HPC Happenings
Details Emerging on Japan's Coming Exascale System
HPCwire
The Big Data and Extreme Computing meeting in Fukuoka, Japan concluded recently, pushing a great deal of information about international progress toward exascale initiatives into the global community. As the host country, Japan had ample opportunity to gather many of the researchers building out the next incarnation of the K Computer, which is expected to be the country’s first exascale system—a $1.38 billion undertaking that’s already underway with expected installation in 2019 and full-steam production in 2020. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/2014/03/18/details-emerge-japans-future-exascale-system/.
Richard Tapia, Mathematician and Mentor, Receives 2014 Vannevar Bush Award
Today the National Science Board (NSB) announced that mathematician Richard Tapia, a leader in mentoring minorities in science, engineering and mathematics fields, is the 2014 recipient of its Vannevar Bush Award. Tapia is a mathematician in Rice University's Computational and Applied Mathematics Department. His research on computational optimization is highly regarded, as is his strong support of women and minorities in the sciences. To read further, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=130815&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click.
XSEDE Scholars Application Deadline Only a Week Away
Application Deadline – April 1, 2014, 11:59pm
XSEDE, the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment, is the most advanced, powerful, and robust collection of integrated digital resources and services in the world. Are you interested in learning more about high performance computing (HPC) and the exciting and valuable digital resources available to research scientists for free? If so, the XSEDE Scholars Program (XSP) is now accepting applications for its selective year-long program for U.S. students from underrepresented groups in the computing sciences to learn more about high performance computing and XSEDE resources. For more information and to apply, please visit http://bit.ly/1drMGeI.
Environmental Stewardship Motivates Latest White House Champions of Change
Benjamin Blonder and Billy Spitzer are among 14 environmental and conservation leaders honored by the White House as Champions of Change at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last week for their work on environmental stewardship and community involvement. Benjamin Blonder is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow who recently completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona. He co-founded the University of Arizona's Sky School, a residential science school that provides inquiry-based environmental education on a campus located in the heart of the Coronado National Forest. Because of his efforts, each year hundreds of K-12 students, primarily from Title I schools are now able to conduct independent research while exploring the unique ecology, geology, and astronomy resources of the region. To read more and to find out about the Champions of Change program, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=130897&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click.
HPC Call for Participation
DATA ANALYTICS 2014 – Call for Papers, Tutorials, Panels
August 24-28, 2014 - Rome, Italy
Deadline Extension – April 12, 2014
The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, research, standards, implementations, running experiments, applications, and industrial case studies. Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review In any other conference or journal in the following, but not limited to, topic areas. All tracks are open to both research and industry contributions, in terms of Regular papers, Posters, Work in progress, Technical/marketing/business presentations, Demos, Tutorials, and Panels. Before submission, please check and conform with the Editorial rules: http://www.iaria.org/editorialrules.html.
General page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/DATAANALYTICS14.html
Call for Papers: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/CfPDATAANALYTICS14.html
Submission page: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2014/SubmitDATAANALYTICS14.html
Upcoming Conferences, Workshops and Webinars
XSEDE/ELA Webinar: Professor Richard A. Tapia
April 8, 2014 - 10:00 am PST, 12:00 pm CST, 1:00 pm. EST.
In this mentorship talk, Professor Tapia will discuss how he became a leader in underrepresentation issues at the campus, state, and national levels, and will discuss challenges he's faced throughout this journey from being born in Los Angeles to parents who immigrated from Mexico to his trip to the White House to receive the 2010 National Medal of Science from President Obama. The National Medal of Science is the highest award given by the United States government and Richard Tapia is the first Latino to win this prestigious award. To register, please visit https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?usp=sharing&userstoinvite=genaroh1@umbc.edu&formkey=dDZJRkZsQU9EVkxDbFRPckRGaVZvWnc6MA#gid=0.
Research Features From Across the Country and Around the World
At UC San Diego, Experts Explain Why Big Data is a Big Deal
Turns out even the experts have difficulty wrapping their heads around the concept of how quickly – and drastically – what’s come to be called ‘big data’ has changed our daily lives. Defined as the gathering, storing and analysis of massive amounts of computerized data, both unstructured and multi-structured, big data keeps growing at almost unimaginable rates of speed. “It’s like saying you’ve spent your whole life on an exponential escalator,” said Larry Smarr, director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), at a seminar titled “Big Data: A Conversation with the Experts” held on campus March 12. “It just keeps getting bigger and bigger.” Amid intermittent references to exabytes and petabytes – computer shorthand for untold billions of bytes of digital information – each speaker expressed wonderment at big data’s impact on scientific inquiry and everyday lives. To read further, please visit http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/feature/experts_explain_why_big_data_is_a_big_deal?utm_campaign=thisweek&utm_medium=email&utm_source=tw-2014-03-20.
