SC23 Chronicles: From High-Performance Computing to High-Flying Collaborations

By Senzo Mpungose, Operations Manager, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

The Supercomputing Conference (SC23) isn’t just an event; it’s a celestial convergence of computing enthusiasts, a symphony of silicon, and an intellectual playground where ideas bounce around like electrons in a superconductor or attendees on opening day of the exhibit hall. This year’s SC23 was no exception, and my journey through the dazzling world of high-performance computing (HPC) left me both enlightened and invigorated.

NCAR: Where Ideas Bloom Faster Than My Morning Coffee: One unexpected highlight of my SC23 experience was a visit to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Nestled in the scenic beauty of Boulder, Colorado, NCAR proved to …

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SC23: Beyond my wildest dreams

By: Greg Landwehr, Principal Engineer, Scatec; PhD Candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand Global Change Institute, South Africa

Following is a summary of the incredible opportunity I had to participate in the STEM-Trek NRG@SC23 Workshop ahead of the Supercomputing Conference in Denver, Colorado recently. With this blog, I have tried to provide you with a first-hand account of this extremely memorable experience. Enjoy!

29th August 2023:

I was thrilled to receive an email from STEM-Trek’s Elizabeth Leake saying “I’m delighted to let you know that you have been selected to receive a travel grant; your award letter is attached.” What an amazing opportunity to participate in NRG@SC23 and share stories of how the renewables industry is collaborating with and urgently needing support from the high-performance computing (HPC) community.

24th October 2023:

From then on it was all systems go to organize the flights, accommodation, and logistics to attend …

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SC23: We are HPC

By Kaylee Jones, Rylee Au, and Michaela Kovalsky

Hi! We are Kaylee, Rylee, and Michaela (pictured left to right), undergraduates at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. This year, we attended the Supercomputing Conference (SC23) in Denver. We were very excited and also a little nervous to attend our first major conference. With the help of Elizabeth Leake from STEM-Trek, the registration and sign-up process went smoothly.

NRG@SC23 cohort

Our first two days in Denver were at STEM-Trek’s energy-themed pre-conference workshop, NRG@SC23. This experience provided us the opportunity to get to know the STEM-Trek cohort from six countries and 12 U.S. states and to learn more about the universities and programs they represent. Additionally, …

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Dreams, once confined to imagination, found space to bloom and thrive at SC23!

By: Martilio Rafael Banze, HPC administrator, Mozambique Research and Education Network (MoRENet).

As I crossed the ocean heading to SC23, I immersed myself in fertile ground where my dreams, once confined to imagination, found space to bloom and thrive. I want to share in detail my incredible journey to SC23, including the STEM-Trek NRG@SC23 pre-conference workshop, by highlighting not only the challenges that were overcome, but also the great support I received along the way.

Martilio and his family.

Short Bio: My name is Martilio Rafael Banze; I am married, with one child. I work as a High-Performance Computing (HPC) administrator at the Mozambique Research and Education Network (MoRENet), and hold degrees in Meteorology from …

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SC22: Jet lag is not for amateurs

Not to mention the fastest visa application ever!!

By: Genito Maure, Climate Scientist and one of the initiators of the HPC user convoy in Mozambique.

Notice and Prepping  

As I am becoming addicted to HPC novelty, and more eager to find out what SC editions have to offer time after time (because this community always has news!!!) STEM-Trek read my mind and, this time with Google support, my dream came true for the second time, since my SC-debut in 2018.

Elizabeth Leake kindly informed me “If you are receiving this message, you are among candidates being considered to receive a travel award to attend the EarthSci@SC22 workshop and (SC22) conference November 11-18, 2022.”  And added: “We are getting started late with this process, and I apologize for that. Therefore, we must move quickly from now on. If I do not hear back from you by Wednesday, September 21, we …

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The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear – Nelson Mandela

By Berny Chaimite, HPC Administrator and Scientific Support at MoRENet (Mozambique Research and Education Network)

When I first heard about the opportunity to attend the annual Supercomputing Conference, SC22, as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) High Performance Computing (HPC) Ecosystems delegation, I let my doubts take over. I never imagined that the arrangements could be made in time. It was my first time on a plane – from Mozambique to the U.S.! Crazy, right? I told myself – “you have never traveled outside Mozambique, you don’t have a passport, and your English skills are weak. No, this opportunity is not for you, maybe next year.”

After a few weeks, Bryan Johnston from the South African Centre for HPC (CHPC) informed me that I was eligible for a STEM-Trek travel award that would make it possible for me to attend the EarthSci@SC22 workshop and participate in SC22. That …

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I came, I saw and found new vendors – Finance management in HPC

By Senzo Mpungose (University of the Witwatersrand)

The international Conference for High Performance Computing (HPC), Networking, Storage and Analysis more commonly known as the Super Computing conference held at Kay Baily Hutchison Convention Center Dallas was what some may consider a once in a lifetime experience. The conference brings together some of the top minds in the world in fields related to HPC. Minds that some may say dictate the course of science, research, development, and ultimately, determine the true capabilities of human endeavors. So why would a simple guy from the far down south corners of Africa attend such a workshop?

Well, sit back, relax, and don’t get distracted by the exhibition hall.

Rubbing elbows with two HPC icons! Senzo with Satoshi Matsuoka (RIKEN) and Torsten Hoeffler …

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Celebrating Women in Computing

By: C1C Anna Little, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Have you ever looked around the room and noticed the scarcity of female colleagues? U.S. Air Force Academy cadets have taken note of how few women there are in our undergraduate classrooms – especially in computing. That is why the Rocky Mountain Celebration of Women in Computing (RMCWiC’22) conference was a welcome change for Tia Kolakowski, Jenna Breeden, me and Alison Thompson (above, from left) who were able to attend thanks to STEM-Trek and RMCWiC’22.  

Air Force Cadet Anna Little with her poster

This September conference in Boulder, Colorado, was modeled after the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing – only on a smaller scale – to provide networking and learning opportunities for …

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EarthSci@SC22

Agenda:

Friday, November 11, 4-7 p.m. Dallas Convention Center Room A302/303

Welcome – Elizabeth Leake (Boise State University).

Distribute affinity gear and introductions.

Pete Beckman (Argonne) – Description of program presented on Saturday.

Isango – Elizabeth Leake. Composable, mobile and affordable compute platform.

Saturday, November 12, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. same room:

10 a.m. to 12 noon: Shawana Johnson (Global Marketing Insights, Inc.) – Satellite engagement – presentation followed by flash talks, and a panel with “Postcard” submitters – Dr. Johnson and others will advise on the topics of remote, edge-related compute and data challenges. Postcards From the Edge 5-minute lightning talks (delegates will share edge challenges).

10-11 p.m. Keynote by Dr. Mary-Jane Bopape (South African EON)

11-12 p.m. Shawana Johnson – Satellite integration specialist.

Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch (on your own; bring it back to the room to eat)

1-2:30 p.m.: Postcard flash talks and …

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PEARC22 – Timely and Informative

By Cesar Cardenas Ruiz (Virginia Tech)

Cesar Cardenas Ruiz (Virginia Tech)

PEARC22 in Boston was the first time I have attended a high-tech conference. I’m not a computer scientist or researcher – I’m in a different engineering field. However, I realized a long time ago that it is important and necessary to learn about data science and analytics. I have a strong interest in high performance computing (HPC), and significant experience with scientific simulation. I was eager to learn all that I could. 

I attended talks where I learned about recent and novel developments in the field. Industry representatives participated in the student program speed networking event. I spoke with a representative from a national laboratory about my PhD research, and we discussed …

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