Students and faculty at the Hampton University School of Science are thrilled to announce that their school has been chosen to receive a $1 million grant. The grant is awarded by the National Science Foundation‘s HBCU Research Infrastructure in Science and Engineering foundation, also known as RISE. Hampton University will use the grant to construct a massive super computer, one which will raise its level of competitiveness in the industry and allow students and professionals better access to cutting-edge technology.
What’s a Super Computer?
The super computer, also called a computer cluster, will be an arrangement of high-powered computers dedicated to Numerical Modeling and Simulation. All together, the cluster will include several thousand CPU cores, working in together with high-throughput accelerators like Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
The principle investigator of the project will be Dr. William Moore, assistant professor at Hampton University’s Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Science. According to Moore, “Our goals in building the computer cluster are to enhance the number of Ph. D’s granted in physical science from Hampton University.” He added, “It will also increase the productivity of our researchers in Atmospheric and Planetary Science and Computer Science, and will make high-speed computing available to other researchers on campus.”
High Expectations
The effects of such a super computer are far-reaching, making Hampton University extremely competitive among HBCUs and nationwide universities. Moore went on to state, “This modeling and simulation capability will strengthen our research opportunities with NASA Langley and the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute. The interaction of radiation with the human body has research applications ranging from cancer treatments to space exploration.”
In the academic world, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers are widely recognized as some of the very most desirable careers a student can choose. In a society increasingly dependent on technology, these careers represent the future. In addition, the US has consistently ranked low, when compared to other countries, in the number of STEM degree graduates. This has resulted in a push toward STEM careers, encouraging students to take another look at subjects which have been ignored. By getting students interested in and excited about the wide range of possibilities encompassed by STEM careers, the US hopes to see many years’ worth of STEM graduates in the near future.Super computers like the one to be built at Hampton University’s School of Science are a huge asset to any STEM-related program, course or field of research. Having such a computer cluster at one of the most widely-respected HBCUs in the nation is a wonderful incentive for students and faculty alike. It has the power to foster new realms of research, learning and discovery for many years and make Hampton even more sought-after as a place to work, research and learn.
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