10th Annual Polar Technology Conference Coming to Bloomington, Indiana
Leading polar scientists and technology developers will gather on the IU Bloomington campus for the 2014 Polar Technology Conference (PTC). Hosted by the Pervasive Technology Institute (PTI) at Indiana University, the annual event features discussions and presentations on technical challenges, innovative solutions and lessons learned in polar environment research. PTC will take place on April 15-17 at the Indiana Memorial Union. "The Polar Technology Conference is a great opportunity for researchers from higher education, the private sector and other organizations to exchange information and ideas that can improve research in polar regions," said Richard Knepper, manager of campus bridging and research infrastructure within UITS Research Technologies -- a cyberinfrastructure and service center affiliated with PTI. Polar venues represented at PTC will include under, on and above the ice, tundra and sea. The conference will also feature tutorial workshops and oral and poster presentations on topics such as power systems, robotics, telemetry and remote communications. For more about this year's Polar Technology Conference, including cost, registration and abstract submission, please visit polartechnologyconference.org.
TACC Lights Things Up!
Astrophysicists became deeply interested in black holes in the 1960s, but the idea of an event horizon was first intimated in a paper by Karl Schwarzschild published after Einstein introduced general relativity in 1915. Knowledge about black holes — objects that can't be directly seen — has grown tremendously in recent years. Part of this growth comes from researchers' ability to use detailed numerical models and powerful supercomputers to simulate the complex dynamics near a black hole — no trivial matter. The list of phenomena that must be included in an accurate simulation goes on and on: warped spacetime, gas pressure, ionizing radiation, magnetized plasma. To read further and to view a video, please visit https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/news/feature-stories/2014/let-there-be-light.
Education News and Opportunities
Nominations for the 2013–2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Close Soon
Nominations for the 2013–2014 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are open now until April 1 and applications will be accepted through May 1. Principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public may nominate an exceptional science or math teacher who is currently teaching grades K–6 for the 2013–2014 award year. The PAEMST, the highest honors for teachers of science and mathematics (including computer science), were established by Congress in 1983. Since then, the PAEMST program has honored more than 4,300 STEM teachers who excel in their field. The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers the PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. For more information, please visit https://www.paemst.org.
USA Science and Engineering Festival
April 26-27, 2014 – Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
The goal of the Festival is to re-invigorate the interest of our nation’s youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational and entertaining science festival in the United States. For complete information and registration information, please visit http://www.usasciencefestival.org/. http://www.usasciencefestival.org/about/mission.html#sthash.8DImM5nk.dpuf
Lawmakers are Looking for Moore Computer Science Instructors in California Schools
Legislation being introduced in Sacramento could significantly boost the number of computer science courses offered in California. There is a growing concern that California students don’t have the computer science skills necessary to thrive in the modern workforce. A report released by the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) Education Policy Committee, entitled: Rebooting the Pathway to Success: Preparing Students for Computing Workforce Needs in the United States calls on education and business leaders and public policy officials in every state to take immediate action aimed at filling the pipeline of qualified students pursuing computing and related degrees, and to prepare them for the 21st century workforce. The report provides recommendations to help these leaders join together to create a comprehensive plan that addresses K-12 computer science education and that aligns state policy, programs, and resources to implement these efforts. Julie Flapan, Executive Director of the Alliance for California Computing Education for Students and Schools (ACCESS), is working closely with Code.org, Technet, Microsoft, Google and others to advance computer science education in California.
