Abstract:
This talk will address key topics about the trends and the potential impact of Scholarly Communications and Virtual Research Environments for scientific research and the academic world in general. Collecting and analyzing data, authoring, publishing, and preserving information are all essential components of the everyday work of researchers. Technology is playing an increasingly fundamental role in supporting this scholarly communication lifecycle. Some examples of research projects jointly developed by Microsoft Research and Academia worldwide will be described showing Microsoft's commitment to scientific research and also to strengthen the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) research agenda in Latin America towards a sustainable and sustained growth in the region.

Biography:
Jaime Puente is a Senior Research Program Manager of Microsoft External Research and is responsible for Microsoft Research's external engagement in Latin America. Microsoft's External Research is a key part of Microsoft's Research program and works closely with Academia and Research institutions in helping solve some of the world's most challenging scientific and social problems. Prior to joining Microsoft Research, Jaime spent 13 years as a faculty member in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Escuela Superior Politénica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Ecuador. Jaime Puente was a Fulbright Scholar for his early engagement with Academia. It was during his time as a Fulbright Scholar that he started to lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields exploring how academia and industry needs intersect. His educational background includes a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University, and a Masters of Business Administration and an Electronics Engineering degree both from ESPOL in Ecuador. Jaime Puente is currently a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences at NOVA Southeastern University in Florida, USA. His main research interests are in computing for the developing world and educational technology.