A Study of Cloud Computing Based Model to Facilitate Collaborative Research

IJAEDU- International E-Journal of Advances in Education, Vol. I, Issue 2, August 2015 A STUDY OF CLOUD COMPUTING BASED MODEL TO FACILITATE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH Rahul Wargad1* and Manimala Puri2 1 2 Rearch Scholar, Savitri Bai Phule Pune University, India, Prof. Dr., JSPM, Savitri Bai Phule Pune University, India, *Corresponding author Abstract This paper examines how Cloud computing technology can facilitate collaborative research amongst the researchers belonging to different universities and countries. Research over has evolved from simple, controlled research to very complex having multiple dimensions. With the fast development in areas, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individual researchers to conduct innovative research and trailblaze on their own. This paper is conceptual in nature wherein qualitative method has been used to substantiate the significant issues in collaborative research. An attempt is made to explore the possible solutions to facilitate collaborative research with the help of Cloud computing technology in order to make certain vital observations to lay down conclusion. For hundreds of years human beings have been conducting research independently or in various universities or labs. However in recent years due to the advent of advanced communication technologies the world has became a global village. Researchers in various parts of world are involved in research in various areas with or without much experience. Cloud computing in Collaborative research can facilitate (a) Combined efforts of many good researchers for excellent outcomes, (b) Creativity, (c) Sharing experience of all researchers, (d) Get funding from multiple organizations from different countries, (e) Sharing of techniques, (f) Cost effective use of common computing resources. The findings of this paper contribute to literature on Cloud computing technology for collaborative research. In addition, the research has focussed on the benefits of collaborative research which adds value and is key aspect of the novelty of this research. Keywords: Cloud computing, Collaborative research, Cloud computing technology in research. 1. INTRODUCTION Collaboration at different levels, at inter-institutional and international collaboration’s exited for a long time however it had lot of limitations. Cloud computing technology can built strong bonds collaborations. Global High capacity bandwidth connectivity, powerful computing resources and digitalization is changing the landscape of collaboration in research. Collaboration at global scale are vital for various common problems like climate change, poverty and common curiosity in the field of astronomy and astrophysics and common requirements in areas of biomolecular simulation, & drug design, and big data analysis for global business needs. Cloud computing gives mandate for collaborative research and quality higher education for all, where in content and resources like computing, storage, infrastructure, platform and softwares can be shared. As a disruptive technology cloud computing can transform the very nature of how education and research use information technology. Cloud computing has many benefits like speeding up scientific discovery, doing collaborative research. http://ijaedu.ocerintjournals.org 142 IJAEDU- International E-Journal of Advances in Education, Vol. I, Issue 2, August 2015 Cloud computing has ability to provide resources that met the requirements of a much wider range of researchers. Cloud computing has been envisioned as the technology for researchers to collaborate and think beyond the boundaries of our planet. Today researchers are tied up with the boundaries of lab, research institute, university or country. Cloud can break these boundaries and make researchers collaborate and work globally for common objectives of mankind. Research will get a new identity of planet earth research by someone from our universe or other universe from our or any other milky way. With cloud technology numerous initiatives can be taken with the aim of developing collaboration among individual researchers working in same domain by bringing them together under one umbrella of either larger centres of excellence irrespective of their locations, and bringing together researchers for interdisciplinary research. 2. NEED FOR COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH The term “Research Collaboration” is used to describe the relationship between individuals but also relationship between organizations and between individuals with organization. Collaboration can be defined as “Social process whereby human beings pool their experience, knowledge and social skills with the objective of producing new knowledge, including knowledge as embedded in technology”. (Bozeman, 2014, p. 2). Collaboration usually involves two or more researchers within an institution or in different institutions, working either in the same field or in different scientific fields or sectors of the economy A number of factors have contributed to a trend towards increased collaboration. The growing complexity and cost of research, especially in disciplines requiring specialized instrumentation or facilities, tend to take collaboration an imperative. Similarly, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research has assumed greater significance, as new ideas are explored at the intersection of previously distinct fields and as public expectations about the outcome of research look to more holistic and global approaches to research challenges. Finally, issues such as climate change or global pandemic health challenges, which by their nature transcend national borders, demand international collaboration. Collaboration facilitates the sharing of meaning and completion of tasks with respect to a mutually shared super ordinate goal, and which takes place in a particular social or work setting (Sonnenwald, 2000,p.461). Interdisciplinary collaboration occurs when people with different educational and research backgrounds bring complementary skills to bear on a problem or task. Interdisciplinary collaboration is often needed to address complex problems, the solutions to which require knowledge and resources from more than one discipline. Clark (Clark, 1995) identified over 8530 disciplines and fields of knowledge. During interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, scientists exchange tools and methods, utilize diverse paradigms and cross-fertilize disciplinary concepts (Klein, 1994, p.7). In the areas of High-energy physics, human-genome project, social impact of computing, telemedicine etc. the questions that researchers ask are becoming more and more complex. Collaborative efforts are required to investigate to answer these complex questions. Physicists throughout the world pool resources to solve the problems related to high energy physics, nuclear physics , bio molecular simulation, astronomy and astrophysics and work together to develop models, methods and software tools. Normally a signif (...truncated)