TeraGrid Science Gateways Nancy Wilkins-Diehr TeraGrid Area Director for Science Gateways Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Background and Goals TeraGrid TeraGrid and Gateways (GEON) Gateways (GEON) and Education (NTC) –TeraGrid Pathways project Goal To understand where gateways in general and GEON and GISolve in particular might further Navajo Tech’s research and education goals. Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

In under 15 minutes I hope to answer TeraGrid –What is it? Gateways –What are they? How are others using them? I’d like you to think about what aspects of these might be relevant for your work. Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

What is the TeraGrid? A unique combination of fundamental CI components Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

TeraGrid Resources Available for all Domain Scientists At no cost to them! Funded by the National Science Foundation for use by all the nation’s scientists, engineers, educators Integrated, persistent, pioneering resources –That you don’t have to maintain Gain new insights into the most challenging research questions and societal problems through the use of cyberinfrastructure Advanced support –Dedicated staff investment to really make a difference on complex problems Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

TeraGrid Gateway Program begins in 2004 Web developments, explosion of digital data are leading to the increased importance of the internet and the web for science –Only 16 years since the availability of web browsers Developments in web technology –From static html to cgi forms to the wikis and social web pages of today Full impact on science yet to be felt –Web usage model resonates with scientists But, need persistency if the Web is to have a profound impact on science Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Today, there are approximately 29 gateways using the TeraGrid Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Not just ease of use What can scientists do that they couldn’t do previously? Linked Environments for Atmospheric Discovery –Access to radar data National Virtual Observatory – Access to sky surveys Ocean Observing Initiative –Access to sensor data PolarGrid –Access to polar ice sheet data Social Informatics Data Grid –Analysis tools GridChem –Developing multiscale coupling How would this have been done before gateways? Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Gateways can further investments in other projects Increase access –To instruments, we’ll see an example today Increase capabilities –To analyze data, we’ll see an example today Improve workforce development –For underserved populations, we’ll see an example today Increase outreach Increase public awareness –Public sees value in investments in large facilities Slice bread Pack the kids’ lunch, etc. Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Gateways in the marketplace Kids control telescopes and share images “In seconds my computer screen was transformed into a live telescopic view” –“Slooh's users include newbies and professional astronomers in 70 countries” Observatories in the Canary Islands and Chile, Australia coming soon 5000 images/month since 2003 Increases public support for investment in these facilities Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Gateways Greatly Expand Access Almost anyone can investigate scientific questions using high end resources –Not just those in the research groups of those who request allocations –Gateways allow anyone with a web browser to explore Opportunities can be uncovered via google –My 11-year-old son discovered nanoHUB.org himself while his class was studying Bucky Balls Fosters new ideas, cross-disciplinary approaches Encourages students to experiment But used in production too –Significant number of papers resulting from gateways including GridChem, nanoHUB –Scientists can focus on challenging science problems rather than challenging infrastructure problems Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

TeraGrid Pathways NSF project to broaden participation in the TeraGrid –Building human capacity Mentoring, fellowships, new user support –Gateways as an outreach mechanism Adapt gateways for educational use –GEON, Navajo Tech Teach students how to build gateways –PolarGrid, Elizabeth City State University Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Navajo Tech, GEON, SRI Goals –Use of gateways in the classroom as appropriate SRI expertise in using technology for learning –Use of gateways to further faculty work August 11-15, Jason Ariviso, Mark Trebian attend GEON Summer Institute Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Follow-up telecon August 28 Enough excitement to warrant this visit! AutoCAD work with NASA, large terrestrial scan data that must be subsetted –Scan device at Cal-IT used to scan artifacts may be relevant Using geographic information systems (GIS) to create accurate maps for agriculture, hydrology, mineral deposits –GEON, GISolve work may be relevant Subset of GEON at NTC to store local data locally but share the data through GEON –NTC portal as a GEON portlet –Faculty datasets Video production, archiving film This 2-day meeting is a chance to expand on these ideas. Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

PolarGrid Cyberinfrastructure Center for Polar Science (CICPS) –Experts in polar science, remote sensing and cyberinfrastructure –Indiana, ECSU, CReSIS Satellite observations show disintegration of ice shelves in West Antarctica and speed-up of several glaciers in southern Greenland –Most existing ice sheet models, including those used by IPCC cannot explain the rapid changes Navajo Technical College, September 25, polargrid-big.m4v Source: Geoffrey Fox

Components of PolarGrid –Expedition grid consisting of ruggedized laptops in a field grid linked to a low power multi-core base camp cluster –Prototype and two production expedition grids feed into a 17 Teraflops "lower 48" system at Indiana University and Elizabeth City State (ECSU) split between research, education and training. –Gives ECSU a top-ranked 5 Teraflop MSI high performance computing system Access to expensive data High-end resources for analysis MSI student involvement Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008 Source: Geoffrey Fox

SCEC using gateway to produce hazard map PSHA hazard map for California using newly released Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF2.0) calculated using SCEC Science Gateway Warm colors indicate regions with a high probability of experiencing strong ground motion in the next 50 years. High resolution map, significant CPU use Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Social Informatics Data Grid Heavy use of “multimodal” data. –Subject might be viewing a video, while a researcher collects heart rate and eye movement data. Events must be synchronized for analysis, large datasets result Extensive analysis capabilities are not something that each researcher should have to create for themselves. Navajo Technical College, September 25,

When might a gateway be appropriate? Researchers using defined sets of tools in different ways –Same executables, different input GridChem, CHARMM –Creating multi-scale or complex workflows –Datasets Common data formats –National Virtual Observatory –Earth System Grid –Some groups have invested significant efforts here caBIG, extensive discussions to develop common terminology and formats BIRN, extensive data sharing agreements Difficult to access data/advanced workflows –Sensor/radar input LEAD, GEON Support available to help build gateways Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Tremendous Potential for Gateways In only 16 years, the Web has fundamentally changed human communication Science Gateways can leverage this amazingly powerful tool to: –Transform the way scientists collaborate –Streamline conduct of science –Influence the public’s perception of science Reliability, trust, continuity are fundamental to truly change the conduct of science through the use of gateways –High end resources can have a profound impact The future is very exciting! Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008

Thank you for your attention For more information – Navajo Technical College, September 25, 2008