HPC in the News
Global Forum: Innovation Creates Opportunity, Causes Disruption
Network World
The 23rd Global Forum, an annual gathering of technology leaders, was held two weeks ago in Geneva, Switzerland, bringing together representatives from international organizations, vendors, service providers, academia, and government agencies from 35 countries. Among the issues discussed at the forum was the future of product delivery, with Gary Shapiro of the Consumer Electronics Association saying three new methods--driverless cars, unmanned aerial vehicles, and three-dimensional printing--will become widespread between 2020 and 2030. The European Commission's Bror Salmelin said innovation was moving toward an Innovations Network model led by "curators and bridgers." Wireless innovator Willie Lu discussed efforts to bring the Internet to commercial air travel, including an Air China program providing passengers with 30MB high-speed Internet access. During a keynote session, Telecom ParisTech professor Gerard Pogorel highlighted some issues surrounding the "situation of the digital citizen," including productivity gains not translating into growth, technology failing to penetrate into the sphere of education, and democracy remaining largely unchanged by technological innovations. To read further, please visit http://www.networkworld.com/article/2851614/lan-wan/global-forum-innovation-creates-opportunity-causes-disruption.html.
Analysis of Current and Future Computer Science Needs
The wealth of faculty searches in Computer Science during this hiring season for positions starting in the Fall of 2015 affords the opportunity to study areas of Computer Science where departments are choosing to invest in new faculty hires. While the number and areas for faculty searches does not necessarily translate into the same for faculty hires, we believe that they provide insight into current and future needs within the discipline. We analyzed ads from 223 institutions for hundreds of tenure-track faculty positions in Computer Science. Overall, the clusters of Big Data, Security and Systems/Networking are the areas of greatest investment. From a research perspective, the 122 institutions in our study granting PhDs in Computer Science are twice as likely to be seeking to fill positions in Big Data in comparison with BS and MS institutions. To read further, please visit http://www.cccblog.org/2014/11/25/analysis-of-current-and-future-computer-science-needs-via-advertised-faculty-searches/.
National Robotics Initiative (NRI)
Last week the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture and NASA announced $31.5 million in new awards to spur the development and use of robots that work cooperatively with people (known as co-robots). The awards mark the third round of funding made through the National Robotics Initiative (NRI), a multi-agency program launched in September 2012 as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Initiative, with NSF as the lead federal agency. The 52 new research awards, ranging from $300,000 to $1.8 million over one to four years, advance fundamental understanding of robotic sensing, motion, computer vision, machine learning and human-computer interaction. To read further, please visit http://www.cccblog.org/2014/11/24/national-robotics-initiative-nri/.
Architectural Surprises Underpin New HPC Benchmark Results
HPCwire
One of the most heated debates in supercomputing circles over the last several years has been around the continued validity of the current basis of the Top 500 ranking of the fastest systems in the world, the high performance LINPACK (HPL) benchmark. Out of these many criticisms, one of the founders of the original LINPACK benchmark, Dr. Jack Donarra (Oak Ridge National Lab, University of Tennessee) and a small team have worked diligently to address the one pain point many centers felt over HPL—it didn’t adequately measure the potential to express real application performance consistent with the big numbers around peak and theoretical peak figures. While we’ve written about the value of both LINPACK and the new benchmark here and here, the fact is, the new HPCG effort is finally getting some legs—and the newest results are in. As we are careful to note each time HPCG comes up, this new measurement is not meant to replace the Top 500 rankings. Rather, the two are complementary, with each serving as a “bookend” wherein actual application performance can be found somewhere between. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/2014/12/01/architectural-surprises-underpin-new-hpc-benchmark-results/.
