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Researchers to Unveil Impacts of HPC on Scientific Discovery & Innovation

HALIFAX NS (May 21, 2014) – From June 25 to 27, 2014, Canadian and international researchers across six disciplines will be talking about their discoveries using High Performance Computing. Co-hosted by Compute Canada and its Atlantic Canadian regional partner, ACEnet, the annual High Performance Computing Symposium is Canada’s largest national forum for discussing advanced computing applications in research. (.)

Now in its 28th year, HPCS is a multidisciplinary conference where computational researchers from all disciplines, industry, government, HPC practitioners and vendors exchange new tools, techniques and discoveries.

This year’s symposium is being held at the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Six conference streams are planned under the umbrella theme of HPC Serving Society. These are: Computational Chemistry; Computational Materials Chemistry; Big Data & Analytics; Bioinformatics; Ocean Modelling & Climate Change; and Oil & Gas Reservoir Modelling.

Plenary speakers include Gilbert Brunet from the UK Meteorological Office (Ocean Modelling & Climate Change), Frank Dehne and Ashkan Golshani from Carleton University (Bioinformatics), Axel Becke from Dalhousie University (Computational Chemistry), K. Sampath from Hibernia Management & Development (Oil & Gas Reservoir Modelling), and Nikolas Provatas from McGill University (Computational Materials Chemistry).

These plenaries will be followed by parallel sessions that include Invited Talks by key speakers, Contributed Talks that have been selected through a submission process, several sessions around data visualization rooms, and a Technology & Infrastructure section.

HPCS 2014 will also include a panel discussion by the Digital Infrastructure Leadership Council, a session on High Performance Computing usage in industry, a Poster Session and a Digital Nova Scotia TECH Lounge, where industry and career-seekers can mingle. Two days of technical tutorials for HPC practitioners will precede the main conference.

The conference is made possible through the support of a number of sponsors, including Data Direct Networks, IBM, HP, Xyratex, Canarie, and Bell Aliant.

Details of the conference, as well as speaker bios, topics and other information can be found on the HPCS 2014 website at .. Follow HPCS 2014 on Twitter at @HPCS2014.

WHAT: Canada’s largest advanced computing research conference, HPCS2014
WHEN: June 25th to 27th, 2014
WHERE: Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax, Nova Scotia
WHO: Canadian researchers across six disciplines, industry representatives, government agencies
WHY: Accelerating discovery through HPC.

About High Performance Computing

High Performance Computing (HPC) involves a cluster of computers working together to solve scientific, engineering, business or data analysis problems that are too large or complex for any single computer. Used by researchers, governments and industry, HPC can remove years from timelines for research or product innovation and makes new types of analysis and problem solving possible. HPC is a rapidly-growing combination of hardware, software and skills that is advancing Canada’s expertise and capabilities in science and technology, with resulting benefits for both economic development and society at large. The availability and quality of HPC services is critical to attracting top research talent in the region and Canada.

About Compute Canada

Compute Canada is the umbrella organization responsible for High Performance Computing in Canada. Within Compute Canada, there are four regional partners: ACEnet; Calcul Quebec; Compute Ontario; and WestGrid. Working in collaboration, Compute Canada and the regional HPC consortia provide for the overall architecture and planning, software integration, operations and management, and coordination of user support for the national HPC platform. As the national HPC organization, Compute Canada coordinates and promotes the use of HPC in Canadian research and works to ensure that Canadian researchers have the computational facilities and expert services necessary to advance scientific knowledge and innovation.

About the Atlantic Computational Excellence Network (ACEnet)

Established in 2006, the Atlantic Computational Excellence Network (ACEnet) is a consortium of Atlantic Canadian Universities that provides researchers with both regionally-based and through Compute Canada, access to national High Performance Computing (HPC) resources. ACEnet is a partner consortium with Compute Canada.

For more information, contact:
Michele Fash, Marketing & Business Development Manager
ACEnet
Direct Telephone: 902-680-2693
Email: michele.fash@ace-net.ca

Message from the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State

Please accept my warm welcome to the High Performance Computing Symposium 2014.

Je souhaite à tous les participants la plus cordiale des bienvenues au Symposium de calcul de haute performance (HPCS) 2014.

Although I regret being unable to join you today, I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide a message on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to this impressive gathering of researchers and experts in the field of advanced research computing.

Our government is proud to support the operation of Compute Canada and its regional networks like ACEnet through our investments in the Canada Foundation for Innovation. I understand that many of you have contributed your views to the CFI on how to best deliver the investment in cyber-infrastructure announced in Economic Action Plan 2013. I thank all of you who contributed your insights.

Our government is making record investments in science, technology and innovation to create jobs, strengthen economic growth and improve the quality of life of Canadians. Earlier this year we released Digital Canada 150 to help Canada be a world leader in adopting digital technologies and in applying “big data” to change how we think about and carry out health care, research and development.

Effective high-performance computing capabilities are going to play an increasingly crucial role in driving Canada’s economy and advancements in research and innovation.

Once again, I would like to thank Compute Canada and ACEnet for hosting this symposium, and I extend my warm wishes to the participants.

Kind regards,

Honourable Ed Holder
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
Member of Parliament (London West)

Message du ministre d’État (Sciences et Technologie), l’honorable Ed Holder

Je souhaite à tous les participants la plus cordiale des bienvenues au Symposium de calcul de haute performance (HPCS) 2014.

Je regrette de ne pouvoir être avec vous aujourd’hui. Toutefois, c’est avec plaisir que je vous transmets le message que le premier ministre Stephen Harper souhaite livrer à votre assemblée dynamique de chercheurs et d’experts dans le domaine de l’informatique de pointe en recherche.

Notre gouvernement est fier d’appuyer les activités de Calcul Canada et de ses réseaux régionaux comme ACEnet par l’entremise de ses investissements dans la Fondation canadienne pour l’innovation (FCI). Je sais que bon nombre d’entre vous ont transmis à la FCI leurs recommandations au sujet de l’attribution de l’investissement dans la cyberinfrastructure annoncé dans le Plan d’action économique de 2013. Je remercie toutes les personnes qui nous ont exprimé leurs points de vue.

Notre gouvernement effectue des investissements sans précédent dans les sciences, la technologie et l’innovation afin de créer des emplois, de stimuler la croissance économique et d’améliorer la qualité de vie des Canadiens. Plus tôt cette année, nous avons lancé Canada numérique 150. Ce plan vise à aider le Canada à devenir un chef de file mondial de l’adoption des technologies numériques et de l’utilisation des mégadonnées en vue de faire évoluer nos perspectives et nos façons de procéder en matière de soins de santé et de recherche-développement.

Les compétences en matière de calcul de haute performance prendront de plus en plus d’importance au sein de l’économie canadienne et contribueront grandement aux avancées dans les domaines de la recherche et de l’innovation.

Une fois de plus, j’aimerais remercier Calcul Canada et ACEnet d’avoir organisé le Symposium et je souhaite offrir mes meilleurs vœux à tous les participants.

Cordialement,
Le ministre d’État (Sciences et Technologie) et député de London-Ouest,
Ed Holder

The Chronicle Herald article

One computer just isn’t enough for doing research anymore, says a computational research consultant… Read more here.