Researchers from both Iowa State and University of Iowa recently announced that they are now connected to a high-speed research computer network.

Participation in the National Science Foundation’s Very High Performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS) will enhance research collaboration capabilities for the two universities.

Iowa Research Point of Presence (POP) is the connection that allows the two Iowa universities to connect to vBNS. It is partially funded by a National Science Foundation grant and is located on the University of Iowa campus.

The network currently is operating in pre-production mode and is scheduled to be fully operational by July 15, according to a press release.

Researchers use these high speed networks to share large amounts of data and to access supercomputers across the nation. This network will also make it more feasible to work with complex computer models.

Among other things, ISU and U of I researchers will work with virtual reality development, genetic mapping and global climate simulation. The network will allow the two universities to work more efficiently with each other, as well as with the 51 other institutions connected to the service.

Mike Noth, group leader for information architecture and technology assessment, UI Information Technology Services, said in a press release that the network will improve connections for more conventional Internet users by reducing Internet congestions.

“While providing improved Internet access for research, the POP connection will also improve commodity Internet access by shifting research traffic off existing Internet connections. That should make life better for all of our Internet users,” Noth said.

Internet2 is another research network developed by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development. This network will link ISU and the U of I through vBNS to 120 other institutions in the United States.

“Our involvement in the vBNS and Internet2 assures that the state of Iowa will remain at the forefront of national Internet and World Wide Web developments,” said George Covert, associate director of the ISU Computation Center.