On Nov. 12-20, 2015, 19 Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegates will travel to Austin, Texas to attend a two-day workshop at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), and the SC15 International Conference for High Performance Computing (HPC), Networking, Storage, and Analysis. TACC Workshop Agenda.
The delegation represents six of the 15 sub-Saharan SADC member states that host HPC systems, including parts of TACC’s former Ranger supercomputer that was donated to the South African Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC). More than 20 racks of the large system were divided and installed in several SADC centers that interconnect via high-speed networks to form a shared cyberinfrastructure. The TACC-SC15 activity will improve delegates’ HPC management skills, introduce them to new methodologies and best practices, and expand everyone’s professional networks.
Each SADC site has unique computational requirements and research goals for their HPC. Many are linked by a common desire to prepare the regional workforce to support the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, the most ambitious, globally-collaborative technology project ever conceived, or funded. Since the world’s largest radio telescope is being installed in the Karoo region of South Africa, it will require a skilled, indigenous workforce pipeline to support its more than 50-year lifespan.
Expected to be fully operational in the 2020‘s, SKA will observe more of the universe, much faster and in far greater detail than any other instrument (recording subtle changes that the human eye could never detect). By producing more than 100 times the amount of today’s Internet traffic, it will present new data storage, sharing and stewardship challenges. In addition to unraveling the secrets of the universe, with SKA’s monumental computation, network and energy demands, it will drive innovation that will power future supercomputers, and improve research networks and storage for off-the-grid facilities everywhere.
Thank you, sponsors!
The TACC-SADC activity is sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation, with help from Airlink, Intel, Cray, DataDirect Networks, the University of Texas, TACC, Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC), and STEM-Trek.
SADC Delegates
Botswana
George Anderson, University of Botswana
Nkwebi “Peace” Motlogelwa, University of Botswana
Tshiamo Motshegwa, University of Botswana
Lesotho
Seforo Stephen Mohlalisi, National University of Lesotho
Tanzania
Damas Makweba, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
Moses Nkundwe Mwasaga, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
Zimbabwe
Kudakwashe Dandajena, Zimbabwe Center for High Performance Computing (ZHPC)
Willie Ganda, Zimbabwe Center for High Performance Computing (ZHPC)
South Africa
Mohsin Desai, University of the Witwatersrand
Xolisa Jevu, University of Fort Hare
Bryan Johnston, University of KwaZulu Natal
Brian Maistry, University of the Witwatersrand
Thompho Makwarela, University of Venda
Nnditshedz “Eric” Maluta, University of Venda
Regina Maphanga, University of Limpopo
Nicholas Thorne, Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC)
Zambia
Maybin Lengwe, Copperbelt University
Chungu Ngolwe, Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN)
Nosiku Sikanyika, Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN)
