Upcoming XSEDE Conferences and Workshops
XSEDE Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for XSEDE12, the inaugural conference of the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) project, which is supported by the National Science Foundation. The conference runs July 16-20, 2012, at the InterContinental hotel, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Among the exciting XSEDE12 speakers are Richard Tapia, mathematician, professor, diversity advocate, and 2011 recipient of the National Medal of Science, as well as an international speaker who will be announced soon. The conference also promises valuable networking opportunities, an Internet cafe with a top-floor view of the city,
Early registration runs May 14 through June 18, so register and make your hotel reservations soon. Discounted registration rates also are available for students, one-day passes, and tutorials-only, and a special hotel rate is available to conference attendees. See the Registration link below.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS:
Monday, July 16: Tutorials all day, including both half-day and full-day sessions.
Tuesday, July 17: Keynote, plenary and technical sessions, Campus Champions focus group, (optional) evening social events to Willis Tower and Cubs game
Wednesday, July 18, Student Day: Students are encouraged to attend, learn more about supercomputing resources and network with researchers and computing experts. The day includes plenary and technical sessions, a full poster session, student poster contest, the Visualization Showcase, and evening reception.
Thursday, July 19: Plenary and technical sessions, panel discussion, closing speaker, and awards luncheon.
Three reasons why you should attend XSEDE12:
1) It is the inaugural conference of XSEDE, which is ushering in a new era of services and resources to accelerate significant science and engineering discoveries.
2) XSEDE12 offers a highly diverse program that provides a snapshot of the huge volume of scientific expertise, technological innovations, educational opportunities, and research collaborations serving as the foundation for XSEDE.
3) This is your opportunity to meet face to face with XSEDE colleagues and other researchers across the country to share knowledge and build collaborations.
Registration link: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1059727
Conference website: https://www.xsede.org/xsede12
Hotel, Parking and Travel info: https://www.xsede.org/web/xsede12/hotel/travel
June 2012 Summer Institutes at Rice University – Register Now!
Time is running out register your employees now for the summer institutes organized by the Ken Kennedy Institute at Rice University! Let Rice world class faculty train your staff and summer interns in the latest tools and techniques needed for High Performance Computing and Big-Data. Participants will return to the office armed with fresh insights and the latest information.
HPC Summer Institute - June 4-8, 2012
This year the HPC Summer Institute is a week later than in past years. We hope this later start data will work better for accommodating summer intern schedules. http://hpcsi.rice.edu
Big-Data Summer Institute - June 18-22, 2012
We are very excited to introduce the Big-data Summer Institute. Big data is not only a big-buzz, it is big business. http://bigdatasi.rice.edu
Blue Waters and XSEDE Host Extreme Scaling Workshop
July 15-16, 2012 – Chicago, Illinois
Registration Deadline – June 15, 2012 for early registration rates
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications' Blue Waters and Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) projects are hosting the sixth in a series of Extreme Scaling workshops. Petascale systems provide computational science teams with effective, scalable, sustained petascale computing platforms. Our community expects these systems to provide sustained petascale performance on a broad range of science and engineering applications and algorithms, from applications that are compute-intensive to those that are data- and memory-intensive. The workshop will address algorithmic and applications challenges and solutions in large-scale computing systems with limited memory and I/O bandwidth. The presentations and discussions are intended to assist the computational science and engineering community in making effective use of petascale through extreme-scale systems across the spectrum of local campus-scale to national systems. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.xsede.org/web/xscale/home
2012 Summer NCSI/XSEDE Workshops – Register Today!
The 2012 NCSI/XSEDE workshops for undergraduate faculty, pre-college teachers, postdocs, grad students, and undergrads accompanying a faculty member is now open for registration!! Preference for locations has been given to campuses developing computational science programs and committing to substantial local participation. A limited number of travel scholarships are available to faculty interested in attending the workshops. The scholarships will provide partial or full reimbursement of travel costs to and from the workshops and/or local housing costs. Preference will be given to faculty from institutions that are formally engaged with the XSEDE education program and to those who can provide some matching travel funds. Recipients are expected to be present for the full workshop. If you are interested in a travel scholarship, please visit http://www.computationalscience.org/scholarship. Scholarship applications can be submitted after you apply for the workshop and is available from the page where you review your application. For a complete list of workshops and workshop locations, please visit http://www.shodor.org/succeed/workshops/current/.
