UC San Diego Library

In 2009, the original Blueprint for the Digital University set the stage for UC San Diego’s many accomplishments in cyberinfrastructure over the following decade. Many contemporary services and infrastructure used across campus have their origins in this document and subsequent projects. But research evolves, new needs arise, and new requirements are placed on researchers. Thus, campus leadership recognized the need for a new, updated Blueprint, helping point the way to the next generation of support.

To compile this new Blueprint, the Research Computing and Data Services Governance Committee engaged in a multi-year process to obtain expert input into the future of research and research technology, including consulting a faculty advisory group, surveying campus faculty, engaging in in-depth interviews with UC San Diego administrators such as the Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Research, and conducting faculty focus groups.

This document outlines the priorities and directions our University must take to maximize new discoveries, increase funding, facilitate science, comply with regulatory demands and propel us forward in the decade to come.

The themes described in this document come from trends in research processes and workflow, and are not specific to UC San Diego. This document is being shared publicly with the hope that it will be of assistance to other institutions facing similar generational evolution in both the conduct of research and in their research support infrastructure.