ACADEMIA

Internet2 announced the results of the first-ever election for its newly created Internet2 Advisory Councils. Representing leaders from academia, research, and industry, Internet2's Advisory Councils provide strategic guidance, assist in setting organizational priorities, and ensure that Internet2 continues to meet the needs of the research and education community which it serves. The full list of the newly-elected members can be found at: www.internet2.edu/elections "We congratulate these new members and extend thanks to the voting representatives who elected them," said Jeffrey Lehman, chairman of the Internet2 Board of Trustees. "Each new council member brings a wealth of experience within the research and education community as well as a commitment to the mission and goals of Internet2 that will ensure our community's continued success." In early 2007, Internet2's Governance and Nominations Committee (GNC) implemented a new structure to replace the existing Internet2 Advisory Councils with four new Councils that would be more diversified, defined by operational function and more tightly connected to the Internet2 membership, to management, and to the Internet2 Board of Trustees. The new councils include: the Architecture & Operations Advisory Council (AOAC) which will focus on the network and its operations; Applications, Middleware & Services Advisory Council (AMSAC), which will provide direction on middleware and applications services; the Research Advisory Council (RAC), which will focus on Internet2's support for both network-focused research and disciplinary research; and the External Relations Advisory Council (ERAC), which will provide direction on strategic policy issues relating to industry, government, standards, and the broader community in the U.S. and internationally. Each Council has 15 members, 12 elected by the membership and 3 appointed by the Internet2 Board. The Board expects to make these appointments by the end of August, after which the Councils will be officially convened. The election results have been verified by an independent auditing firm. For more information on the Internet2 GNC report and on the advisory council election process, visit: www.internet2.edu/elections