The Center for High Performance Computing (HPC@USU) hosted its first two-day symposium on Opportunities for High Performance Computing in Agricultural and Life Sciences. This event was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture’s CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service), and was attended by a national and local field of scholars, researchers, and students.

Keynote speaker Dr. Colien Hefferan, USDA administrator of CSREES, spoke of the need for HPC capabilities in all elements of scientific research to remain competitive and enhance research. She noted many researchers rely on outdated techniques learned decades ago in graduate school, but to remain competitive today requires the use of new tools for tracking, monitoring and computing analysis. HPC offers these capabilities and efficiencies, Hefferan stated, and praised the research investment of HPC@USU.

“This was an enlightening forum to demonstrate how HPC will improve my work” noted one USU faculty researcher. “I realize I need to think differently about my techniques; I can see how HPC will enhance my results and improve research efficiency”.

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    Speaker Presentations - HPC in Agriculture and Life Science

• The Cornell Computational Agriculture Initiative:  HPC Solutions to Agricultural Problems
  Harold M. van Es, Int'l Professor of Crop & Soil Sciences, Cornell University
  PDF Presentation

• Applications of  HPC in plant breeding, conservation, and genetics.  
  Steven R. Larson, Research Geneticist, Forage & Range Research Lab, USU
  PDF Presentation