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
Elsevier and ExactCure recently announced a collaboration to develop and offer to hospitals – without charge – drug-specific exposure models for 20 already approved medicines that are being tested as potential treatments for Covid-19.
With the world’s focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, LIMS providers are working to develop solutions tailored to assist in the testing and management of virus samples.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) have released an open source drug discovery platform, VirtualFlow, that harnesses supercomputing power to screen potentially billions of small organic compound structures in parallel, in the hunt for promising new drug molecules.
When designing a component or system, where do you start? In days gone by, designers would literally go back to the drawing board, using their experience and expertise to develop a new concept.
Effective utilisation of computing tools is critical to both AI and HPC research, with recent projects in both fields highlighting the scientific benefit of carefully managing resources.
Advances in computer vision combined with AI computing are helping pathologists to more accurately identify subtypes of cancer - leading to better treatments for patients, explains Dan Ruderman.
