Safe, Smart, Secure. Research Computing to Inspire Innovation

Dear Colleagues and Friends of CASC,

As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible strides we’ve made as a community. Gratitude because this progress would not be possible without the efforts of our members, the Executive Committee, and our Executive Director and Operations Manager. Since its inception in 1989, the Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation (CASC) has convened leaders, supporters, and practitioners of research computing to address emerging challenges and seize opportunities. Today our network spans over 105 member institutions, and we are leveraging our individual and collective efforts to build a brighter future through scientific discovery, scholarly research, innovation, and collaboration.

For those new to CASC, our annual brochure highlights the impactful work happening across our member institutions. These pages capture the transformative role research computing and data services play in advancing science and technology.

Through our collective efforts, we’ve made significant contributions to the research ecosystem, helping to shape the future of scientific inquiry.

This past year, CASC and our members have reached some remarkable milestones:

Expanding Access to Cutting-Edge Resources: CASC has successfully partnered with federal agencies and private sector leaders to secure funding and infrastructure, significantly enhancing access to state-of-the-art computing resources. These advancements have empowered researchers to make breakthroughs in critical areas such as climate modeling and genomics.

Notably, 14 of the 25 National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) are led by CASC members, and several members are providing shared resources and applications support for the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot project.

Influencing National Policy and Strategy: CASC has been instrumental in shaping national discussions on the future of scientific computation. Our members serve on key advisory boards, contributing to policy recommendations that underscore the importance of sustained investment in advanced computing. Highlights include participating in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy forum on the “Power of Federal Research and Development” and contributing to NSF’s Sustainable Computing for Sustainability workshop.

Strengthening Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Through a series of meetings, working groups, and presentations, CASC has fostered deeper collaboration among members, driving interdisciplinary research and sharing best practices in areas like artificial intelligence (Al), energy efficiency, and data center management.

Promoting Workforce Development and Diversity: Recognizing the urgent need for skilled professionals in scientific computing, CASC has supported initiatives such as the Cyberinfrastructure Leadership Academy to develop the next generation of leaders.

Our Democratization & Inclusivity working group is actively charting a path to increase participation from underrepresented groups, ensuring a more diverse and vibrant community.

Looking ahead, our priorities for the coming year are clear and ambitious:

Advancing Al and Research Computing Integration: We will continue to champion the integration of Al and machine learning with advanced scientific computing, accelerating innovation and discovery. CASC’s Dynamic State of Al working group is at the forefront of this effort, alongside groups exploring Al-driven energy-efficient computing and advanced research infrastructure management.

Enhancing Cyberinfrastructure Security: As cyber threats become more sophisticated, CASC is committed to promoting the development and implementation of advanced regulated research practices to safeguard our computational resources and the invaluable data they manage.

Expanding Outreach and Education: We aim to broaden our outreach to engage policymakers, educators, and corporate stakeholders, fostering a deeper public understanding of the vital role of research computing in advancing science.

Fostering Collaboration with Strategic Partners: We are increasing CASC’s presence at key conferences and meetings, such as Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing (PEARC), EDUCAUSE, SC, Research Computing at Smaller Institutions (RCSI), and Minority Serving-Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) to strengthen our partnerships and ensure our members have access to the latest technologies and methodologies.

As we embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead, I am confident that our collective efforts will continue to push the boundaries of scientific computation. The work of CASC members as outlined in this annual brochure – whether it’s improving public health, advancing Al, building climate resilience, protecting privacy, or driving new discoveries — will inspire us all.

Warm regards,
James “Jim” Wilgenbusch
2023-2024 CASC Chair