President's Message
A day doesn't go by now without coming across a news article on cloud computing1. Cloud computing "is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet" 2. This is a rather technical definition that may appeal to software developers, but what does it mean to other potential users? Cloud computing allows people and companies to access applications and data from anywhere and at any time. It helps users save money, because of the pay-per-use of applications, data or computing, and it lessens the need to continually update computers and hard disks. That's the vision, but how do we get there?
Many applications, such as Google, Amazon, YouTube and Salesforce.com are already hosted "in the cloud," meaning they run on computers somewhere - the user doesn't have to know where - and they are accessed via connections to the Internet. However, the cloud can be much more than just a service platform for these companies with large web-based applications. Businesses, individual users and research teams will soon be able to access computer resources on-demand from the cloud.
Cybera, with partners, the Grid Research Centre, the University of Calgary’s Information Technologies department, various commercial partners and WestGrid, are exploring cloud computing to enable new ways of accessing computing and data as a service on-demand for a variety of purposes. One example of this is Cybera’s project with EDM Studio, where the processing of computer animations - called rendering - is run on remote servers and the number of servers running grows to meet the processing demand. Another example is a company accessing extra processing capacity from the cloud to run month-end accounting and does not require the ownership of the computer resources during the rest of the month. Finally, another great use of the cloud is a researcher who only needs occasional access to supercomputer resources. The researcher won’t have to buy a supercomputer or manage and operate it, but instead, will only pay for the occasional use.
Cybera and its partners are working hard to further develop these and related applications, so people and companies can run their computing programs more efficiently and save money. Stay tuned for more information on projects in this area.
Lynn Sutherland
President and CEO
Spring Member Events
Cybera is pleased to host Duncan Stewart, Director of Deloitte Canada, Research in Technology, Media &Telecommunications, Life Sciences and GreenTech for two special events that will explore why cyberinfrastructure technologies have been identified as top trends in Deloitte's Technology Predictions report.
IN EDMONTON: Visiting the Future and Reporting Back
Leading edge research projects require bleeding edge technology resources. Join us in Edmonton on April 16 for a presentation and panel discussion on how tomorrow's technologies -- such as smart grid, cloud computing and green IT -- can extend today's research capabilities.
The Edmonton event is free, but registration is required. A light lunch will be provided. RSVP by April 10.
IN CALGARY: Smart Technologies for a Tough Economy
Few sectors have been left untouched by the recent economic downturn. Join us in Calgary on April 17 for a presentation and panel discussion on how cyberinfrastructure technologies are empowering businesses in these times of uncertainty.
The Calgary event is $15 for Cybera members and $25 for non-members. Breakfast is included. RSVP by April 10.
For more information, visit www.cybera.ca/spring_member_event or email info@cybera.ca.
Edward Seidel to Speak at Summit
Edward Seidel, Director of the Office of Cyberinfrastructure at the National Science Foundation in the United States, will be part of a lineup of speakers at Summit 09: Partnerships in CI Development happening October 12-16 in Banff. Summit 09 is a culmination of three events that will explore cloud computing, high performance computing, grid, Web 2.0, business development and other emerging cyberinfrastructures.
In addition to his role at the National Science Foundation, Edward Seidel is a Floating Point Systems Professor in Louisiana State University's Department of Physics and Astronomy. He is also a co-founder of the Cactus Framework, an open-source, problem-solving, environment designed for scientists and engineers.
Seidel has served as Chief Scientist for the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, which connects supercomputing resources throughout Louisiana to enable faster and more accurate research collaboration. He has also served as the Director of the Centre for Computation and Technology, a professor at the Albert Einstein Institute in Potsdam, Germany, and a research scientist at the National Centre for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois.
Seidel has received numerous awards for his work including the Sidney Fernbach Award. This award, which is one of the highest honors in computing, was given to Siedel in recognition of his achievements in numerical relativity. Seidel has a PhD in astrophysics from Yale University.
