In 2023, Durham University launched HPC Days as a way to bring together public and private UK institutions ahead of ISC, celebrating the contributions of the UK community to the global field of supercomputing. While only a few years old, this event has quickly become a staple on HPC and AI calendars. It offers attendees the chance to explore extended talks on ISC-bound work and provides a space for the UK community to reflect and connect before the summer months.
Single Source, Multiple Outputs
Durham HPC Days is a unique opportunity to gather and showcase the diverse projects, ideas, and methodologies shaping HPC, AI and more in the UK. The event blends talks, community meetings, and national project updates, offering attendees insights into current work engagements and trends. It’s also a prime opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and gain fresh perspectives from both academic and commercial sectors.
What makes Durham HPC Days unique?
- Community Meet-Ups: Several community and project groups gather in one place to share updates and collaborate.
- Extended Talks and Panels: ISC-bound speakers are given time to present longer talks in a supportive setting… Perfect for refining content and building confidence!
- Balanced Programme: Durham HPC Days shines a light on what matters most in supercomputing: the people and the systems they build. Whether you’re expanding your professional network or learning about emerging networking technologies, there’s something here for you.
The Source of Finding Fulcrum
Since Durham HPC Days began, the Alces Flight team has been proud to participate. In the first two years, we focused on career development, highlighting commercial roles and reducing barriers to entry into supercomputing. As a team with backgrounds ranging from industrial placements to PhDs, we value diversity of experience as a catalyst for progress in our field. We’ve also supported Women in HPC (WHPC) sessions, including panels and Q&A discussions.
This year, we were honoured to contribute to the daily keynote series, with Flight team member Cristin Merritt presenting her talk, Finding Fulcrum. In supercomputing, striking a balance between individual or team needs and the resources available is essential. Her talk aligned closely with the spirit of the event: building community through shared experience is not only beneficial to individuals and institutions but is key to advancing the field of supercomputing itself.
Inspiration for Autumn
We’re incredibly grateful to the organisers of Durham HPC Days and are excited to carry forward conversations around AI and HPC into our own upcoming event: Sustainable Reality, taking place October 7th. Our session, Designing for Better, draws inspiration from the exceptional speakers and attendees at Durham, as well as our time at EPCC and ISC.
Our focus is on practical, forward-thinking insights: from steps in quantum computing, to the multidisciplinary challenges of AI design, to the hiring, training, and retention of supercomputing talent.
Join us in London this October. The event is free, but space is limited. We’d love to see you there!