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Resource Allocation Committee

Applications for computing, storage facilities and user support resources for projects are evaluated by a Resource Allocation Committee (RFK). The RFK is composed of leading Norwegian scientists from relevant user groups who are appointed by the Sigma2 board.

The RFK evaluates the proposals and awards access to Sigma2 computing and storage resources twice per year. Proposals for access must demonstrate scientific excellence and the scientific need that the resources requested will be used efficiently. 

Sigma2 carries out the administration for the RFK and supports the Committee in the evaluation of the proposals and the allocation of the resources.

Members of the current RFK (-> 2022)

  • Alexander Nederbragt, Department of Biosciences, UiO
  • Anne Cathrine Elster. Department of Computer Science, NTNU
  • Ingve Simonsen, Department of Physics, NTNU
  • Lars Ailo Bongo, Department of Computer Science, UiT
  • Benjamin Pfeil, Geophysical Institute, UiB
  • Øystein Godøy, Norwegian Meteorological Institute    
  • Kirstin Krüger, Department of Geoscience, UiO
  • Marit Sandstad, CICERO
  • Ingeborg-Helene Svenum, NTNU/SINTEF
RFK Guidelines

Guidelines for the Resource Allocation Committee

The allocation process for computing and storage resources follows a strictly regulated and defined process. Access to the infrastructure is subject to criteria that are defined in a general policy and detailed guidelines for resource allocation.

Guidelines for the Resource Allocation Committee

A summary of the criteria:  

  • scientific merit of the research activity
  • the feasibility of using the infrastructure
  • the type of usage
  • guarantees for proper curation of the data collections

The decisions of the RFK are further guided by the following:

  • Quality and completeness of the application
  • Quality and state-of-the-art solution methods and software
  • Scientific value and impact, e.g., internationally competitive research
  • Expected measurable output in several publications and students (master and PhD).
  • Demonstrated need for access to leading-edge compute or storage facilities
  • New user groups and disciplines are given higher priority
  • The request for resources (type and amount) must be reasonable. E.g., projects that repeatedly overestimate their needs (i.e., use considerably fewer resources than they applied for) in successive allocation periods will be reduced in size.

Also, aspects of security, confidentiality, privacy, ownership, provenance and formats of the data, restrictions for access to the data, documentation and overall consistency of the supplied information are considered. Shortage of capacity is handled by prioritization of the proposals or other forms of compromise.

The Resource Allocation Committee reserves the right to alter the request for resources, especially the capacity of the requested facilities is insufficient. In such a case, an application may be reduced in size or assigned to another facility. The request for resources may also be altered if the request appears to be too large and/or the need for the number of resources is not sufficiently motivated.

RFK Mandate

The Mandate for the Resource Allocation Committee

The Mandate for the Resource Allocation Committee for e-infrastructure was adopted on 17 February 2015 and is valid from the allocation period 2015.1.

RFK Mandate

 

RFK Meetings

Minutes from RFK-meeting 2022.1
Minutes from RFK strategy seminar 2022.1
Minutes from RFK-meeting 2021.2
Minutes from RFK-meeting 2021.1
Minutes from RFK strategy seminar 2021.1
Minutes from RFK-meeting 2020.2
Minutes from RFK strategy seminar 2020.2
Minutes from RFK-meeting 2020.1

Previous RFK Committee

Replacing the Research Council of Norway as the formal owner of the resource allocation process of national e-infrastructure resources, the Board of Directors appointed the first Sigma2 Resource Allocation Committee in February 2015. 

Members of the RFK 2015 - 2018

  • Professor Knut Børve (chair), Department of Chemistry, UiB
  • Senior Lecturer Lex Nederbragt, CEES, UiO
  • Senior Researcher, Øystein Godøy, Norwegian Meterological Institute
  • Professor Noel Keenlyside, Geophysical Institute, UiB
  • Senior Engineer Dag Endresen, Natural History Museum, UiO
  • Senior Researcher Ole Anders Nøst, Akvaplan-Niva
  • Professor Ingve Simonsen, Department of Physics, NTNU
  • Senior Engineer Anders Nøklestad, Dep. of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, UiO