Come to Learn, Stay to Play – Annual CSTA Meeting
July 14-15, 2014 - Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois
Whether you want to try one or all of the on-site restaurants, amongst numerous ones in the vicinity, you’ll be sure to be pleased. The resort offers three pools (one is even an indoor and out door pool), two 18-hole golf courses and a pro shop, a gift shop, a spa and wellness center as well as a fitness facility. There are also options for the entire family — with supervised children's entertainment such as Wii games/video arcade, balloon and face painting, a magician, and a plethora of other activities. Adults can enjoy live music, deejay’s, dancing, theater shows and a comedy club that features some of the country’s hottest new talents. We want our attendees to gather valuable information, strengthen their network, and to have an enjoyable time. Come to learn, but stay to play with CSTA and Pheasant Run. To register for housing and see a partial list of onsite activities, go to: http://csta.acm.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/sub/CSTA14/Accommodations.html. To find out more about our 2014 venue, its amenities, and additional local attractions, please visit: www.pheasantrun.com. To register for the 2014 CSTA conference, go to: http://csta.acm.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/sub/CSTAConference.html.
Save the Date - EDNet 2014
September 28-30, 2014 – Baltimore, Maryland
Connect with hundreds of the top PreK-12 executives and innovators at the industry's premier networking event! For more than 25 years, EdNET has provided business leaders with the perfect combination of insightful sessions and plenty of networking. For more information, please visit http://www.schooldata.com/ednetconference.asp.
Student Engagement and Opportunities
HP Launching New Scholarship Program for Women in Information Security
ZDNet
Women interested in the theory and practice of cybersecurity can now turn to a new scholarship program launched by Hewlett-Packard (HP) to support their studies. The Scholarship for Women Studying Information Security (SWSIS) program will grant up to $250,000 to academic institutions around the world for the purpose of curating course content about the fundamentals of information technology security. SWSIS will provide scholarships worth up to $10,000 a year, with a ceiling of $20,000 total over a two-year period. Scholarship winners also will be able to intern at HP, but this is not mandatory. The fund can help bring new talent into the field and support the growth of security careers, according to HP's Art Gilliland. "The security industry has a pressing need for skilled security talent that can function fluidly in today's environment," Gilliland says. To read further, please visit http://www.zdnet.com/hp-launching-new-scholarship-program-for-women-in-information-security-7000026763/.
2014 NSBRI First Award Fellowship Program
Application Deadline – June 6, 2014
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute, or NSBRI, is accepting fellowship applications for the First Award Program. The two-year fellowships are available in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research. Applicants are required to submit proposals with the support of a mentor and an institution, and all proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review panel. Selected applicants receive a stipend, allowance for health insurance and travel funds for related scientific meetings. Also, an optional, competitive third year of fellowship support is available. This year's applicants can also request to be considered to spend part of the fellowship in Russia, via a program involving NSBRI and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Detailed program and application submission information is available at http://www.nsbri.org/FUNDING-OPPORTUNITIES/Current-Announcements/.
Kepler Art of Discovery Art Contest
Contest Registration Deadline – May 5, 5014
Commemorate the fifth anniversary of NASA's Kepler mission to search for habitable planets with the Kepler Art of Discovery art contest. The contest is open to artists ages 13 and older who reside in the continental U.S. The contest invites artists to submit creative artwork that depicts, or relates to, the exciting discoveries made possible by the Kepler spacecraft and its team of scientists and engineers. The best artwork, selected by a combination of participants’ votes and expert judges’ scores, will be displayed as the Top 100 in the Gallery of the Art of Discovery website. For full details on the contest and to submit artwork, visit http://keplerart.seti.org. ``
Integrative Computational Education Research Traineeship (ICERT), Summer 2014 Undergraduate Computational Research Experience at The University of Texas at Austin
Application Deadline- March 29, 2014
The Integrative Computational Education Research Traineeship (ICERT) Research Experience for Undergraduates at The University of Texas at Austin transfers the best practices of the NSF IGERT (Integrated Graduate Education Research Traineeship) to undergraduate computational research training. >From June 1 to August 2, selected participants will engage in a weeklong computational science training institute for undergraduates presented by the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), additional introductory training in scientific visualization, seminars on innovation and discovery in computational science and engineering, workshops on communicating science to the public, and immersion in a faculty research group with a faculty and graduate student mentor. Application and full details: mobile device friendly www.icertreu.org.