Research Features from Across XSEDE and Campus Champion Partners
Four More Research Groups Using Blue Waters Early Science Systems
Four additional research teams have begun using the first phase of the Blue Waters sustained-petascale supercomputer to tackle challenging problems in science and engineering. They join six research groups that began using the system in March. The Blue Waters Early Science System, which is made up of 48 Cray XE6 cabinets, represents about 15 percent of the total Blue Waters computational system and is currently the most powerful computing resource available through the National Science Foundation. The full Blue Waters supercomputer will be completely deployed and available for research later this year, and will provide sustained performance of 1 petaflop (1 quadrillion calculations per second). To read further, please visit http://www.ncsa.illinois.edu/News/Stories/NewPRACs/.
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center Provides “Low-Tech” Access to World-Class Health Resources
With low-tech as the watchword, a team at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC) took on the task of updating Supercourse, a web-based repository of lectures by leading scientists and educators worldwide. An invaluable resource for many, Supercourse provides some of the best available information on how to practice preventive medicine around the world. Produced at the World Health Organization Collaborating Center University of Pittsburgh, Supercourse serves a network of over 56,000 scientists in 174 countries, who through it gain access to a free library of 5,100 lectures in 31 languages. The University of Pittsburgh developers of Supercourse felt it was underused and needed a facelift from the text-oriented format established in 1986 and unchanged since then. “In today’s age, having a professional-looking website is a key to attracting web traffic, as well as funding sources,” says Supercourse scientist Faina Linkov. To read further, please visit http://psc.edu/index.php/newscenter/71-2012press/660-psc-redesigns-access-to-supercourse-at-university-of-pittsburgh.
UCSD Computer Scientists Develop an Interactive Field Guide App for Birders
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) researchers have developed Visipedia, an iPad app that can identify most North American birds with minimal help from the user. Visipedia is an interactive field guide that uses computer-vision algorithms to analyze user-submitted pictures and provide information about a bird species that is a likely match. "We chose birds for several reasons: There is an abundance of excellent photos of birds available on the Internet, the diversity in appearance across different bird species presents a deep technical challenge and, perhaps most importantly, there is a large community of passionate birders who can put our system to the test," says UCSD's Serge Belongie. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has contributed its database of images showing the male, female, and juveniles of more than 500 North American birds. The goal is to have 100 images identified by experts for each species. To read further, please visit http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressreleases/computer_scientists_develop_an_interactive_field_guide_app_for_birders/.
Georgia Tech/Microsoft Study Shows Bandwidth Caps Create Uncertainty
Researchers at Georgia Tech and Microsoft have found that Internet pricing models that cap monthly residential broadband usage trigger uneasy user experiences that could be mitigated by better tools to monitor data usage through their home networks. Home users typically manage their capped broadband access against three uncertainties--invisible balances, mysterious processes, and multiple users, which have predictable impacts on household Internet use and can force difficult choices on users, according to the study. "People's behavior does change when limits are placed on Internet access--just like we've seen happen in the smartphone market--and many complain about usage-based billing, but no one has really studied the effects it has on consumer activity," says Georgia Tech's Marshini Chetty. The researchers focused on South African Internet usage because that country had universal broadband caps until February 2010. "We were surprised to learn that many of the households we studied chose not to perform regular software updates in order to manage their cap," Chetty says. To read further, please visit http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?nid=128661.
