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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Applications:
SHARCNET ACCELERATES RESEARCH
RESULTS IN KEY AREAS
Imagine the world in which we would live if researchers could conduct
computer-simulated experiments for health improvements. For example,
simulating the movements of the body as we grow older might predict and
prevent us from ever falling and cracking a hip. This research project and
many more are happening in our own backyard with the immense computing power
of SHARCNET.
SHARCNET (Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network) is a
world-leading, multi-university, interdisciplinary institute with the ability
to accelerate research results beyond what could have been comprehended only a
few years ago.
This advanced technological infrastructure allows for the power of hundreds
of
computers across Ontario to work together, forming a super computer. It is
accessible to academics for world-class computational research in various
areas, such as science, engineering and business.
The goal is to accelerate research results, which will attract and retain
the
best students, researchers and companies by providing advanced computational
resources and services. It also allows for academic researchers and corporate
partners to work together, creating new opportunities for development in
Canada's knowledge-based society.
Carmen Gicante, executive director at SHARCNET, stated, "The partnerships,
not
only between the universities and colleges, but with the private sector, will
help to realize SHARCNET's vision. Because of the enormous strength of these
partnerships, SHARCNET is creating a 'High Performance Computing Culture' in
Ontario, which consists of a critical mass of world-renowned experts committed
to the use of HPC to accelerate research and innovation for the benefit of the
provincial and federal economies, the environment, health and general
welfare."
SHARCNET was officially established in June of 2001. Since that time, it
has
grown to 11 leading academic institutions across south-central Ontario,
including 200 national and international research groups.
This academic consortium is led by the University of Western Ontario and
includes the Universities of Guelph, McMaster, Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor,
Waterloo, Brock, Ontario Institute of Technology and York, and Fanshawe and
Sheridan colleges.
SHARCNET also has the monetary support of many large corporations, which
will
benefit as well from this symbiotic relationship.
Research is being conducted on various topics of interest, such as
developing
new therapies for epilepsy and cystic fibrosis, creating models to understand
the outbreak patterns of diseases, including SARS, measles and rubella, as
well as developing new models to manage the financial risk of complex
derivatives.
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