Community Input on the Future of High-Performance Computing

University Of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville TN

Investigators

Abstract

The scale, resolution and fidelity of scientific simulations are limited by the size and balance of the next-generation high performance computing systems. Because of this critical dependency between computing resources and new scientific capability, it is crucial to engage the scientific and HPC community to develop an understanding of the requirements for new computing environments. We will hold a series of quarterly workshops over the next year to bring the community together to discuss these important issues and build a pathway for the future of computational science. A core group of 30 leading scientists, vendors and resource providers will be selected to convene for a series of three one-day meetings. We will focus on user requirements and lessons learned from the current programs including the benefits and challenges of the current architectures and deployments. The final workshop will engage 75 members of the community for one and a half days. We will produce a concise summary of the state of the computing environments in the US and around the world today, a set of quantitative descriptions of current application requirements and how well those requirements match the computing environment that is being provided through federal, state and other funding. Included will be a projection of the future requirements for scientific and engineering applications and a corresponding description of what the future computing environment should be to meet these needs. The workshops reports will also consider and comment on mechanisms by which the computing environment might be provided over the next 5-10 years. Broader Impact Continuing and developing the US supercomputing program will complement existing and upcoming education, outreach and training efforts. These efforts are geared to reach a wide range of people: from K-12 to post college, under-represented groups and women and teachers and scientists. Soliciting input from the entire community via a website will also allow everyone to participate in this series of workshops, which is appropriate since the entire community will benefit from the continuation of the supercomputing program.