Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Bridging research and computing to tackle the world's grand challenges (WPS207)

Summary

Deborah Goldfarb introduces the session on collaborations between research institutions, universities, and industry in advanced computing and simulation.
Francesca Domenici discusses the Harvard Data Science Initiative's collaboration with AWS to solve complex global challenges.
Satoshi Matsuoka presents RIKEN's work on Fugaku, a supercomputer, and its integration with AWS to extend its reach.
Sasi Su from Emory University explains their cloud-first policy and the transition to AWS for research computing.
Panelists discuss the importance of integrating research computing into the scientific process and the challenges of managing costs and resources in the cloud.
The conversation highlights the need for cultural shifts in academia and industry to work together more closely and the role of leadership in driving these changes.
Audience questions address the role of research software engineers in the academic process.
The panel concludes with thoughts on ensuring research impacts reach their intended targets and the importance of data-driven policy changes.

There is a growing recognition of the need for close collaboration between academia and industry to tackle complex societal challenges using advanced computing.
The cloud is seen as a democratizing force in research computing, providing access to resources that were previously limited to institutions with large-scale infrastructure.
Cost management and resource allocation in the cloud are significant concerns for researchers, and institutions like Emory University have developed strategies to mitigate these issues.
There is a call for a cultural shift to recognize research computing as an integral part of the scientific process, rather than a separate service.
The panelists emphasize the importance of leadership in setting a vision for cloud adoption and research computing integration.
The discussion suggests a need for new career paths for data scientists and software engineers within academia that bridge the gap between research and technology.
Ensuring that research findings have a real-world impact requires a clear understanding of stakeholders, policy levers, and the ability to provide data-driven evidence to inform policy decisions.