SC09 BROADER ENGAGEMENT OFFERS MENTORING AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

Portland, OR Interested in understanding what supercomputing means? Want to learn more about biological sciences, environmental sustainability, and the emerging 3D Internet? Would you like to see how next-generation computing, networking and storage technologies help to solve our world's challenges and problems? Do you want to be in a place that brings together scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, programmers, system administrators and managers to discuss, discover and innovate the path forward for computing? If so, the SC09 Broader Engagement initiative might just be for you.

SC09, the international conference for high performance computing, networking, storage and analysis, takes place November 14-20, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. For twenty-one years, the SC conference has showcased the latest advances in high performance computing, networking, storage and analysis. Over the years, the conference has expanded its breadth to reach a wider community. For example, the Education Program helps teachers integrate high performance computing into the classroom, while the Doctoral Consortium provides a forum in which graduate students can present their research. And a series of Student Competitions have been created to test both expertise and teamwork.

In addition, the conference is committed to broadening the engagement of individuals from groups that have traditionally been under-represented in high performance computing.

The SC09 Broader Engagement (BE) initiative will award participation grants to provide travel assistance to individuals from groups that have traditionally been under-represented in computing: African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, women and disabled people. These grants are available to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full time for at least one semester during the 2008-2009 academic year and are at least 18 years of age. Faculty and young professionals also will be considered, with a preference for faculty whose students are receiving SC09 BE grants.

"Participation in the SC conference is a powerful experience," said Dr. Tiki Suarez-Brown of Florida A&M University, SC09's Broader Engagement Chair. "The technical presentations, exhibit hall floor, and professional and academic networking available at the SC conference can have a profound effect on one's academic and professional career. This can be a life changing experience for the right individuals."

Applications for SC09 Broader Engagement travel assistance grants are being accepted through August 3, 2009. In addition to receiving complimentary conference registration, grant recipients will be reimbursed for their SC09 lodging and transportation expenses. Applications are encouraged from students and young professionals in all computing-related disciplines. More information, including a link to the application form, can be found at http://sc09.supercomputing.org/?pg=broadeng.html

About SC09

SC09, sponsored by the ACM (the Association for Computing Machinery) and the IEEE Computer Society, offers a complete technical education program and exhibition to showcase the many ways high performance computing, networking, storage and analysis lead to advances in scientific discovery, research, education and commerce. This premier international conference includes a globally attended technical program, workshops, tutorials, an exhibit area, demonstrations and handson learning. For more information, please visit http://sc09.supercomputing.org/.