Campus Champion University of Minnesota Uses Kinect Cameras to Watch for Autism
University of Minnesota researchers are using Microsoft Kinect sensors and computer-vision algorithms to detect behavioral abnormalities and automate the early diagnosis of autism in children. The researchers, led by Guillermo Sapiro and Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos, equipped a nursery with five Kinect depth-sensing cameras to monitor groups of 10 children as they play. The cameras identify and track children based on their shape and the hue of their clothes, and this data is fed to three computers, which run software that logs each child's activity level and plots it against the room's average. "The idea is not that we are going to replace the diagnosis, but we are going to bring diagnosis to everybody," Sapiro says. "The same way a good teacher flags a problem child, the system will do automatic flagging and say, 'Hey, this kid needs to see an expert.' " By studying video footage of children interacting with a psychiatrist, computer-vision algorithms learn to identify behavioral markers as designated on the Autism Observation Scale for Infants. The system measures traits such as a child's ability to follow an object as it passes in front of the eyes, and notes certain mannerisms or postures that are classified as being early signs of a possible Autism Spectrum Disorder. To read further, please visit http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428636.400-kinect-cameras-watch-for-autism.html.
DARPA System to Blend AI, Machine Learning to Understand Mountain of Text
U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) researchers are developing an automated system that will enable analysts to better understand large volumes of text documents. The system will use artificial intelligence, computational linguistics, machine learning, and natural language technologies. "Sophisticated artificial intelligence of this nature has the potential to enable defense analysts to efficiently investigate orders of magnitude more documents so they can discover implicitly expressed, actionable information contained within them," DARPA says. The Deep Exploration and Filtering of Text program has developed technology that is expected to provide the capability to identify and interpret both explicit and implicit information from highly ambiguous and vague narrative text. "We want the ability to mitigate ambiguity in text by stripping away filters that can cloud meaning and by rejecting false information," says DARPA's Bonnie Dorr. To read further, please visit http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/darpa-system-blend-ai-machine-learning-understand-mountain-text.
U.S. Study Cites Worries on Readiness for Cyberattacks
U.S. state and local officials are most concerned about the government's cyberattack response readiness, according to a study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding the U.S.'s ability to respond to terrorist attacks and man-made and natural catastrophes. FEMA's National Preparedness Report lauded the coordination among local, state, and federal officials for exchanging information and intelligence, and authorities' ability to rapidly implement lifesaving and life-sustaining operations. The report cites cybersecurity as "the single core capability where states had made the least amount of overall progress," while just 42 percent of state and local officials believed that their cybersecurity was sufficient. Forty-five percent of officials reported that they lacked a formal cyberattack prevention and response program, while about 66 percent said they had not updated their "information security or disaster recovery plans in at least two years." The report notes the Secret Service's dismantling of major cybercriminal organizations using 31 task forces, while less than two-thirds of U.S. companies sustained cyberattacks and just half of high-priority facility owners and operators said they reported such attacks. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/us/politics/study-finds-concerns-on-readiness-for-cyberattacks.html?_r=2.
Educator Curriculum, News and Opportunities
TED Blends Animation With Education at New Website
A beta version of the TED-Ed Web site recently went live, inviting teachers to use video clips from its library or YouTube for assignments. "It allows any teacher to take a video of their choice and make it the heart of a 'lesson' that can easily be assigned in class or as homework, complete with context, follow-up questions, and further resources," says TED curator Chris Anderson. The Web site enables teachers to develop real-world lessons around educational videos. "This new platform allows them to take any useful educational video, not just TED's, and easily create a customized lesson plan around it," Anderson says. He says the videos are captivating and short, lasting no longer than 10 minutes, so teachers could easily show them to students in real-world classrooms. To read further, please visit http://news.yahoo.com/ted-blends-animation-education-website-081105246.html.
