optimistic about the University's partnership with IBM. "Not only is it good for [UT students] because we'll be around all the technology, but we'll be able to gain experience with it and hopefully be actively involved in its development," he said. "This gives us a good perspective on how hardware gets developed. As a computer scientist, that's really important." Ashida said she believes this kind of program will benefit all other fields of education, not just computer science. "Technology has become so interwoven in all disciplines. It's a capability that all students need," she said. "Just imagine what new things could happen." http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/02/25/University/Ibm-Academic.Initiative.Partners.With.Ut-877556.shtml