Research
Computing
Research Computing is the section of the Office of Information Technology that provides high-end IT services to researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
These services include database creation and management, a high-performance server, a geographic information system (GIS), physical monitoring data, and other services that enable a high-quality research environment.
The Research Computing website is the access point to all of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s scientific data and information.
What we do
Scientific databases
Here you can find a complete list of STRI’s Scientific Databases. The mission of this team is to create new empty database containers in one of STRI’s production database servers (MySQL or MS SQL Server).
High Performance Computing
Our high-performance computing services program is focused on scientific computing for genomics and statistics.
Projects Portfolio
The Research Computing team provides scientists with the ability to create, assess and implement new technologies and applications as part of their research projects.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
The geographic information system (GIS) laboratory oversees the operation of STRI’s GIS portal. This tool allows users to find, view and download geographic data quickly and easily.
Physical Monitoring
STRI’s physical monitoring program began in 1972 on Barro Colorado Island and the Punta Galeta marine station. Today, the program includes nine automated weather stations, two weirs, a network of remote ocean temperature sensors deployed along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Panama, and multi-parameter ocean water quality monitoring in the Bay of Panama and Bocas del Toro. The goal of this program is to provide STRI’s scientific researchers with the high quality meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic data needed to support their research.
Internship Opportunities
Are you a university student, recent graduate or master’s student who is interested in technology and science? If so, you may wish to consider an internship in the Office of Information Technology. Internships are intended to help students pursue their professional goals and advance their intellectual skills.
Collaborations
Research Computing support services collaborates with many different research groups within STRI and other external partners and entities to support their efforts in the understanding of the tropical nature and its significance to the world at large.
Collaboration allows for people with different knowledge and skill sets to come together to solve a common problem. One perfect example of collaborative work is the interaction with “The Encyclopedia of Life” (EOL). EOL is an unprecedented effort to gather scientific knowledge about all animal and plant life with pictures, information, facts and more. STRI is a contributor for EOL and currently share information from our scientific database.
Promoting Bio-collaboration. For the past several years STRI and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) have collaborated with the Arizona State University (ASU) in the use of Symbiota, an open source software framework that allows the import and integration of multiple STRI research datasets.
Internet2 At Smithsonian
Internet2 is a non-profit consortium dedicated to bringing educational institutions together with high-speed network connections. With more than 500 partners including the Smithsonian Institution, members are able to exchange large amount of data quickly. STRI provides access to Internet2 through the Smithsonian network SInet. SInet is connected to Internet2 via the Equinix Internet Exchange facility in Ashburn, Virginia. The Smithsonian has connection to Internet1, Internet2, and at all Smithsonian facilities in the United States and Panama.