Hottest IT Skill? Cybersecurity
As they face increased activity by hackers and cybercriminals, U.S. corporations are accelerating their hiring of cybersecurity specialists, with open jobs reaching an all-time peak in April. "Companies want security professionals to counter breaches and also anticipate gaps, suggesting measures to fill them," says Dice's Tom Silver. "Protection is key." The need for cybersecurity experts in the federal government also is pressing, with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano citing a paucity of such pros to assist federal agencies in foiling cyberattacks, which topped 106,000 last year. In fact, Napolitano told a Senate committee in April that cyberattacks are her leading concern. The growing complexity of corporate networks, companies' use of cloud networks, and an inundation of user-owned mobile devices are among the trends driving new interest for cybersecurity experts. "Everything is in flux with the move to the cloud and mobile devices," says consultant Sudhir Verma. To read further, please visit http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/050712-cybersecurity-skills-258919.html.
Student Engagement Opportunities and Information
NASA's National Community College Aerospace Scholars Program at NASA Johnson Space Center
Application Deadline - June 5, 2012
National Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) is a program funded by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) and the Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) and administered by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Community college students from across the nation who are interested in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics will apply to travel to NASA for a three-day experience. This opportunity will provide a hands-on project featuring engineering career possibilities. Selected students will begin the semester commitment with Web-based preparation prior to their onsite visit. The only cost to the student is a $30 registration fee; NASA covers travel (up to $700), food, and lodging. For more information and to apply, please visit http://ncas.aerospacescholars.org/apply.
Last But Not Least – Items of Interest
MirageTable: Microsoft Presents Augmented Reality Device
Microsoft is developing an augmented reality system that allows users in different locations to work together on a tabletop and share and handle objects. Demonstrated at a conference in Austin, Texas, the MirageTable deceives the eye of users into believing they are using a seamless three-dimensional (3D) shared task space. MirageTable uses a 3D-video projector to beam images onto a sheet of curved white plastic placed in front of the user, and at each end, one of Microsoft's Kinect depth camera sensors is used to track the direction of each user's gaze, as well as the shape and appearance of objects placed on the surface and the participant sitting behind them. Users must wear shutter glasses to see the projected image in 3D, and the experience is powered by two computers linked by a network connection. Microsoft calls the projector/depth camera system a significant improvement on current videoconferencing technologies, and notes that it could be used to create a single-person gaming experience. "The unique benefit of this setup is that two users share not only the 3D image of each other, but also the tabletop task space in front of them," says the team. To read further, please visit http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18005498.
Google Gets License for Driverless Car
Nevada has issued a license that permits Google to test its experimental self-driving cars on state roads. Google, which provided demonstrations of its autonomous cars on state freeways, highways, and roads in Carson City and Las Vegas to Nevada's Autonomous Review Committee, also received special red license plates bearing an infinity symbol. "We're excited to receive the first testing license for self-driving vehicles in Nevada," says a Google representative. "We believe the state's framework--the first of its kind--will help speed up the delivery of technology that will make driving safer and more enjoyable." The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles says automakers also have expressed interest in testing autonomous vehicles in the future. Autonomous vehicle legislation was introduced in the California State Assembly in March, and Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida also are in the process of considering legislation. Meanwhile, Google recently acquired a Federal Communications Commission permit to operate automatic cruise control radar units in the 76.0-77.0 GHz band for driverless car navigation. To read further, please visit http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/policy/232901672.
Intel Researchers Plot a Smarter, Personalized Cloud
Intel researchers recently launched a project to populate neighborhoods with sensors that provide a more accurate picture of elements such as pollution and weather. Intel's Terrance O'Shea says the plan involves gathering weather and air quality information from the sensors, finding the user's exact position, and delivering accurate information for that location using a personalized cloud service. Intel has designed a pollution sensor chip that can be installed in stores and other locations in the neighborhood. The stores carrying sensors can make money by delivering advertisements through cloud services. Intel already is planning a future redesign of its chips that will be equipped with near-threshold voltage technology, which enables central processing units to operate at extremely low voltage levels. That technology could help make it practical to include the sensors in mobile devices. Intel also aims to make cities smarter, and the company has several research projects that use sensor kits for energy, traffic light, and gas station management. To read further, please visit http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9226618/Intel_researchers_plot_a_smarter_personalized_cloud.
