LAUREN | Latin American University Research & Education Networks

OUR Mission

"LAUREN and its members unite the Americas with technology to spread peace and prosperity through societal empowerment rising from the advancement of science and education.”

Through international collaborations, scientists have the power to build bridges of understanding between cultures. They can rise above the conflicts of nations and provide a voice for rationality and peace. The maintenance of international scientific alliances, therefore, is of the utmost importance. As close neighbors, North and South America, in particular, have the potential to further develop the relationships necessary for maintaining an atmosphere of understanding and stability in the Western Hemisphere. Through rigorous investments in education and knowledge-sharing, the Western Hemispheric nations will be united in their search for innovative and peaceful approaches to life in a global information society.

membership + CONNECTIONS

LAUREN’s members believe that an investment in research and education is ultimately an investment in the peace, prosperity and unity of nations.

Membership in LAUREN is open to all research or education-oriented organizations. Annual dues are $20,000 U.S.

BENEFITS

Network access to existing projects such as the National LambdaRail, ESNet, NREN, FLR, CalRen, and Abilene in the U.S., and GEANT, ANSP, SingAREN, AARNet, and APAN worldwide. Peering is dependant upon mutually agreed-upon terms.

Connections to peers ranging from Layer 2 Ethernet 10/100 Mbps or SONET/SDH rates from 155 Mbps to 10 Gbps are available.

In joining LAUREN, members express a commitment to using network technologies to advance the state of research, education and peace in the Americas.

Members are eligible to become connectors, or “asset stewards”. Responsibilities include the initial setup and continued management of their operation. Connectors also are required to handle all physical and business arrangements for the participants in their country who are connecting through them. In effect, stewards are the pro-term owners of the network asset for the period of their LAUREN membership.

ABOUT LAUREN

LAUREN enables the Western Hemisphere’s leading research and education networks by procuring and delivering equipment, spectrum, bandwidth, peering, and support for the greater good of the students, teachers, and researchers through-out the Americas. Over the last fifteen years this infrastructure has transformed the lives of over 300 million people with never before possible connectivity and communications. LAUREN’s mission is to enable National and Regional efforts, led by the corresponding organizations. LAUREN is a resource and a partner to all those who seek the betterment of international science, education and general research collaboration. The history of LAUREN is one of supporting these networking goals that are changing society and the world.

LAUREN is proud to have contributed to the success of the following organizations that have leveraged LAUREN for their network creations and operations:

The AmLight-ExP Consortium, ANSP, RNP, AURA, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, CIARA, University of the West Indies, Red CLARA, CNTI Venezuela, Guatemala-RAGIE, El Salvador and Senacyt Panama.

GOVERNANCE

LAUREN is directed by a board of representatives from the research and education networks and seeks to accept the donated efforts of people and resources to enable overhead free operations through the generosity of our donors and volunteers.

Donate now!
Volunteer your time for engineering services, provisioning, acquisition, or more! (service@laurenfound.org )

Contribute to LAUREN Foundation to enable more connectivity and opportunities for the peoples of North and South America