A $1 million parallel supercomputing machine donated to the University of Colorado at Boulder by IBM will be used in part to help model issues associated with the reliability and safety of U.S. nuclear stockpiles.
Donated to the applied mathematics department in the College of Arts and Sciences and the computer science department in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the machine is a smaller version of the massive machines at U.S. Department of Energy research laboratories.
It will be used by CU-Boulder researchers and graduate students in applied math and computer science to develop numerical algorithms 聳 sets of instructions for solving specific problems in a limited number of steps 聳 and as a teaching tool for undergraduate students.
The algorithms will then be used in giant supercomputers in DOE labs to perform the massive calculations of complicated problems. "The main interest at DOE is to model problems associated with nuclear weapons programs like the long-term reliability of nuclear stockpiles and to model results of potential accidents while transporting nuclear material," said CU-Boulder applied math Professor Tom Manteuffel. "But these same algorithms could be used to model airplanes in flight or weather systems," he said.
"For many years, the applied math and computer science departments at CU-Boulder have been known for carrying out fundamental research on algorithms used for solving mathematical problems," said IBM Senior State Executive Carolyn Maher. "CU researchers are contributing algorithm improvements that take advantage of new computer architectures and allow researchers to tackle difficult, previously unmanageable problem-solving.
"By bringing together CU's expertise in algorithm development and the advanced computer architecture of this machine, IBM looks forward to having a significant impact on research programs like the DOE's Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative for stewardship of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. We look forward to an increasing relationship with the university."
The grant is part of IBM聮s Shared University Research Program aimed at building partnerships between the corporation and outstanding research universities. Universities across the country compete for approximately 50 grants awarded each year.
Roughly 400 proposal ideas are given to IBM for consideration each year by universities, resulting in more than 80 formal proposals that eventually are submitted to the international corporation.
"It is highly unusual that a state receive two such grants," said Kirk Jordan, senior program manager of science and technology in university relations for IBM聮s T.J. Watson Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., noting the Colorado School of Mines also received an IBM supercomputer.
The IBM University Relations group was formed about 18 months ago to be more proactive with universities across the country, Jordan said. "We hope to 聭capture mind share聮 by creating a workforce familiar with IBM and its equipment." IBM encourages its grant recipients to publish their research results, sharing the information with colleagues and the public, he said.
The latest IBM donation follows on the heels of equipment donations to the CU-Boulder engineering college from local companies like VeriBest Inc. and Sybase Inc. Such donations enhance the learning environment for students by familiarizing them with equipment used in today聮s companies, said CU-Boulder engineering Dean Ross B. Corotis.
"We welcome IBM聮s contributions to creating the most interactive and innovative learning environment possible," said Corotis. "This cutting-edge technology is a perfect example of the college聮s efforts regarding CU President Buechner聮s vision of the Total Learning Environment."