How do you support the next generation of tech talent?
At Sustainable Reality 2025, our session on Rising Elements is dedicated to our growing leaders — including the people and programs helping them flourish. From technical breakthroughs to personal career journeys, this session brings fresh perspectives on how to support the rising stars of High-Performance Computing (HPC).
We are proud to introduce our 2025 Alces Flight Fellows, who will showcase cutting-edge student research across topics from energy measurement to novel GPU use in cosmology. Alongside them, our supporting speakers will share insights that help turn budding talent into long-term career potential.
John Fergusson, JDF Solutions
“Reflections of a Technology Recruiter”
The best career lessons do not come from textbooks. They come from stories, stumbles, and unexpected turns. Drawing on years of experience helping people land jobs and grow careers, John will share an honest look at what really works in recruitment and team building. From writing job descriptions that actually speak to humans to designing interviews that spark real conversations, his talk promises both practical tips and plenty of “aha” moments. Whether you are just starting out or considering your next big move, you will walk away with inspiration and hard-earned wisdom.
Joseph Moore, University of Bristol, and Thomas Shtasel, Imperial College London
“Student Cluster Competitions: Empowering the Next Generation of HPC”
Supercomputing is not just about the machines. It is about the people who run them, optimize them, and push their boundaries. Joseph and Thomas will present the world of student cluster competitions, where teams of students build, configure, and run real HPC systems under pressure. These competitions are more than technical challenges. They are opportunities to inspire, train, and empower the next wave of HPC professionals. Their talk will show how these programs are shaping careers and strengthening the global HPC community.
By combining the pioneering research of our Flight Fellows with the hard-earned lessons of recruiters, mentors, and competition leaders, Rising Elements celebrates not just where HPC is today but where it is going through the next generation of talent.
Join us to see how future innovators are being supported, challenged, and inspired. Happening on October 7th at the RSC Library in London. Registration is free, but spaces are limited!