Autumn 2023 Pawsey update

As we start off the new year, the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre is proud to have engaged with various STEM (Science, technology, engineering and maths) programs that aim to inspire and empower the next generation of diverse STEM careers. These programs include Stargirls STEM camp (which is facilitated by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research), the National Youth Science Forum, and the DISCOVER STEM program tour. 

STEM engagement is a focal point at Pawsey as we strive to reduce the barriers that younger generations face in STEM. Stargirls aims to inspire and empower female and non-binary students to pursue STEM careers. The program is focused on breaking down barriers that these students face in STEM. One of the major takeaways from the program is that many of the participants lacked knowledge of STEM career options and what a typical day in those careers may entail. However, after attending the program, they were able to identify more career paths and study options that interested them. 

Pawsey is also a proud supporter of the National Youth Science Forum. The program provides participants with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of digital content and STEM visits in hub locations across the country, including Pawsey. During the visit, participants are introduced to Pawsey and supercomputers. They toured our visualisation lab, where specialists talked through research in radio astronomy and bioinformatics and the use of supercomputers, and participated in a Q&A session. 

The DISCOVER STEM program tour is a school holiday STEM program supported by Pawsey, consisting of three days of engaging, hands-on lab sessions and expert speaker presentations, along with information on studying at university and the many rewarding careers in STEM. The program provides a platform for students to explore different STEM fields and get a better understanding of what they entail. 

In other news, and in an area which is very important to the field of radioastronomy, Pawsey is  proud to have been shortlisted for the AFR Sustainability Leaders Award. Our architecture is underpinned by our focus on sustainability, which has resulted in Setonix being ranked the fourth greenest supercomputer in the world. Pawsey has invested in several projects to investigate options to reduce the impact the Centre has on the environment. We expect to provide invaluable information and options for leading-edge technologies to reduce the environmental impact of our infrastructure and services. 

As we start 2023, we are actively transitioning to our new energy-efficient Setonix architecture and understand the impact this transition, and at times the interruptions to service availability, has on our user community. Migrating our services to a new architecture is a major undertaking and we value the feedback and support from researchers across Australia – you motivate us every day to succeed in our multi-year effort and to deliver the latest supercomputing and data technologies to support your science. 

Mark Stickells, Executive Director, Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre