Scientific Workflow

Progress in ecological and environmental sciences depends on the quantitative and repeatable analysis of data from a variety of sources. Most scientists conduct analyses and run models in several different software and hardware environments, mentally coordinating the export and import of data from one environment to another. Scientific Workflows attempt to formalize this ad-hoc process so that scientists can design, execute, and communicate analytical procedures repeatedly and with minimal effort. Scientific workflows are superficially similar to business process workflows but have several demanding challenges not present in the scenario for business workflows.

In this workshop, we will explore several fundamental aspects of scientific workflows (particularly those with relevance to environmental data) in an attempt to create opportunities for collaboration among US and UK researchers. We will examine several topics, including:

• Languages for representing Scientific Workflows (e.g., MoML, DPML)
• Interoperability among scientific workflow environments (e.g., Kepler, DiscoveryNet, GeoVista Studio, Taverna/Scufl/Freefluo, Triana, Chimera, Pegasus, ...)
• Models of computation: controlling space, time, and context
• Distributed computation, code migration, and scientific workflows
• Using existing scientific codes in workflow environments

The agenda will be arranged with some initial presentations to set the stage for the later discussions. By the end of the workshop, we will produce a high-level outline of our discussion findings, and a list of action items to stimulate international collaboration on scientific workflow systems.

09:30-10:30 Presentations
   # 1: Models of computation in scientific workflows (TBD)
   # 2: Distributed computation, scientific codes, and the Grid (TBD)
   # 3: Interoperability: workflow languages and environments (TBD)
10:30-11:00 Tea and Coffee
11:00-12:30 Discussion: Models of computation: space, time, and context
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Discussion: Distributed workflows and the Grid
15:00-16:30 Workflow interoperability: workflow languages
15:30-16:00 Tea and Coffee
16:00-17:00 Workflow interoperability: workflow environments
17:00-18:00 Outline workshop findings and action items for report
18:00 Close