NASA Debuts Stunning CO2 Visualization
In keeping with the SC spirit of HPC matters, we wanted to share another amazing example of supercomputing in action. Last week, NASA officials released the first ever ultra-high-resolution computer model of global atmospheric carbon dioxide. The simulation, which can be seen below, depicts the puffs and swirls of carbon dioxide as it circumnavigates the globe. While we wrote about the hardware that enabled the project previously, the simulation and resultant visualization merit further attention. Solid data for ground-level carbon dioxide measurements goes back decades, but it was only in July that NASA began tracking global space-based carbon levels, thanks to the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, the first NASA satellite mission to provide a global view of carbon dioxide. The new computer model, called GEOS-5, was created by scientists at NASA Goddard’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/2014/11/25/nasa-debuts-stunning-co2-visualization/.
New HPC System Installed at HLRS in Germany
The Gauss Centre for Supercomputing (GCS) announced that its member centre High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS) successfully completed the installation of HPC system “Hornet.” The new HLRS supercomputer, a CRAY XC40 system which delivers a peak performance of 3.8 PetaFlops, has been declared fully operational and will be available for its scientific and industrial usership as of immediately. HLRS’s new Cray XC40 system is based on the new Intel Xeon processors, formerly code-named “Haswell,” and the Cray Aries system interconnect. In its current configuration state, Hornet consists of 21 cabinets hosting 3,944 compute nodes, which sums up to a total of 94,656 compute cores. The system’s main memory capacity is 493 Terabyte. Users will specifically benefit from the now quadrupled storage space the HLRS supercomputing infrastructure provides: 5.4 Petabyte of file storage with an Input/Output speed in the range of 150GB/s are available to meet the performance challenges of today’s most demanding HPC users, which come from a wealth of fields ranging from the automotive and aerospace research and industries to medicine and life sciences, astrophysics and geophysics, amongst others. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/new-hpc-system-installed-hlrs/.
Virtual Supercomputer Service Enters Beta
InsideHPC
Massive Solutions, a European developer of HPC system software, announced a beta version of their computational service platform, codenamed Virtual Supercomputer (VSC). The service provides secure Internet access to high-performance parallel cluster resources and applications on demand. Starting December 1st, 2014, registered beta-testers will receive 500 core-hours to run their jobs and evaluate VSC service functionality for free. Developed by a team of HPC experts, the technology utilizes InfiniBand standard and KVM virtualization technology to provide high performance, scalability, data security and usage flexibility, to meet the needs of commercial and academic users. The Virtual Supercomputer service platform normally takes minutes to deploy a specific user configuration. To read further, please visit http://insidehpc.com/2014/12/virtual-supercomputer-hpc-service-enters-beta/.
Cornell to Develop Cloud Training for U.S. Research Community
Cornell University Center for Advanced Computing
The Cornell University Center for Advanced Computing (CAC) announced that as a collaborator on the NSF-funded Jetstream program it would be responsible for developing cloud computing training for the U.S. research community. Jetstream--led by Indiana University's Pervasive Technology Institute--will add cloud-based computation to the national cyberinfrastructure. Subsequent modules will focus on using remote desktops to access Jetstream, XSEDE, and systems in the eXtreme Digital (XD) program; deploying biology and earth science applications on Jetstream; and, publishing, archiving, and curating VM images to ensure scientific reproducibility. CAC is a leader in the development and deployment of Web-based training programs designed to enhance the computational science skills of researchers, broaden the participation of underrepresented groups, and accelerate the adoption of new and emerging technologies. To read further, please visit http://www.cac.cornell.edu/about/news/141126.aspx.
SC14 Revisited
Supercomputing 2014 Recognizes Outstanding Achievements in HPC
Both novice and veteran researchers were honored for their contributions to high-performance computing in a special awards session at the Supercomputing 2014 (SC14) conference. The ACM Gordon Bell Prize for best performance of a high-performance application was awarded to "Anton 2: Raising the Bar for Performance and Programmability in a Special-Purpose Molecular Dynamics Supercomputer," by David E. Shaw and collaborators at D.E. Shaw Research. A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers was recognized with the Best Paper Award for their "Scaling File System Metadata Performance with Stateless Caching and Bulk Insertion," while the Best Student Paper Award went to ETH Zurich researchers' "Slim Fly: A Cost Effective Low Diameter Network Topology." Meanwhile, Sandia National Laboratories' Bruce Hendrickson and Rob Leland were presented with the second annual SC Test of Time Award for their paper, "A Multi-level Algorithm for Partitioning Graphs." To read further, please visit http://sc14.supercomputing.org/blog/supercomputing-2014-recognizes-outstanding-achievements-hpc.