Cybera Continues to Expand
Cybera is pleased two welcome two new staff members:
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Shi Jin joins Cybera as a Cloud Architect. The Cloud Architect works closely with the Chief Technology Officer in the design, implementation and operation of cyberinfrastructure solutions for academia and industry, as well as for the proposed Cybera Cloud. Before joining Cybera, Shi worked as a consultant in the Chemical Engineering Program for The Petroleum Institute in the United Arab Emirates, and before that, as an instructor and postdoctoral fellow in Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta. |
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Kim Wagstaff joins Cybera, and the University of Calgary’s Information Technologies High Performance Computing Group, as the Cyberinfrastructure Academic Coordinator. In this role, Kim helps researchers assess their computational needs and derive benefit from on-campus developments in cyberinfrastructure. He also supports Cybera and researcher partnerships on campus. Kim has worked at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Science for many years supporting teaching and research. Prior to that, he was a Senior Analyst in the University of Calgary’s IT department providing support in the areas of super computing and visualization. Kim has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Calgary |
Cyberports Open for Use
The Cybera Cyberports in Edmonton and Calgary have undergone recent upgrades. The already leading edge videoconferencing and collaboration facilities have been fitted with new sound mixers, the latest version of Access Grid and new teleconferencing hardware. The Cyberports are available for use by members at no cost and non-members at $100 per hour. To book the Edmonton or Calgary Cyberport, please email booking@cybera.ca. For more information on these facilities, please visit www.cybera.ca/cyberports.
Cyberport - Edmonton
University of Alberta
Room 2-59A, Computing Science Centre
Cyberport - Calgary
University of Calgary
Room 540B, Biosciences Building
CANARIE Call for Proposals
CANARIE is accepting the submission of proposals for the Network-Enabled Platforms v2 (NEP-2) program. The NEP-2 program encourages the definition and implementation of collaborative projects to accelerate the development of, and participation in, national and international cyberinfrastructure and e-research platforms. CANARIE refers to these as Network-Enabled Platforms.
Cybera currently has two pilot projects supported by CANARIE’s first round of Network-Enabled Platforms, GeoChronos and the Canadian Space Science Data Portal (CSSDP).
To read the full the media release, click here.
ASTech Call for Nominations
The Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) Leadership Foundation has started accepting nominations for the 2009 ASTech Awards. The ASTech Awards celebrate exceptional individuals, organizations and companies within Alberta's science and technology community. Nominations are made for 12 different categories including science, technology, applied technology, commercial, environmental and more.
Alberta Innovation Voucher Program Update
Alberta Advanced Education received an outstanding response to its two-year pilot initiative assisting technology and knowledge-driven small businesses with commercialization. As one of the program’s approved service providers, Cybera worked with a number of gaming, technology, cloud computing and media companies to develop voucher applications for new, leading-edge products and ideas. Alberta Advanced Education is now reviewing and will notify successful companies by mid-March.
Co-PI for WestGrid Wins NSERC EWR Steacie Fellowship
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Peter Tieleman, a Co-Principal Investigator for WestGrid and aProfessor in the Department of Biological Science at the University ofCalgary, has been awarded a 2009 NSERC EWR Steacie Fellowship.The NSERC Steacie Fellowships are given to enhance the careerdevelopment of outstanding and highly promising university faculty whoare earning a strong international reputation for original research. Tieleman received the fellowship for his research in biomolecularsimulations. His research team studies membrane-molecule interactionsthrough computer simulations using the same technology as Hollywoodanimators Pixar. This award will aid the team in their quest tounderstand what happens within cells and how specific proteins interactwith cell membranes. It will help with upgrades of the computationalinfrastructure, as well as allow for more time to spend on research. Tieleman has a PhD and MSc in Chemistry and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. For more info on Tieleman’s current research, click here. |
Upcoming Events
Spring Member Events
Visiting the Future and Reporting Back
April 16, 2009
11:45 am to 1:00 pm
Room 333, Computing Science Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Smart Technologies for a Tough Economy
April 17, 2009
7:30 - 9:00 am
Mayfair Room, The Westin Calgary
320 4 Ave SW
Calgary, Alberta
To RSVP or for more info, click here.
BCNET 2009 Conference
April 28 and 29
Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
For more info, click here.
The 26th Open Grid Forum (OGF26)
May 26 to 29, 2009
Chapel Hill, NC, USA
For more info, click here.
High Performance Computing Symposium (HPCS)
June 14 to 17, 2009
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
For more info, click here.
Summit09: Partnerships in CI Development
In partnership with CANARIE, WestGrid and Open Grid Forum
October 12 to 16, 2009
The Banff Centre
Banff, Alberta
For more info, click here.
The ASTech Awards Gala
November 6, 2009
Hyatt Regency Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
For more info, click here.
[1] IEEE Computer, January 2009
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing