Advocate for public and private investment in research computing and data services.
Leading
With Purpose
Discover how CASC's vision, values, and rich history guide our collaborative efforts to advance scientific research.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign National
Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Our
Mission
Our Vision
CASC envisions a robust, sustainable ecosystem supporting academic research computing and data services, enabled by a vibrant, diverse community of professionals.
CASC Executive Committee
Chair
Jim Wilgenbusch
Director of Research Computing University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
cascchair@casc.org
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Vice Chair
Rich Knepper
Director of the Cornell Center for Advanced Computing, Cornell University
cascvicechair@casc.org
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Director of Membership, Elections & Outreach
Barr Von Oehsen
Director, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center
cascsecretary@casc.org
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Treasurer
David Hart
Director, CISL Research Support Division National Center for Atmospheric Research
casctreasurer@casc.org
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Executive Director
Kathryn Kelley
kelley@casc.org
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Operations Manager
Carolyn Casler
casler@casc.org
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Communications Committee
Melyssa Fratkin
Chair
Texas Advanced Computing Center
Andrew Bell
University of Virginia
Kristin Lepping
Rutgers University
Marisa Brazil
Arizona State University
Paul Redfern
Cornell University
Brian Connelly
University of Pittsburgh
Stephanie Suber
Renaissance Computing Institute
Positions Committee
Erik Deumens
Chair
University of Florida (’23-’24)
Jim Wilgenbusch
University of Minnesota & CASC Chair
Eric Coulter
Georgia Tech (’24-’25)
Rich Knepper
Cornell University & CASC Vice Chair
Alana Romanella
University of Colorado – Boulder (’24-’25)
David Hart
NCAR & CASC Treasurer
Tabitha Samuel
University of Tennessee (’23-’24)
Barr von Oehsen
Rutgers University & CASC Director of Membership, Elections and Outreach
Carol Song
Purdue University (’23-’24)
Wayne Figurelle
Penn State University & CASC Past Chair
Nominations Committee
Wayne Figurelle
Chair
Pennsylvania State University
Curt Hillegas
Princeton University
Erik Deumens
University of Florida
Marisa Brazil
Arizona State University
Ruth Marinshaw
Stanford University
Program Committee
Rich Knepper
Chair
Cornell University
Josh Baller
University of Virginia
Jeremy Frumkin
University of Arizona
Dave Hudak
Ohio Supercomputer Center
Doug Jennewein
Arizona State University
Fang (Cherry) Liu
Georgia Tech University
Benjamin Lynch
University of Minnesota
Nan McKenna
Stanford University
Ravi Vadapalli
Miami University
History + Impact
Explore how our storied past and impactful initiatives have shaped the industry, fostering progress and inspiring change across communities.
- 1989
- 1992
- 1996
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History + Impact
Explore how our storied past and impactful initiatives have shaped the industry, fostering progress and inspiring change across communities.
1940s-1970s
- ENIAC computer built in 1946 for $500,000
- NSF begins investing in academic supercomputing centers and Department of Defense funds DARPAnet, the precursor to the Internet in the 1960s
1980-1989
- Founding of CASC: CASC was established to advocate for the importance of high-performance computing (HPC) in academia and to promote the use of computational science in education and research.
- The national supercomputer centers program is launched by NSF in 1985 and NSFnet is developed to connect supercomputer centers and then regional networks
1990-1999
- Early Advocacy: CASC begins advocating for federal funding and support for HPC infrastructure in academic institutions.
- Membership Growth: The organization expands from 12 to more than 30 institutions as academic institutions recognize the value of HPC resources.
- National Developments:
- Birth of the World Wide Web in 1991; NSFnet becomes the first national backbone network at 45 Mbps
- First demonstration of telemicroscopy, one of the earliest implementations of cyberinfrastructure
- Release of Mosaic, the first browser and graphical user interface for the Web (1993)
- NSF funds the Partnership for Advanced Computational
- Infrastructure (PACI) program, leading the way to groundbreaking grid projects and cyberinfrastructure
2000-2009
- Expansion of Mission: CASC expands its mission to include broader aspects of computational science, including education and workforce development.
- Key Initiatives: Introduction of various programs aimed at enhancing computational education and outreach.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: CASC forms stronger partnerships with government agencies, industry, and other academic consortia.
- National Developments:
- NIH establishes the first scalable national computing infrastructure
- NSF establishes the TeraGrid, a multi-institutional distributed terascale facilit2007: DOE and NSF fund the deployment of Petaflop supercomputers
- The era of “Big Data” begins with expansion of data storage, processing power, and network speeds.
2010-2019
- Technological Advancements: CASC members contribute to significant advancements in HPC technologies and applications.
- Educational Programs: Expansion of educational programs, including workshops, training, and curriculum development in computational science.
- Policy Influence: CASC increases its influence in shaping national policies related to computational science and HPC.
- National Developments:
- NSF XSEDE program begins in July 2011, providing scientists and researchers with access to advanced digital resources, including supercomputers, data storage, and visualization tools, to support computational research across a wide range of disciplines.
- High-performance computing becoming pervasive not only in science, but society, becoming ubiquitous in research, industry, and economic development applications.
- Research computing resources are increasingly required at both small and large research universities to maintain the nation’s prominence in science and technology advances.
2020-Present
- 35th Anniversary: CASC marks 35 years of contributions and service to the academic and scientific computing community
- Adapting to New Challenges: CASC addresses the growing importance of AI and data science within the research computing and data (RCD) community.
- Global Collaboration: Increased sharing of data and computational resources across borders, including initiatives like the COVID-19 High-Performance Computing Consortium, provided researchers worldwide with access to powerful computing resources.
- National Developments:
- Quantum Supremacy: Demonstrations of quantum supremacy, where quantum computers perform certain calculations faster than classical computers, marked significant progress.
- Exascale Computing: Progress toward exascale computing, capable of performing a quintillion calculations per second with the development of systems like the U.S. Department of Energy’s Exascale Computing Project
- NSF ACCESS program officially began in September 2022 as a successor to the XSEDE program, continuing the mission of providing the U.S. research community with access to advanced computational and data resources.
- HPC for Climate Research: Increased utilization of HPC for climate modeling and simulation, aiding in understanding and predicting climate change impacts.
Governance
The CASC Executive Committee and member committees are actively advancing our strategic plan. Here are some key activities:
Promoting Team Science
CASC facilitates collaborations among diverse groups. At the NSF Research Infrastructure Workshop, we presented on “Different Models of Data Governance,” highlighted CASC priorities, and led sessions on advancing understanding in regulated research.
Advancing Computational Research
CASC promotes groundbreaking research and technological advancements. This brochure showcases some of these exciting discoveries.
See our brochures to learn about the exciting discoveries CASC members have supported
Engaging Policymakers
In 2024 CASC Executive Director Kathryn Kelley presented at a Congressional briefing on the need for expanded U.S. investments in supercomputing and AI, highlighting the need for a prepared workforce and government partnership with academic institutions.
Supporting Emerging Leaders
CASC nurtures future computational research and data leaders through grants, scholarships, and mentorship, with a focus on women and underrepresented groups in STEM.
Sharing Best Practices
CASC facilitates knowledge-sharing sessions at member meetings and conferences like PEARC and SC, helping institutions enhance their capabilities.
Providing Thought Leadership
CASC participates in international conferences and discussions, shaping the future of computational research. For instance, we presented the “ABCs of Research Computing” at the EDUCAUSE conference.
Impacting Policy
Inspired by the “Missing Millions” report, our Positions Committee and workgroup on Research Ecosystem Inclusivity are working to foster a more inclusive research computing community. Our Research Data Management workgroup outlines navigation paths for research computing centers, and we regularly invite thought leaders to share insights at our biannual meetings.
See our brochures to learn about the exciting discoveries CASC members have supported
Promoting Team Science
Advancing Computational Research
Engaging Policymakers
Supporting Emerging Leaders
Sharing Best Practices
Providing Thought Leadership
Impacting Policy
2023 Spring Meeting
2023 CASC Membership Meeting
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Press & Media
Download our comprehensive press kit for the latest releases, high-resolution images, and essential information to help you cover our story and initiatives.
Our Impact
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engaged policy makers
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Advance Your Research
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Advocate for Innovation
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Join Our Committees
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Pursue a Computational Career
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