XSEDE Partners in the News
Blue Waters Student Internship Program Now Accepting Proposed Project Applicants
The Blue Waters Student Internship Program is actively seeking faculty and students to participate in year-long student internship opportunities. Students in the program will gain experiences involving the application of high-performance computing to problems in science, mathematics or engineering. The program provides a student stipend for undergraduate participants totaling $5000, and a two-week intensive Petascale Institute in 2015 along with travel to the Blue Waters Symposium 2016 for undergraduate and a select number of graduate students. We are looking for good projects and mentors, so see the information, especially if you also have a student in mind who could work with you on such a project if they had the appropriate training and support. Make sure you indicate your preference for the student to work with you Faculty can create Internship positions and students can start their application at: http://computationalscience.org/upep Note: Graduate students are welcome to apply to attend the Petascale Institute; however they are responsible for arranging their own research advisor; any stipend would be the responsibility of the research advisor. Applications can be submitted at: http://computationalscience.org/upep/applications. For more information, please visit bluewaters.ncsa.illinois.edu/internships or
shodor.org/petascale/participation/internships.
Blue Waters Graduate Fellowship
Application Deadline - February 4, 2015.
We are pleased to announce the opening of the application period for the Blue Waters Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship is designed to support PhD students who are engaged in a program of study and research that is directly relevant to the use of the Blue Waters supercomputer. Fellowship recipients will receive a stipend of $38,000 for the year-long fellowship and up to a $12,000 tuition allowance. Fellowship applicants should be in the second or third year of their PhD program and engaged in research that can take advantage of the Blue Waters supercomputer. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or landed immigrants. For more information, please visit https://bluewaters.ncsa.illinois.edu/fellowships.
Call for Papers and Participation
Call for Papers: ACM Transactions on Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Computing Systems
ACM Transactions on Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Computing Systems (TOMPECS) is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal that publishes refereed articles on all aspects of the modeling, analysis and performance evaluation of computing and communication systems. It solicits and will publish articles that
- define, develop, and assess new performance evaluation methodologies, including analytical techniques, experimental design, formal methods, instrumentation techniques, mathematical modeling, optimization, queueing theory, reliability analysis, simulation, statistical analysis, stochastic modeling, verification and validation, and workload characterization;
- provide new insights on the performance of computing and communication systems; or
- introduce new settings within which performance modeling and evaluation can play an important role
Target areas for these performance evaluation methodologies include traditional areas such as computer architecture, computer networks, database systems, distributed systems, enterprise systems, fault-tolerant systems, file and I/O systems, memory systems, multimedia systems, operating systems, peer-to-peer networks, real-time systems, sensor networks, software systems, storage systems, telecommunication networks, Web-based systems, and wireless networks as well as up and coming areas such as data centers, green computing and communications, energy grid networks, on line social networks, and networks at large. Visit tompecs.acm.org for further information or submit your manuscript directly to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tompecs.
Upcoming Conferences, Workshops and Webinars
Get Schooled on Science Policy: LiSPI
April 27-28, 2015 – Washington D.C.
Application Deadline – December 22, 2014
As part of its mission to develop a next generation of leaders in the computing research community, the Computing Research Association’s Computing Community Consortium (CCC) announces the third offering of the CCC Leadership in Science Policy Institute (LiSPI), intended to educate computing researchers on how science policy in the U.S. is formulated and how our government works. We seek nominations for participants. LiSPI will feature presentations and discussions with science policy experts, current and former Hill staff, and relevant agency and Administration personnel about mechanics of the legislative process, interacting with agencies, advisory committees, and the federal case for computing. For more information, please visit http://www.cccblog.org/2014/11/24/get-schooled-on-science-policy-lispi-call-for-nominations-now-open/.
Identifying Trends in the Spatial Errors of a Regional Climate Model via Clustering
December 10, 2014 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Since their introduction in 1990, regional climate models (RCMs) have been widely used to study the impact of climate change on human health, ecology, and epidemiology. To ensure that the conclusions of impact studies are well founded, it is necessary to assess the uncertainty in RCMs. This is not an easy task since two major sources of uncertainties can undermine an RCM: uncertainty in the boundary conditions needed to initialize the model and uncertainty in the model itself. In this paper we present a statistical modeling framework to assess an RCM driven by analyses. More specifically, our scientific interest here is determining whether there exist time periods during which the RCM in consideration displays the same type of spatial discrepancies from the observations. For more information, please visit https://www2.cisl.ucar.edu/calendar/seminar-identifying-trends-spatial-errors-regional-climate-model-clustering.
National Center for Atmospheric Research Workshop
January 20-23, 2015 – Boulder, Colorado
Registration Deadline – January 9, 2015
NCL workshops are tailored to students and researchers in the earth sciences who are interested in learning how to use NCL to analyze their data. The workshops are taught by both a scientist and a software engineer, and offer a combination of introductory lectures and hands-on labs. During the labs, the instructors work with students to help them write NCL programs for analyzing their own data. Lecture topics: Overview of NCL, Overview of NetCDF and other data formats, NCL language basics, File input/output, Data analysis, Graphics, NCL website tour. Workshops are generally 3.5 days, with the first three days being lectures in the morning and hands-on labs in the afternoon. The fourth day is an optional morning lab. Local workshops are free. They're usually held at the Corporate Technical Training Center (CTTC) at the Center Green Campus in Boulder. This center provides a computer for every attendee. Space is limited to 16 students. For more information, please visit http://www.ncl.ucar.edu/Training/Workshops/#Prerequisites.
Research News From Around the World
PSC’s and IU’s Innovative New Supercomputers Increase Nation's Computational Capacity and Capability
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced support for the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center's Bridges and Indiana University's Jet stream, two new supercomputing acquisitions for the open science community that will complement existing resources with capabilities that enable advanced computing to be available to a wider range of emerging scientific disciplines. NSF says Bridges and Jetstream respond to the needs of the scientific computing community for more high-end, large-scale computing resources while helping to create a more inclusive computing environment. Both systems will be part of NSF's eXtreme Digital program, the most comprehensive collection of integrated digital resources and services enabling open science research in the world. Bridges focuses on research problems that are limited by data movement rather than by floating-point speed. To read further, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=133380. .
Research Opportunity From NSF for Algorithms in the Field
CCC Blog
A new program solicitation called Algorithms in the Field (AitF) has been announced by the U.S. National Science Foundation's Directorate for Computer Science and Engineering (CISE). The initiative is designed to promote collaboration between theory researchers and those in more applied areas. Bridging the gap between theory and practice in the design, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of algorithms can lead to new fields and broader cutting-edge applications. The intention is that by working jointly "in the field," researchers from different communities will continually inform each other, innovate in their respective areas, and develop algorithms that are validated by theory, systems, and applied communities. AitF also is designed to encourage collaboration between theoretical computer science researchers, who focus on the design and analysis of provably efficient and provably accurate algorithms for various computational models, and applied researchers, including a combination of systems and domain experts who focus on the particular design constraints of applications and/or computing devices. To read further, please visit http://www.cccblog.org/2014/11/20/research-opportunity-from-nsf-for-algorithms-in-the-field/.
Rice Builds On-Ramp to Cloud Computing
Big data researchers at Rice University will soon be able to compute in the cloud with fewer barriers. The university is installing the Big Research Data Cloud (BiRD Cloud), which will allow for cloud bursting. When an application exceeds local computing capacity, it will be allowed to "burst" with the user's permission so it can share the load with remote servers. BiRD Cloud "will be a great resource for fitting statistical and machine-learning models to big data with massive numbers of variables," says Rice professor Genevera Allen. In one project, Allen is developing statistical tools to make the best use of large volumes of cancer data collected by hospitals. Rather than a single node, BiRD Cloud will incorporate 88 Hewlett-Packard SL230 nodes, each a computer on a card with two Intel eight-core Ivy Bridge processors. The nodes will be interconnected through 10 GB Ethernet. With a total of 1,408 computational cores, the system's peak computing power will be 29.3 teraflops. To read further, please visit http://news.rice.edu/2014/11/21/rice-builds-on-ramp-to-cloud-computing/.
Educator News and Opportunities
Research Opportunity from National Science Foundation for Algorithms in the Field
Application Deadline – February 9, 2015
Algorithms in the Field encourages closer collaboration between two groups of researchers: (i) theoretical computer science researchers, who focus on the design and analysis of provably efficient and provably accurate algorithms for various computational models; and (ii) applied researchers including a combination of systems and domain experts (very broadly construed – including but not limited to researchers in computer architecture, programming languages and systems, computer networks, cyber-physical systems, cyber-human systems, machine learning, database and data analytics, etc.) who focus on the particular design constraints of applications and/or computing devices. Each proposal must have at least one co-PI interested in theoretical computer science and one interested in any of the other areas typically supported by CISE. Proposals are expected to address the dissemination of the algorithmic contributions and resulting applications, tools, languages, compilers, libraries, architectures, systems, data, etc. For more information, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15515/nsf15515.htm.
Computing M.A.T.T.E.R.S - Mentoring Academic Transitions through Experiences in Research and Service
Computing MATTERS is a project of Shodor and its partners, designed to build self-sustaining local infrastructures that enable students all over North Carolina, and eventually the nation, to grow from excitement to experience to expertise expertise through research opportunities and service as students in Shodor's hometown. First and foremost, Shodor chooses to focus on pathways not pipelines to develop a workforce that will use cyberinfrastructure to accomplish the next generation of advances in science and technology. Students may wander on many paths, sometimes retracing their steps, or crossing from one path to another, using parts of the technology infrastructure along the way. To read more, please visit http://www.computingmatters.org/studentprograms.
College Diplomas, With a Side of Specialized Study
The Wall Street Journal
Recent college graduates, especially those in the liberal arts and political sciences, increasingly are turning to coding boot camps, online courses, and community colleges to give them more marketable skills. Unemployment among recent graduates remains above historical highs at about 5 percent, and 45 percent of them are in positions that do not require a degree. A 2013 study from Burning Glass Technologies found liberal-arts graduates doubled the number of job opportunities available to them when they had additional skills, such as marketing, data analysis, and computer programming. For many recent graduates, the skills they seek are programming skills. Coding boot camps, which can last from one to eight months and cost nothing to $20,000, are seeing an upswing in enrollment, nearly tripling from 2013 to 2014. Another avenue for developing basic coding skills are massive open online courses (MOOCs), many of which are free. Other recent graduates also are turning to community colleges where they can earn certifications in highly desirable skills. To read further, please visit http://online.wsj.com/articles/college-diplomas-with-a-side-of-specialized-study-1416589926.
Student Engagement and Opportunities
Blue Waters Student Internship Program Now Accepting Applicants
The Blue Waters Student Internship Program is actively seeking faculty and students to participate in yearlong student internship opportunities. Students in the program will gain experiences involving the application of high-performance computing to problems in science, mathematics or engineering. The program provides a student stipend for undergraduate participants totaling $5000, and a two-week intensive Petascale Institute in 2015 along with travel to the Blue Waters Symposium 2016 for undergraduate and a select number of graduate students. This program provides support for internship activities at any accredited degree granting institution in the United States. Faculty who would like to mentor an undergraduate student can post descriptions of available positions. For additional information, please visit https://bluewaters.ncsa.illinois.edu/internships.
