Genomics:GTL

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Scientific Discovery Through Advanced Computing

SciDAC, launched in 2001, is a DOE Office of Science program to develop the infrastructure needed to take full advantage of DOE’s commitment to the next generation of scientific computing. The next generation includes terascale machines capable of performing at 1000 times the speed of those available to the U.S. scientific community today, connected by high-speed networks with the most advanced middleware.

The SciDAC program is designed to bridge the gap between advanced applied mathematics and computer- and computational-science research in the physical, chemical, biological, and environmental sciences. This same kind of integrative and cross-disciplinary research is envisioned for GTL. The SciDAC model has proven especially effective in driving advances in large-scale simulation by tackling problems that are too large, too expensive, hazardous, or otherwise impossible to be solved through traditional theoretical and experimental approaches. Results have provided levels of detail and accuracy never before possible.

Two of the largest and most-successful SciDAC projects are

• Terascale Supernova Initiative: A multidisciplinary collaboration of one national laboratory and eight universities to develop models for core collapse supernovae and enabling technologies (www.tsi-scidac.org).
• Accelerated Climate Prediction Initiative: A multi-institutional collaboration to develop, validate, document, and optimize the performance of the Community Climate System Model (www.ucar.edu/communications/CCSM/overview.html).

Credits: National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center: 2003 Annual Report (www.nersc.gov/news/annual_reports/ annrep03/annrep03.PDF); SciDAC web site (www.scidac.gov/)