McGill: Microsoft says server farms are destroying the planet, so we're limiting the institutional cloud disk space we're giving you to 20 GB only
CIHR: You're still required to keep all your original data sets for all your research until 5 years after the end of the grant though
Me: If you and Microsoft want to actually do something about the planet, maybe pull the plug on OpenAI instead
McGill: If you have questions about the new policy read the email again good luck bye!
This isn't a joke
Microsoft instituted a new policy limiting academic accounts to 20 GB only
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS
McGill has no internal, local research data storage service because they went all-in on Microsoft services
And yes, CIHR requires that researchers hold on to original research data for 5 years after a grant ends
Meanwhile Microsoft is boiling the fucking oceans with its AI bullshit
@researchfairy I would've thought that big institutions like McGill and other universities would have their own local storage; like, storing and sharing research data should be a university's bread and butter.
They just... surrendered it all to Microsoft.
@researchfairy @calvin My institution is following a similar path. They had a very robust IT department, and are slowly dismantling it and giving parts of it away to MS.
They are a more upfront about their reasons, though: "It reduces HR costs and responsibility for security incidents" : 😭
@calvin @researchfairy I think it's rare, we have some due to historical inertia but if it were being decided today I'm certain they would see the cost of paying someone as higher than outsourcing it.
It's been so frustrating to see us, a notable engineering school, outsourcing course websites to Canvas for some reason. You can no longer see course materials for courses you aren't in (that year!), which is very against the mission statement of a university.
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calvin 🛋️ 
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