4th HPCAC-ISC Student Cluster Competition
July 11-15, 2015 – Frankfurt, Germany
The HPC Advisory Council (HPCAC), a leading organization for high-performance computing research, outreach and education, and ISC High Performance, formerly known as the International Supercomputing Conference, today announced the 11 university teams from around the world for the HPCAC-ISC 2015 Student Cluster Competition during the ISC 2015 program of events. In a real-time challenge, the 11 teams of undergraduate students will build a small cluster of their own design on the ISC 2015 exhibit floor and race to demonstrate the greatest performance across a series of benchmarks and applications. It all concludes with a ceremony on the main conference keynote stage to award and recognize all student participants in front of thousands of HPC luminaries. For more information, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/university-teams-revealed-hpcac-isc-2015-student-cluster-competition/.
2015 Summer Science Internship Program for High School and Undergraduates
June 15, 2015 – August 6, 2015 – Stanford University and University of California, San Francisco
Application Deadline – February 20, 2015
The Summer Science Internship Program provides twelve (12) outstanding students with the opportunity to work in leading research and clinical laboratories under the supervision of respected scientists at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Through this internship students receive hands on experience in the fields of rheumatology and immunology, with a focus on arthritis and related autoimmune diseases. Interns participate in either basic laboratory (bench) research or clinical translational/epidemiological (patient outcomes oriented) research. This program is designed to encourage gifted students to pursue a career in scientific study and research with an ultimate goal of inspiring them to focus their research potential on arthritis and related autoimmune diseases. Many graduates of the Summer Science Internship Program have gone on to pursue successful careers in the fields of medicine and/or scientific research. For more information, please visit http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=619275.
Summer Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) 2015
Application Deadline – January 23, 2015
The underlying philosophy of SURGE is to train students by creating a supportive and rigorous work environment. We set high expectations for our scholars, both to prepare them for a career in the field of geoscience and engineering, and to ensure that they get the most from their stay at Stanford. Each SURGE scholar is matched with a Stanford faculty member and has the opportunity to work in a research group or laboratory. The scholar is assigned an interesting and challenging project from a broad range of science and engineering topics that are accessible within the eight-week summer period. SURGE also includes workshops on preparing for the GRE, applying to graduate school, and understanding geoscience and engineering careers. The program culminates with a research symposium, where scholars present results from their summer projects to faculty, mentors, and colleagues. For more information, please visit https://stanfordearth.slideroom.com/#/login/program/23372.
Women's Technology Program
June 27, 2015 – July 25, 2015 – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Application Deadline – January 1, 2015
The MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP) is a rigorous four-week summer academic and residential experience where female high school students explore engineering through hands-on classes, labs, and team-based projects in the summer after 11th grade. Students attend WTP in either: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) or Mechanical Engineering (ME). WTP is not a "summer camp" but an intense academic experience. Curriculum information is available on the WTP-EECS and WTP-ME sites--check these before applying to see if you have already covered our curriculum. WTP is designed for girls who have already demonstrated their ability to excel at math and science in their high school classes, but who have no prior background (or very little) in engineering or computer science. We accept students for whom our curriculum will be a new experience. For more information, please visit http://wtp.mit.edu/.
RISE Summer Internship Program for High School Students
June 17, 2015 – August 5, 2015 - Stanford, California
Application Deadline – February 16, 2015
The RISE (Raising Interest in Science and Engineering) Summer Internship Program for High School Students is sponsored by Stanford University. It’s an intensive 7-week summer program for students interested in science, engineering, math, computer science and psychology. Students spend 30 hours a week on the Stanford campus, working in an active research lab under the guidance of a mentor from the lab (typically a graduate student), and attending weekly group sessions that include field trips, presentations, hands-on science activities, and lab tours. The program offers participants: An intense and rewarding educational experience, community activities, stipend, mentor, confidence & leadership skills, and Friendship. For more information, please visit http://oso.stanford.edu/files/programs_193.pdf.
