ARCHER Outreach: Promoting HPC Diversity, Outreach, Impact and Engagement

Archer是英国的国家超级计算机，这是一台速度非常快、功能非常强大的计算机，用于通过计算机模拟进行研究。超级计算机与标准家用计算机的不同之处在于，它们有数千个处理器，而不是只有一两个。因此，超级计算机可以执行在你家里的标准计算机上不实用或不可能的计算。即使是最好的笔记本电脑或台式电脑，这些任务也无法运行。在某些情况下，任务会运行，但需要数年时间才能完成。在其他情况下，任务根本无法运行，因为太多的数据需要同时保存在内存中。对Archer的模拟正在解决英国目前在社会中面临的许多挑战。例如：开发高效的可再生能源以满足英国的能源和环境目标；预测极端天气事件以提供重要的早期警告；设计新的药物和技术以应对当前的健康挑战；建立车辆湍流模型以提高燃料消耗和/或性能；甚至模拟恐龙如何行走。这项提议的目的之一是通过一系列外展活动向公众展示这些好处。一组令人兴奋和容易接近的示威者将被开发出来，并被带到英国各地的科学节上。将开发专门为教师设计的资料包，以及一套可供查阅的案例研究。第二个目标是鼓励超级计算社区内的平等和多样性。该项目将通过教师资源、在线资源和量身定做的活动，激励和鼓励更广泛地参与计算科学和超级计算。

ARCHER is the UK's national supercomputer, a very fast and powerful computer used to carry out research using computer simulations. Supercomputers differ from standard home computers in that they have many thousands of processors instead of just one or two. Supercomputers can therefore perform calculations that would not be practical or possible on a standard computer in your home. These tasks could not be run even on the best laptop or desktop computer available. In some cases, tasks would run but would take years to complete. In others, the task could not be run at all because too much data would need to be held in memory simultaneously. Simulations on ARCHER are addressing many of the UK's current challenges within society. Examples include: the development of efficient renewable energy sources to meet the UK's energy and environmental targets; the forecasting of extreme weather events to provide vital early warnings; the design of new drugs and technologies to address current health challenges; the modelling of turbulent flow over vehicles to improve fuel consumption and/or performance; and even simulating how dinosaurs walked. One aim of this proposal is to demonstrate these benefits to the general public through a series of outreach activities. A set of exciting and accessible demonstrators will be developed and taken to science festivals across the UK. A resource pack specifically designed for teachers will be developed, as will a set of accessible case studies. A second aim is to encourage equality and diversity within the supercomputing community. The project will look to motivate and encourage wider participation in computational science and supercomputing, through teacher resources, on-line resources and tailored events.