1. CaSToRC LinkSCEEM-2: A Computational Resource for the Development of Computational Sciences in the Eastern Mediterranean Jens Wiegand Scientific Coordinator e-AGE 2012 - Integrating Arab e-Infrastructures in a global environment 12-13 December 2012, Dubai, UAE

2. CaSToRC The Cyprus Institute An international research establishment, partnered with leading Institutions in the world, pursuing regional problems of global significance  Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) – opened in 2007  Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center (STARC) – opened in 2009  Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC) – opened in 2009

3. CaSToRC Computational-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC) Central goal: To develop world-class research and education in computational science serving the Eastern Mediterranean in collaboration with other regional institutions Cy-Tera High Performance Computing (HPC) facility  Cy-Tera (116 nodes: 98 CPU nodes, 18 GPU nodes, 30.5 Tflops)  Euclid (6 GPU nodes)  Prometheus (8 GPU nodes)  Planck (24 CPU nodes)

4. CaSToRC Computational Science in the Eastern Mediterranean  LinkSCEEM-1 project run from 2008-2009 – assessment of HPC resources and users in the Eastern Mediterranean countries by HPC resources (status Nov 2012, source www.top500.org) Need for additional computational resources (regional survey LinkSCEEM-1) Saudi Arabia - 0.4%,

5. CaSToRC Computational Science in the Eastern Mediterranean  LinkSCEEM-1 project run from 2008-2009 – assessment of HPC resources and users in the Eastern Mediterranean Conclusions: Main factors that have hindered the development of computational science in the region limited access to HPC resources limited knowledge on HPC inadequate regional connectivity limited awareness of simulation as a scientific tool

6. CaSToRC Development of Computational Sciences in the Eastern Mediterranean HPC user community HPC user HPC e-infrastructure

7. CaSToRC LinkSCEEM-2 - Establish a HPC EcoSystem in the Eastern Mediterranean  Provide access to HPC resources  Provide training in HPC  Raise awareness for HPC research tools  Bring international expertise into the region

8. CaSToRC Access to HPC facilities within LinkSCEEM Regionally distributed LinkSCEEM e-infrastructure is being accessed through a joint call  CaSToRC: – Cy-Tera (CPU/GPU cluster, 30 TFlops) – EUCLID (LinkSCEEM training cluster)  BA: – Sun cluster (CPU, 12 TFlops)  Regional collaboration – HP-SEE (pilot access for LinkSCEEM users)

9. CaSToRC User Support and Training  User training – 19 training events in the region so far – participation in numerous community events  Online resources – training portal with tutorials – online user support – LinkSCEEM training cluster at CyI locations of LinkSCEEM events LinkSCEEM user support webpage

10. CaSToRC Project Research Themes  Cross sectional research – performance analysis and optimisation for community codes  Climate – development of atmospheric chemistry climate models to study the Eastern Mediterranean region  Digital cultural heritage – imaging and image processing of regional artifacts  Synchrotron radiation data analysis – synchrotron data analysis and simulation on GPU systems Mediterranean and Middle East hot spot of ozone air pollution Polynomial Texture Mapping of a copy of an ancient coin from Petra, Jordan, depicting Alexander the Great or one of his successors

11. CaSToRC Success stories  Project is in its 3 rd year now (duration of 4 years)  LinkSCEEM e-infrastructure is established  2 successful production access calls Projects by country: 1 st call Projects by country: 2 nd call

12. CaSToRC Summary  A clear need for development of a HPC user community was identified in the region  LinkSCEEM-2 addresses these needs by – providing HPC resources to the region – training the user community – transferring knowledge form experienced organisations – initiating and supporting HPC related research of regional relevance  But, Computational science will also need improved connectivity in the region Establishing a sustainable user community is a long term effort...

13. CaSToRC Summary... and LinkSCEEM helps to pave the way www.linksceem.eu LinkSCEEM group

14. CaSToRC Thank you www.cyi.ac.cy www.linksceem.eu CaSToRC Acknowledgement Funding for LinkSCEEM is provided by DG-INFSO Grant Agreement Number: 261600 Call (part) identifier: FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES-2010-2 Topic: INFRA-2010-1.2.3: Virtual Research Communities Funding Scheme: Combination of CP & CSA