Workshop - Building The Network's Supercomputer (the 'Beowulf' Cluster)- April 26, 1-3pm

Workshop: 'Introduction to The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network Computational Modeling Core Facility and the Polaris Cluster'

April 26, 2021
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Siemens Seminar Room
The University of Western Ontario
National Centre for Audiology
Elborn College
Room 1219

The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network is a bold new venture for Canada that brings more than 90 leading scientists, clinicians and educators together with public and private partners. Our mandate is to generate, integrate and disseminate bias-free scientific research and knowledge that is focused on improving and sustaining children’s language and literacy development in Canada. The Network wants to share the science and open minds.

A key feature of The Network and a benefit to Network members is the
establishment of Core Facilities that represent centralized shared resources.
The Computational Modeling Core Facility is
developed as a low-cost entry point to the knowledge, personnel and hardware
that is necessary for developing computational models of cognitive
development.

The computing component of this facility consists of a 40-node 'Beowulf'
computing cluster that will be made available to Canadian researchers
interested in developing computational models of language and reading. The
Beowulf concept represents a new approach to building supercomputers, by
incorporating low-cost and readily available computer components that are
interconnected using standard networking devices such as Ethernet. This
informal workshop will introduce researchers to our newly built Polaris
Beowulf cluster and illustrate its research applications. It will also be of
interest to researchers thinking about developing Beowulf clusters for their
own laboratories. We will discuss the hardware and software issues we
encountered developing this project and the costs associated with building this supercomputer.

Agenda:
Overview of The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network
Aaron Finkenzeller, Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network
10 Minutes

Introduction to the Core Facility
Marc Joanisse, UWO Psychology Department
20 minutes

Description of the Polaris Cluster
Steve Beaulac, Chief Engineer
30 minutes

Tour of the Facility
20 minutes

Q & A Session
30-40 minutes

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP by April 24 by
email to polaris@cllrnet.ca

www.cllrnet.ca

The Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network is one of 22 Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), Canada's national flagship science and technology program. The NCE program is administered and funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in partnership with Industry Canada. The goal of the federal NCE program is to mobilize Canada's research talent in universities, industry and government to improve the quality of life for Canadians, create new economy jobs and stimulate growth.

Last Modified: October 06 2002 09:55:27.