Answers.Body: <p>This is a question to ask on the SIGCSE mailing list. A member there was primarily an educator and now works as a sort of liaison to the SIGCSE community. She will probably respond to such a question. </p>
  
  <p>I suspect that they still have grants available that, with some work on your part, might solve your needs. You might need to write up a research proposal, of course. Easy? Maybe no. Possible? Maybe yes. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-03T23:08:08.983Z
Answers.Text: If they count pedagogical research as research then it would be easy. Can you remember which SIGCSE member you're referring to? I'm not a SIGCSE member (I'm a PhD mathematician who teaches CS at my SLAC), so not sure if I can write to the mailing list, but I could write her directly. If you don't want to share in the comments here, you could always email me. My email address is in my profile. Thanks!
Answers.UserDisplayName: David White
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T00:08:55.977Z
Answers.Text: If Prof Havill is still chair of your department, ask him. He is a member and subscribed to the list.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Buffy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T00:14:49.677Z
Answers.Text: I'm trying to maintain my anonymity and also not give information without permission. A bit delicate. And I think pedagogical research would be a good possibility.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Buffy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T01:50:47.963Z
Answers.Text: He's on sabbatical. I think Tom Bressoud is a SIGCSE member too.
Answers.UserDisplayName: David White
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T12:43:28.507Z
Answers.Text: Actually, if you are teaching CS you should consider joining [SIGCSE](http://sigcse.org/sigcse/membership/join). It is very inexpensive and doesn't require also joining ACM, the parent organization.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Buffy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T15:18:26.437Z
Answers.Text: Actually, I think my department got me an ACM membership. I didn't realize SIGCSE was part of ACM. Thanks!
Answers.UserDisplayName: David White
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T15:34:16.993Z
Answers.Text: You do need to join SIGCSE separately, of course, But cheap.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Buffy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-06-03T21:18:28.990Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-06-04T00:16:26.330Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-06-04T00:16:26.330Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Buffy
Body: <p>I'm developing a big data algorithms course, and would love to teach students how to use <a href="https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/bd-streamsintro/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">IBM's InfoSphere streams platform</a>, which I once used years ago. Does anyone have experience reaching out to companies like IBM to request a version for academic purposes? First I'd need a version for me to play with and develop course materials, then maybe one for students (perhaps at a discounted price) to learn during the course. I've poked around IBM's website, but can't find any clear "contact us" email address. Hoping someone here can suggest a way forward. Thanks!</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-06-04T22:22:01.277Z
Comments.Text: So you are to teach you pupils to be customers. After Graduation, they won't be able to use the product that they learn, unless them become a customer (Same is true for Microsoft, Apple, Google, but you should consider it anyway).
Comments.UserDisplayName: ctrl-alt-delor
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-06-05T02:39:46.590Z
Comments.Text: Well, I did ask months ago on this platform for a free alternative. But no one was able to come up with one.
Comments.UserDisplayName: David White
Tags: <resource-request>
Title: Is it easy for professors to get academic versions of software from IBM?
ThreadText: # Is it easy for professors to get academic versions of software from IBM?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-03)
  
  I'm developing a big data algorithms course, and would love to teach students how to use [IBM's InfoSphere streams platform](https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/bd-streamsintro/index.html), which I once used years ago. Does anyone have experience reaching out to companies like IBM to request a version for academic purposes? First I'd need a version for me to play with and develop course materials, then maybe one for students (perhaps at a discounted price) to learn during the course. I've poked around IBM's website, but can't find any clear "contact us" email address. Hoping someone here can suggest a way forward. Thanks!
  
  **Tags:** resource-request
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: So you are to teach you pupils to be customers. After Graduation, they won't be able to use the product that they learn, unless them become a customer (Same is true for Microsoft, Apple, Google, but you should consider it anyway).  
  > **username_0**: Well, I did ask months ago on this platform for a free alternative. But no one was able to come up with one.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-06-03. Score: 1
  
  This is a question to ask on the SIGCSE mailing list. A member there was primarily an educator and now works as a sort of liaison to the SIGCSE community. She will probably respond to such a question.
  
  I suspect that they still have grants available that, with some work on your part, might solve your needs. You might need to write up a research proposal, of course. Easy? Maybe no. Possible? Maybe yes.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: If they count pedagogical research as research then it would be easy. Can you remember which SIGCSE member you're referring to? I'm not a SIGCSE member (I'm a PhD mathematician who teaches CS at my SLAC), so not sure if I can write to the mailing list, but I could write her directly. If you don't want to share in the comments here, you could always email me. My email address is in my profile. Thanks!  
  > **username_2**: If Prof Havill is still chair of your department, ask him. He is a member and subscribed to the list.  
  > **username_2**: I'm trying to maintain my anonymity and also not give information without permission. A bit delicate. And I think pedagogical research would be a good possibility.  
  > **username_0**: He's on sabbatical. I think Tom Bressoud is a SIGCSE member too.  
  > **username_2**: Actually, if you are teaching CS you should consider joining [SIGCSE](http://sigcse.org/sigcse/membership/join). It is very inexpensive and doesn't require also joining ACM, the parent organization.  
  > **username_0**: Actually, I think my department got me an ACM membership. I didn't realize SIGCSE was part of ACM. Thanks!  
  > **username_2**: You do need to join SIGCSE separately, of course, But cheap.  
  
  ---
  
  