Welcome to this special publication dedicated to the use of high-performance computing in science. It is brought to you by the team behind Scientific Computing World (SCW) which, for those picking up this magazine at the International Supercomputing Conference in Dresden, is an established title that is at the forefront of software developed specially for use by scientists.
This publication, then, is an extension of that, and a recognition that high-performance computing and science go hand in hand.
In SCW, our rule is that if its a scientist or engineer that will choose whether to purchase the software in question, then it is software that is relevant editorially. By the same token, this publication looks at how high-performance computing can be tailored for use specifically by scientists and engineers.
Essentially, the term high-performance computing covers anything from the huge, hectare-covering multiple-server supercomputers right down to the desktop level something that has only become possible relatively recently.
In this magazine, then, we look at several aspects of high-performance computing: firstly, John Murphy talks to Hans Meuer, the founder of the International Supercomputing Conference and a name synonymous with the market for years.
David Robson looks at the emerging trend of using GPUs to relieve some of the processing load from CPUs. This combination of software and hardware is helping scientists and engineers slash the time it takes to complete calculations and process data.
Gemma Simpson brings us up to speed with the increased power now available at the desktop, removing the need to outsource projects to specialist highperformance computing centres.
As well as a guide to some of the highlights of the International Supercomputing Conference, we also talk to a couple of employees at a supercomputing centre about the varied roles they fulfil.
Warren Clark
John Murphy meets Hans Meuer, who has been involved with the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany since it began.
David Robson on the processing burden being shared by GPUs
Gemma Simpson looks at how software and hardware vendors are creating desktop HPC solutions specifically for scientists
Do you have a zest for problem solving and a passion for science? David Robson finds out why work as a high-performance computing consultant may be the ideal job for you
Digital transformation continues to impact our lives in ways we previously couldn’t have imagined, comments Trish Meek, director of marketing at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Weather prediction seems simple nowadays. You just have to summon Siri and ask it if you’ll need an umbrella or a sunhat.
In March it was announced that a new exascale system was on the horizon, with the news that Aurora – originally scheduled for 2018 – was going to be the first exascale system in the US, launching in 2021.
The storage market is in a unique position, in that there is demand from both the traditional HPC and enterprise storage markets, such as media and entertainment, alongside new growing markets for AI and machine learning.
