Commitment to Science
Computing plays a critical role in advancing research across almost every scientific discipline. With an exponentially-increasing deluge of data, today’s scientific processes are seeing the emergence of, and a growing need for, a fresh paradigm: data-driven science or eScience. The next wave of discovery and innovation will be based on powerful computation and on data mining, knowledge management, and new and exciting data sharing technologies. Microsoft is dedicated to the support and collaboration necessary to advance science through eScience technologies. Microsoft’s active commitment to scientific discovery is evident in the development and creation of products and tools that facilitate, support and enhance the work done by the global scientific community. We think it makes sense to help scientists, engineers, and researchers spend more time on discovery and less time on data handling and systems management. Additional Support for Science and Scientists Information technology continues to fuel and impact consumer and enterprise computing around the world. Microsoft believes that collaboration between the public and private sectors, plus the power of computing will transform scientists’ ability to solve the toughest and most urgent challenges facing humanity today, in fields like medicine, environmental science, and engineering. With the guidance and support of distinguished scientists, including members of the Microsoft Science Advisory Board and the global research community, we are committed to building tools and technologies that have the potential to both strengthen and accelerate advances in long-term basic research. Advancing Water Research and Management at Berkeley Water Center Meeting the water needs of the human race is certainly one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Recognizing the need for useful advanced tools for investigating and managing water resources, Microsoft is collaborating with the Berkeley Water Center in an effort to develop a prototype cyber-infrastructure that enables scientists to easily assimilate the disparate datasets necessary to advance water research and management, such as data collected from networked micro-sensors and global satellite platforms. This infrastructure will serve two different water-related communities: The Ameriflux community, which is focused on understanding carbon and water fluxes through the use of a suite of environmental observatories around the United States, and a water community focused on exploring the sustainability of California's water resources. The joint effort not only provides cutting-edge data handling tools for water resources investigations and management but also accelerates the realization of research results in tools and applications. |
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