ACADEMIA

XSEDE12, the first conference of the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment, will be held July 16-19, 2012, at the InterContinental hotel in downtown Chicago.

Much as XSEDE replaces and extends TeraGrid as the largest NSF-funded provider of advanced cyberinfrastructure services for the U.S. open research community, XSEDE12 builds on the successful series of TeraGrid conferences. XSEDE Principal Investigator John Towns said, "This conference series has evolved into an important meeting focused on the needs of the community supported by XSEDE, and it will cover a breadth of scientific, technical, and social aspects of cyberinfrastructure."

The XSEDE12 conference includes the most successful and popular aspects of the previous TeraGrid conferences:

• tutorials on the first day of the conference
• excellent keynote and plenary speakers from within and beyond the computational science community
• special aspects of the program for students and Campus Champions
• a visualization showcase, poster sessions, and excellent technical sessions.

XSEDE12 also plans to include new features:

• technical sessions focused on software, including software vendors discussing their products relative to the XSEDE environment, software engineering for XSEDE, and challenges of delivering and using commercial software in the XSEDE environment
• a cybercafe near the conference area, so participants can get online easily during breaks
• a social calendar that includes events for student volunteers, a conference reception, AND at least one free evening to enjoy Chicago.

Craig Stewart, executive director of the Indiana University Pervasive Technology Institute, is the general chair of XSEDE12, and Warren Froelich, director of communications at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, is deputy chair. Stewart noted that IU was involved in the TeraGrid conference for many years and "IU's biggest contribution to the history of this event may have been in 2006, when it hosted the first TeraGrid conference in Indianapolis."

The program committee is still being formed, and anyone interested in volunteering to serve is asked to send email to xsede12-info@xsede.org.

The XSEDE website at www.xsede.org/xsede12 will be updated with information as it becomes available, including a planned call for participation — technical papers, posters, the visualization showcase, Birds of a Feather discussions, tutorials, and panels. Awards will be presented at the closing luncheon on Thursday, July 19, for best paper, best student paper, best student poster, and best visualization. Plans also include publishing the proceedings of the conference in a journal (to be announced). 

XSEDE12 is expected to set a new standard for community participation and technical excellence. With a location on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the cultural, entertainment, and shopping opportunities are outstanding. Mark your calendars now, and prepare to book your accommodations for this exciting conference.