IRNC Backbone: SXTransPORT Pacific Islands Research and Education Network

该项目建立在成熟合作伙伴先前成功工作的基础上，支持和扩大主要的国际研究和教育 (R&E) 网络连接，支持涉及太平洋和大洋洲的美国研究人员和学生的全球科学合作。 该项目有两个主要目标。 首先，它利用之前的 NSF 投资和成熟的国际合作伙伴关系来维持对当前从澳大利亚 (AARNet) 和新西兰 (REANNZ) 到美国的弹性生产 2 x 40Gbps 海底光纤连接的支持，并在 2016 年将这些连接升级到 2 x 100Gbps。 由于连接澳大利亚和新西兰的光纤经过夏威夷，该项目还连接了世界上最重要的国际天文站点之一莫纳克亚山（夏威夷岛）以及哈雷阿卡拉（毛伊岛）的国际天文台。 该项目利用跨太平洋海底光纤骨干网来终止和传输美国主要开放 R&E 网络交换和枢纽的连接。 其次，该项目在整个太平洋岛屿的 R&E 网络能力建设方面发挥了领导作用，太平洋岛屿是地球上最受气候变化影响的地区，也是世界上最后一个没有区域 R&E 网络倡议的地区。 这种在天文学、海洋学、高能物理、珊瑚礁研究等领域的国际研究合作的促进作用体现了智力价值和更广泛的影响。 深入太平洋岛屿提供了一个无与伦比的机会，让太平洋岛民参与广泛的科学研究和教育计划，这些计划对他们的社区来说既有吸引力（天文学），又对其社区至关重要（海洋学、生物多样性、珊瑚礁健康和气候变化），而太平洋岛民在 STEM 领域的代表性严重不足。

This project builds on the successful prior work of proven partners to support and expand the primary international research and education (R&E) network connections supporting global scientific collaborations involving U.S. researchers and students in the Pacific and Oceania. The project has two main thrusts. First, it leverages prior NSF investments and mature international partnerships to maintain support for the current resilient production 2 x 40Gbps submarine fiber connections from Australia (AARNet) and New Zealand (REANNZ) to the U.S. and, in 2016, upgrades these connections to 2 x 100Gbps. Since the fiber connecting Australia and New Zealand passes through Hawaii, the project also connects one of the world's most important international astronomy sites, Mauna Kea (Hawaii Island), as well as the international observatories on Haleakala (Maui). The project leverages the trans-Pacific submarine fiber backbone to terminate and transport the connections at major U.S. open R&E network exchanges and hubs. Second, the project provides leadership in R&E network capacity building throughout the Pacific Islands, the region of the planet most on the front line of climate change and the last area of the world with no regional R&E network initiative. Intellectual merit and broader impact are reflected in this enabling role for international research collaborations in astronomy, oceanography, high energy physics, coral reef research and more. Outreach into the Pacific Islands provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage Pacific Islanders, who are highly underrepresented in STEM fields, in a wide range of scientific research and education initiatives that are both appealing (astronomy) as well as of critical concern to their communities (oceanography, biodiversity coral reef health, and climate change).