News

The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) will host a week-long Cyberinfrastructure Summer Institute for Geoscientists August 16-21, 2004. The Institute will provide training in advanced information technologies for researchers in the geosciences community.

Designed to introduce geoscientists to both state-of-the-art and emergent information technology tools that have the potential to power a new generation of geoscience discoveries, the Institute will be held at SDSC on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

"As we integrate leading-edge information technology into the day-to-day practice of science, this institute provides hands-on training to geoscientists in advanced technologies that can help transform the way geoscience is done," said Chaitan Baru, Institute organizer and director of SDSC's Data and Knowledge Systems program. "We expect this first meeting to pave the way for future institutes that can extend and deepen these educational services to the geoscience community and beyond."

The program will feature lectures and hands-on exercises that will help participants learn specific IT tools and resources that can be useful in their daily research activities. Topics to be covered include data modeling, Web services, and Geographic Information Systems. There will also be a brief introduction to key concepts in grid computing, parallel programming, and scientific workflows, which will serve as preparation for a subsequent institute offering that will cover these topics in greater depth.

The application deadline for the Summer institute is July 16th, 2004. Those interested in attending are encouraged to apply on the Web at http://www.geongrid.org/summerinstitute/. Applicants will be asked to submit a brief statement of interest explaining the potential value for their research and education activities.

While the Institute is open to everyone, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are especially encouraged to apply. The Institute size is limited to 40 attendees.

Support is available to cover local expenses, with attendees responsible for their travel arrangements to and from San Diego.

To learn more about the CSIG, please see http://www.geongrid.org/summerinstitute/ or send e-mail to summerinstitute@geongrid.org. -Paul Tooby.