Kentucky teachers and students will have access to more interactive, high-tech learning opportunities and professional development through Internet2, thanks to a new partnership between the University of Pennsylvania's MAGPI program and the Kentucky Regional Optical Network (KyRON), a statewide network sponsored by the Council on Postsecondary Education, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The Internet2 Network, a high-performance, high-bandwidth national network specifically dedicated to research and education, is available to the Kentucky P-20 education community through KyRON. Mid-Atlantic Gigapop in Philadelphia for Internet2 (MAGPI) is nationally known for its innovative approach to educational programming and is operated by the University of Pennsylvania, a founding member of the Internet2 consortium and creator of the ENIAC, the world's first general purpose computer. The new partnership with MAGPI will increase the number and variety of applications available on KyRON. "These new applications could let students explore the effects of HIV on the immune system with an emergency room doctor in Pennsylvania, learn about the operation of a modern astronomical observatory with scientists in Hawaii, or take a guided virtual tour of Earth's polar regions with NASA scientists, and more-all from the convenience of the classroom," said Lee Todd, president of the University of Kentucky. "We are pleased that the Internet2 community recognizes the collaboration already in place in the Kentucky P-20 community and we are proud that KyRON is one of 23 regional network connectors to the Internet2 Network. This distinction has helped put Kentucky on the national network map and enables all the applications not possible in the commodity Internet," said James Ramsey, president of the University of Louisville. "Kentucky has made great strides in building and expanding access to leading-edge technology for its students. We believe the Commonwealth is poised to become a model for other states that are working to build strong regional networks," said Greg Palmer, director of the MAGPI/I2 Initiative at Penn. Under an 18-month contract, MAGPI will provide all K-20 academic institutions in Kentucky with access to its interactive programs, as well as assistance in developing Kentucky-specific Internet2 applications. MAGPI will also provide professional development for the P-20 education community through workshops on the use of videoconferencing and integration of technology applications into the classroom, as well as through special sessions from organizations including NASA, NOAA, the National Park Service, the Department of Energy and the Library of Congress. "Access to MAGPI's outstanding programs and expertise will offer Kentucky students and teachers learning opportunities they may not have otherwise had due to limited resources," said Jon Draud, commissioner of education. "These programs literally bring the world to our classrooms." The expansion, development and training processes resulting from this new partnership will serve as a model for other states to expand use of Internet2 to the P-20 education community through regional networks. In addition, MAGPI will use its national and international network of people and technologies to assist Kentucky's research institutions in technology mapping, infrastructure consultation and grant writing by providing specialized expertise. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with MAGPI to assist Kentucky educators in bringing their own creative ideas to life in the classroom," said Dr. Richard Crofts, interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education. For more information about the Kentucky Regional Optical Network, visit its Web site. For more information about MAGPI programs, visit its Web site.