Over the past three decades, NCSA has grown to become one of the world’s leading centers for advanced computing and data analytics. It has played a pivotal role in a wide range of scientific and engineering fields, from astrophysics and cosmology to bioinformatics, materials science, and climate modeling. With a staff of over 100 scientists, technicians, and support personnel, NCSA is a hub of innovation and discovery, connecting researchers, educators, and industry pioneers from around the world.
The main facility of NCSA is the National Petascale Computing Facility, which houses a remarkable array of cutting-edge supercomputers, data storage systems, and networking infrastructure. This facility is home to some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, including the Blue Waters system, which was ranked as the most powerful supercomputer in the world in 2013.
The Blue Waters supercomputer is a remarkable piece of engineering, with a peak performance of over 13 petaflops, making it capable of executing over 13 quadrillion calculations per second. This immense computational power has been harnessed for a wide range of scientific research, including simulations of astrophysical phenomena, modeling of climate and weather patterns, and the analysis of large-scale genomics data.
But the power of NCSA’s computational resources is not limited to scientific research. It also has significant applications in a wide range of industries, from agriculture and energy production to finance and transportation. For example, NCSA has partnered with the agricultural industry to develop new models for crop yield prediction, using advanced data analytics to help farmers optimize their planting and harvesting strategies.
NCSA also plays a key role in educating the next generation of scientists and engineers in the field of high-performance computing and data analytics. It offers a wide range of training programs and workshops for students, teachers, and industry professionals, helping to prepare them for the challenges of working in a data-driven world.
Overall, NCSA is a shining example of the power of advanced computing and data analytics to drive innovation, discovery, and social progress. With its world-class supercomputing facilities, cutting-edge research initiatives, and commitment to education and outreach, NCSA will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of science and engineering for many years to come.