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
Application Deadline for Graduate Students - February 16, 2015
Application Deadline for Undergraduates - May 15, 2015
The SWE Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to women admitted to accredited baccalaureate or graduate programs, in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science. In 2014, SWE awarded over 230 new and renewed scholarships valued at over $700,000. SWE provides one application for sophomores through graduate students and one application for freshmen. Applicants complete an application and are considered for all scholarships that they are eligible for. A few main eligibility points: Only women are eligible, you must be planning to study an ABET-accredited program in engineering, technology, or computing in the upcoming academic year, you must be planning to attend full time (exceptions are made for reentry and non-traditional applicants), and you must not be fully funded for tuition, fees, and books and equivalent. For more information, please visit https://scholarships.swe.org/applications/login.asp.
MCWT Foundation Scholarships
Application Deadline – January 30, 2015
Could you or someone you know benefit from an MCWT scholarship? The MCWT Foundation is accepting applications for its 12th annual university scholarship and laptop grant program aimed at encouraging female students to pursue technology degrees and certifications at the college level. It is open to women of all ages. The program covers: one high school senior scholarship ($20,000), one high school senior/GET-IT program member scholarship ($20,000), one undergraduate-level scholarship ($15,000), one graduate-level student scholarship ($15,000) and three laptop awards. For more information, please visit http://www.mcwt.org/Scholarships_196.html.
Computational Science News of Interest
Silicon Valley Turns Prisoners Into Programmers at San Quentin
USA Today
Hack Reactor, a San Francisco-based programming boot camp, has launched Code.7370, a program in which inmates at San Quentin State Prison will learn the basics of computer coding. The program's goal is that in six months inmates will have the coding skills to work as entry-level Web developers. California has one of the U.S.'s largest prison populations and one of the highest rates of recidivism. Code.7370 is one of a growing number of initiatives designed to address the challenge of helping former inmates become successful members of society. At the end of the course, inmates present their ideas in five-minute pitches to dozens of Silicon Valley investors and executives. For example, one student developed an idea for a mobile app that directs first responders to the location of underground utilities. Code.7370, believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., was developed by Chris Redlitz and Beverley Parenti, who have been teaching entrepreneurship to inmates through a nonprofit program called the Last Mile. To read further and view the video, please visit http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/11/14/san-quentin-inmates-silicon-valley-programmers-prisoners-last-mile-code-7370/19034201/.
U.S. Intelligence Unit Launches $50K Speech Recognition Competition
The U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) has launched the Automatic Speech recognition in Reverberant Environments (ASpIRE) competition, a $50,000 challenge designed to encourage researchers to build automatic speech recognition technology that can handle a variety of acoustic environments and recording scenarios. The ASpIRE challenge aims to inspire the development of innovative speech-recognition systems that can be trained on conversational telephone speech, while working well on far-field microphone data from noisy, reverberant rooms. Challenge participants will be given access to sample data against which they can test their algorithms, which are different from the test set, but provide a good representation of microphone recordings in real rooms, according to IARPA. Contestants will then use their algorithms to submit transcriptions for the test set. The algorithm that produces the lowest word error rate in the single microphone condition will receive $30,000, and the algorithm that generates the lowest word error rate in the multiple microphone condition will receive $20,000.To read further, please visit http://www.networkworld.com/article/2849645/software/us-intelligence-unit-launches-50k-speech-recognition-competition.html.
Social Media
Facebook's Flow Could Help JavaScript Programmers Spot Elusive Bugs
Facebook researchers have developed Flow, an open source debugging` tool for JavaScript designed to highlight problems caused by the misuse of data types. Flow, which Facebook has used on many of its own projects, "improves speed and efficiency so developers can be more productive while using JavaScript," according to Facebook engineers. Flow is a static type checker, ensuring when a program is run that its variables, functions, and other code elements will adhere to their original specifications. The tool can check to see if a value assigned to a variable is the correct type, and to see if a function has passed the correct number of inputs. The researchers say these types of error checks could avert program failures and help secure the program against malicious misuse. Flow differs from TypeScript because it enables the developer to check only portions of the code, and does not require the programmer to compile the program for inspection. To read further, please visit http://www.pcworld.com/article/2849532/facebooks-flow-could-help-javascript-programmers-spot-elusive-bugs.html.
