Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging technology that decouples the network control plane from the actual data which flows across the network on the data plane. By doing so, SDN introduces the concept of programmability into the network, allowing application owners and network operators to customize network software to meet their needs. SDN has gone beyond the phase of simply being an exciting and novel technology for network operators. Large commercial ISP’s are already capitalizing on the benefits on SDN, which enables them to run their networks at close to 100% capacity. The Research and Education community has deployed it experimentally on their network backbones. Campuses are exploring its use in order for scientists to route high throughput traffic around the campus LAN and closer to the network backbone where it will get sent to their collaborators. However, much discussion is still needed around standardized SDN technical architectures. SDN enables the use of multiple forms of controller software, most of which lack interoperability. Due to the lack of standards, SDN is often used in “islands” – within a campus or internal to a data center, but rarely between campuses. This leaves the promise of SDN’s benefits unrealized. Most campuses which support distributed, high speed links and scientific research have implemented a ScienceDMZ, a standardized technical architecture. This workshop intends to explore a similar path to creating a standardized technical architecture for SDN, including discussion of a standardized point at which to exchange traffic, called an SDN Exchange, or SDX. While industry partners and collaborative network engineers can create solutions, the input from those who conduct the science is crucial because it’s their workflow which must be supported by a network. A still unexplored question is which scientific disciplines can benefit the most from an SDN optimized network? The workshop will also explore this question.