HPC in Science and Beyond at SC21 in St. Louis

The SC community has faced a challenging year with the COVID-19 pandemic, yet we found a way to bring our annual event to life for SC20.

Looking ahead, I am optimistic that our thriving community will convene again in person. That is why I am pleased to announce that for the first time, SC21 will be hosted in St. Louis, Missouri, home of the iconic Gateway Arch, blues music, and the World Chess Hall of Fame.

Science and Beyond

Each year at the SC conference, we demonstrate the power of high performance computing (HPC) by showcasing breakthrough discoveries and innovation. We also offer a glimpse of the ways that HPC is expanding beyond scientific and academic communities to inform other industries, improving research and business outcomes. In the commercial sector, for example, we find that leading manufacturers are using HPC and supercomputing technologies to advance a range of products – from creating more sustainable personal and consumer products like toothpaste and laundry detergent, to designing safer cars and planes.

That is why the SC21 tagline is “Science & Beyond.” We will celebrate the application of HPC in a variety of efforts, from vaccine development to autonomous vehicle design. “Science & Beyond” means HPC can power a range of use cases to tackle the world’s toughest challenges, unlock discoveries, and open up new frontiers – on land, in the depths of the sea, and in outer space.

At SC21, participants and attendees can expect a robust and diverse event. We will learn from world-leading scientists, engineers, and technologists, and experience a rich program of cutting-edge research, live demos, and talks that focus on emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, exascale computing, container software, and more.

Gordon Bell Prize Acknowledges HPC-Enabled Breakthroughs for COVID-19

HPC can support solutions to many complex problems, and we have not had a more critical need for it than now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak, HPC has been helping scientists worldwide to accelerate vaccine research and to end human suffering. It has also been used in modeling how to reopen retail shops, restaurants, and schools safely, and how to travel without spreading the virus.

We want to acknowledge the scientists and engineers – many of whom have been part of the SC community for years – who are fighting COVID-19 and bringing us closer to a cure. To recognize their achievements, SC21 will include papers and associated presentations by finalists for the Gordon Bell Special Prize for HPC-Based COVID-19 Research, in addition to the regular Gordon Bell Prize, presented by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Navigating the Unknown

As we prepare for SC21, we realize there is still much uncertainty. While we can’t predict what the world will look like a year from now, the health and safety of SC participants and attendees will continue to be our top priority.

SC21 conference attendees can expect implementation of social distancing, masks, and other protocols to reduce health risks.

Looking Forward to a Compelling SC21

We are excited to bring the SC community together again for an interactive and inspiring experience. To learn more about the event, including how we will adapt and adjust on-site programming, I encourage you to subscribe to the SC Newsletter.

You can also follow our newsletter and blog to learn how you can submit a paper, speak, or attend exhibits at SC21.

Get the Scoop

Watch an interview from the SC20 News Desk wherein Bronis speaks about the planning process for SC21, and how SC leadership envisions the future of the conference.

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Bronis R. de Supinski, SC21 General Chair

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory