Astronomers utilized TACC systems to examine information and verify the Event Horizon Telescopes first-ever picture of a black hole.
TACC devoted more than 30% of its computing resources to supporting over 50 COVID-19 research study groups, leading to the first atomistic design of SARS-CoV-2 and day-to-day pandemic forecasts that continue to drive state, nationwide and local policy decisions.
TACC supercomputers helped confirm the first observation of gravitational waves by detectors at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The discovery opened a new window to deep space and result in a 2017 Nobel Prize in physics.
Physicists computed the behavior of “magic angle” bilayer twisted graphene using TACC systems and proposed a theory that a decade later on caused superconducting materials that could enable quantum computing and more efficient electrical transmission.
Twenty years earlier, a handful of computing specialists with a hand-me-down Cray computing cluster started the journey of developing the Texas Advanced Computing Center, or TACC, at The University of Texas at Austin into a research company that today stands at the peak of academic supercomputing.
On September 30, 2021, the center and its longest partners– the National Science Structure (NSF) and Dell Technologies– commemorated the turning point with remarks on the growing significance of innovative computing and TACCs function powering discoveries across science and engineering.
” Two years back, UT made a huge bet on TACC and supercomputing. Its a financial investment thats settled handsomely,” stated UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. “And, given the proliferation of information science, AI and machine knowing throughout fields and throughout society, theres no limit to TACCs impact over the next 20 years.”
Frontera is one of the most powerful supercomputers worldwide. It lies at the Texas Advanced Computing Center and is supported by National Science Foundation. Credit: TACC
Throughout its history, TACC has actually powered numerous significant discoveries, assisted society and enabled new methods to responding to humankinds earliest concerns.
Given that June 2001, the center has actually grown from a dozen staff members to nearly 200, with emerging competence in data science and expert system, life sciences, science entrances and STEM education.
The center now operates two of the most powerful university supercomputers in the U.S.– Frontera, 10th fastest globally; and Stampede2, currently 35th– and more than a lots advanced computing systems in overall. Tens of thousands of scholars and trainees from across the U.S. usage TACCs supercomputers each year to advance every field of science from astronomy to zoology, and from the nano- to the cosmic scale.
” TACCs development has been impressive and is a testimony to individuals who work here and the companies that have actually supported us, especially UT Austin, UT System, the National Science Foundation, the ODonnell Foundation, and Dell Technologies– our longest and most consistent champions,” stated Dan Stanzione, TACCs executive director and associate vice president for research study at UT Austin.
In time, TACC has become an integral contributor throughout emergency situations, producing immediate storm rise simulations for hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico making landfall and assisting very first responders after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
” TACCs resources have been of amazing service to science, varying from its contribution of resources to the COVID-19 HPC consortium, to its growing of new skill through the Frontera Computational Science Fellowships,” stated Margaret Martonosi, the NSFs assistant director for computer and info science and engineering.
Assistance for TACC has expanded in the last few years to consist of federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, along with the State of Texas, the City of Austin, Microsoft and even Titos Vodka.
Over its history, the center has actually partnered carefully with technology companies, notably Dell Technologies, to designer systems and develop tools for the academic research study neighborhood.
” At Dell Technologies, we are exceptionally proud to stand together with UT and TACC as we continue to set the bar for high-performance computing,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies.
The computational community has grown considerably during the previous 20 years, incorporating whole new disciplines, from digital humanities to computational oncology and deep knowing.
” Supercomputing has actually become necessary to research study throughout all of science, engineering and medicine,” stated Dan Jaffe, UT Austins vice president for research. “TACC has not only grown tremendously in its computing abilities, however likewise as a research study supporter and partner for the numerous detectives from worldwide who utilize it. I aspire to see what the coming improvements in the makers and the TACC ecosystem will bring in the method of brand-new discoveries and a lot more impactful contributions to society.”
The center commemorated its anniversary with remarks by Hartzell, Jaffe, Dell, Martonosi, and Stanzione.
” Two years back, UT made a big bet on TACC and supercomputing. “And, offered the expansion of information science, AI and maker knowing across fields and throughout society, theres no limit to TACCs impact over the next 20 years.”
Credit: TACC
“TACC has not only grown enormously in its computing capabilities, but likewise as a research advocate and partner for the many private investigators from around the world who use it. I am excited to see what the coming enhancements in the machines and the TACC environment will bring in the way of new discoveries and even more impactful contributions to society.”