Computer Science Professor Tony Morelli Creates Games for Disabled Children
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University (CMU) professor Anthony Morelli has developed software that encourages blind people to exercise using the PlayStation Move, Xbox Kinect, and Nintendo Wii. "Kids that are blind are generally more obese or out of shape because things such as going running can be a safety issue," Morelli says. "I wanted to create something that would be accessible to them and allow them to be active in a safe environment." The software uses sounds and vibrations to indicate to players how to move. The games were tested at Camp Abilities, a weeklong camp for children who are deaf, visually impaired, or deafblind, to measure a player's heart rate and improve other areas, such as balance. Morelli developed the software while at Purdue University, and has since launched vifit.org, a website that enables free access to the games. To read further, please visit http://www.cm-life.com/2014/02/11/computer-science-professor-tony-morelli-creates-games-for-disabled-children/.
Teams Sought for SC14 Student Cluster Competition in New Orleans
Application Deadline - April 11, 2014
Students interested in demonstrating their high-performance computing skills on a global stage are invited to form teams and sign up to compete in the eighth annual Student Cluster Competition at the SC14 conference to be held Nov. 16-21, 2014, in New Orleans. The Student Cluster Competition is a high-energy event featuring young supercomputing talent from around the world competing to build and operate powerful cluster computers. Detailed information about the Student Cluster Competition can be found at http://sc14.supercomputing.org/engage/hpc-interconnections/sc14-student-cluster-competition. Team proposals must be submitted via the SC14 submission site at https://submissions.supercomputing.org/.
Photos; The Women Who Created the Technology Industry
Special thanks to June Clarke for this contribution
The first computer programmers and most celebrated mathematicians throughout history were women. In honor of Women's History Month, here are the oft-forgotten, influential tech pioneers. In this photo from 1946, two of the first programmers, Esther Gerston and Gloria Gordon work with the ENIAC computer. To view these images, please visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keven-bellows/women-stars-in-video-game_b_4989038.html?utm_hp_ref=women-in-tech.
Women Stars in Video Game Industry
Huffington Blog Post
The Los Angeles Times recently had a major business story about a woman named Shannon Studstill, the studio chief at Sony Santa Monica Studio, a video-game producer and incubator. As I read the story, I thought maybe -- just maybe -- women are getting in on the ground floor of a growing business in the world of technology. Not that there a lot of them. The article points to the fact that, in 2012, only 4 percent of the 4000 video game developers were women. But women make up 25 percent of the producers ("though they make less than their male counterparts"), said the LA Times, citing Game Developer Magazine. To read further, please visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keven-bellows/women-stars-in-video-game_b_4989038.html?utm_hp_ref=women-in-tech.
Help Code.org Improve Error Messages
Code.org is trying to improve the messages that a student gets when they write an incorrect program on their site (learn.code.org). Currently, the messages aren't so helpful, like "You are using all of the necessary types of blocks, but try using more of these types of blocks to complete this puzzle." Co-founder and CEO, Hadi Partovi, made a video about how to use their feedback message system (code.org/hints). Watch the video and then follow the instructions below the video on that page to gain access to their system (getting an account at learn.code.org and filling out a Google form). They will send you an email once you have access to our system. Code.org is reaching out to YOU to help try out their feedback message system. Please take some time and write some feedback messages so students can get useful messages and feel more confident in continuing to learn about computer science.
On the Lighter Side – Computational Science News Involving Social Media
The Evolution of the Twitter Revolution
NextGov.com
Experts say social media is playing an evolving role in organizing and broadcasting global protest movements. "It's becoming increasingly difficult to imagine protests that don't utilize social media," says New York University professor Joshua Tucker. "If you want to understand protests moving forward--what leads to protests, the dynamics of protests--you have to get a handle on how social media impacts protesters." For example, Tucker says protesters in Kiev are using Twitter and Facebook to organize medical care and to spread information domestically and internationally. "It's hard to imagine this is going backward, that we're going to be in a less networked world where people have less access to instant information," Tucker says. To read further, please visit http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/02/evolution-twitter-revolution/79276/.
Social Media's 'Law' of Short Messages
MIT News
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Senseable City Lab recently conducted a study showing that social media messages grow shorter as the volume of activity rises. "This helps us better understand what is going on--the way we respond to things becomes faster and more impulsive," says MIT professor Carlo Ratti. For example, at times of lower activity, the most popular length of tweets ranges from about 70 to 120 characters. However, at moments of greater traffic, the highest concentration of tweets is only about 25 characters in length. "If you plot the rate of the messages versus the length, then you can find a mathematical relation between these two things during [major] events," says MIT's Michael Szell. To read further, please visit http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2014/social-medias-law-of-short-messages-0226.html.
