Welcome to our event page for Sustainable Reality 2024 (SR24).
On September 25th at Bletchley Park, we came together to explore:
How sustainability is driving technological innovation
How building the right legacy is shaping our teams, hiring, and community
SR24 was all about capturing our progress and sparking conversations about what comes next — the actions, ideas, and collaborations that will help us keep making a difference, no matter the scale.
Twelve months after the launch of Viking 2, the Research IT team returned to the stage to share what they’ve learned about managing energy consumption, reducing latency, and driving meaningful transformation.
We were delighted to welcome Emma Barnes, Head of Research and Faculty IT, and Richard Fuller, Assistant Director of IT (Technology & Cyber) at the University of York, as co-presenters of our opening keynote.
Their insights set the tone for the day… A reminder that sustainability in HPC isn’t just about performance, but about progress.
Cambridge Research Computing Services (RSC) stands as one of the UK’s largest centres for both supercomputing performance and active users.
In this session, Dr. Paul Calleja, Director of Research Computing Services at the University of Cambridge, explored the intricate connections required to build and sustain supercomputing systems as we move toward the zettascale era.
His talk reminded us that true sustainability in HPC depends not only on technology, but on the frameworks and collaboration that underpin it.
As a UK Tier-2 National Supercomputing Facility, the NI-HPC team manages a diverse network of stakeholders. Keeping everyone informed, engaged, and aware of new opportunities relies on building strong, consistent community connections.
We were delighted to welcome Zara Birch, Community Manager, as she shared her journey of growing and nurturing the supercomputing community in Northern Ireland.
Her story highlighted the power of people and collaboration at the heart of sustainable HPC progress.
Carbon impact is one of the most pressing challenges in the world of supercomputing. How can we not only manage our power and resource consumption, but also make smarter, more sustainable choices for the future of the field?
We were joined by Michael Rudgyard, Business Advisor to Alces Flight, who shared his perspective on where HPC is heading — and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for sustainable supercomputing.
His talk offered an optimistic view of what’s possible when innovation and responsibility go hand in hand.
What’s it like to run a supercomputer powered by geothermal energy? At Borealis, it’s just another day’s work.
Marcel van Drunen, Director of HPC & IT Presales, shared how advances in renewable energy and reductions in latency are enabling smarter, more efficient distributed systems across HPC and AI.
His session showcased how innovation and clean energy can work hand in hand to reshape the future of high-performance computing.
In the world of supercomputing, the only constant is change. Building flexible, secure systems requires not only the right hardware and cloud services, but also the right partnerships.
Wil Mayers, Technical Consultant at Alces Flight, explored the shift toward subscription-based supercomputing, and how this model is giving institutions the freedom to evolve alongside rapidly changing technologies, requirements, and user needs.
His talk highlighted how adaptability and collaboration are becoming key to the next generation of HPC infrastructure.
In a personal and deeply enlightening session, Karen Lewis, Head of HR at Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG/n2), explored what neurodiversity really means — and how we, as a community, can work together to welcome and support more people into our field.
From improving communication to reducing workplace stress, Karen’s talk offered both practical insights and heartfelt reflections on how we can create a more inclusive, thriving HPC community.
Her message was a powerful reminder that innovation grows strongest in environments where everyone can contribute and belong.
Move the Needle is an 11-month project run in partnership between Women in HPC (WHPC) and Alces Flight. Focused entirely on the people side of supercomputing, the initiative asks a vital question: What are we doing to make our field more welcoming and open?
In this presentation, Cristin Merritt, CMO at Alces Flight, and Marta Camps Santasmasas, Lecturer at the University of Salford, shared their personal stories and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Their conversation highlighted how real change in HPC begins with people — through empathy, awareness, and shared commitment to progress.
Sustainable Reality 2024 took place on September 25th at the Fellowship Auditorium, Bletchley Park, running from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
If you’d like to learn more about the event or have questions about our work at Alces Flight, we’d love to hear from you — please get in touch.
