Call is Open for Embedded Technical Support program
The Embedded Technical Support program is designed to assist researchers in any discipline at Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions to adopt or improve their use of advanced computing techniques and resources in their research.
These tools have the potential to accelerate discovery in almost any discipline. However, the expertise necessary to optimize code, successfully migrate workflows from a desktop to an HPC cluster, build a cloud platform, or simply explore the capabilities and benefits of advanced computing may not be readily available, especially in smaller projects.
This program pairs our technical experts with innovative projects that have high potential for success and impact, and that require advanced computing resources, programming support and/or in-depth technical expertise. Some examples of areas we can help are:
Code parallelization and performance optimization for HPC systems
Scientific or data visualization
Data analytics
Workflow migration from the desktop to a cluster
Applying research data management best practices
Tailored training
Successful projects under this program are able to access focused and dedicated support from one or two of ACENET’s research consultants for a period of two to four months. During this period, the ACENET staff member will spend up to 50% of their time working on the project.
The current call is open from 14 April until 18 May, 2025.
A joint effort among a number of partner organizations, the Canadian Certificate in Digital Humanities/Certificat canadien en Humanités Numériques (cc:DH/HN) is launched!
The certificate, open to anyone regardless of citizenship or country of residence, recognizes people who have taken 100 hours of eligible digital humanities workshops over a five-year period.
To find out more about the certificate, including eligibility and how to apply, visit https://ccdhhn.ca/.
If you are a Canadian organization offering digital humanities training and would like to have your workshops listed as eligible and/or become a partner organization, please contact us at digitalhumanities@stfx.ca.
ACENET’s Certificate in Advanced Computing provides participants skills in using a supercomputer for large-scale simulations, analysis, complex modelling, machine learning, and visualization. They progress from beginner to intermediate with topics that include programming with Python, data analytics and visualization, Linux and Shell Scripting, high performance computing, parallel computing, cloud, version control, machine learning, and others such as technical writing, technical project management, cybersecurity and quality assurance.
Designed to provide job-ready skills, the certificate is completed part-time online over five months with approximately 100 hours of teaching time. The program takes a modular approach, combining six evening hours per week of interactive online classes with supplemental learning material, and includes a final independent study project intended to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.
People who have knowledge, experience and comfort with computers, and who want to develop advanced computing skills to either expand their career prospects or bring new capabilities to their existing employment may be interested in this program. Specific work experience is less important than computer experience, and participants may come from a range of industries. Programming experience is beneficial, but not necessary, but a background in mathematics and statistics is strongly recommended. Those who are both motivated and have the capacity and time to augment this program with guided, self-directed learning will be most successful.
The first cohort begins in March, 2024 under the techNLFind Your Future in Tech project, which is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. The application period is now closed.
A poor choice of job submission or simulation parameters leads to poor performance and a waste of computing resources when running molecular dynamics simulations.
A common mistake is requesting too many CPUs or GPUs to run a simulation as fast as possible. However, the fastest simulations may be inefficient due to poor parallel scaling. As a result, such simulations use excessive resources and negatively impact priority, resulting in longer queue times and reduced productivity.
We’re launching our new Embedded Technical Support program with an inaugural Call for Proposals
The Embedded Technical Support program is designed to assist researchers in any discipline at Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions to adopt or improve their use of advanced computing techniques and resources in their research.
These tools have the potential to accelerate discovery in almost any discipline. However, the expertise necessary to optimize code, successfully migrate workflows from a desktop to an HPC cluster, build a cloud platform, or simply explore the capabilities and benefits of advanced computing may not be readily available, especially in smaller projects.
This program pairs our technical experts with innovative projects that have high potential for success and impact, and that require advanced computing resources, programming support and/or in-depth technical expertise. Some examples of areas we can help are:
Code parallelization, profiling and optimization for HPC systems
Scientific or data visualization
Data analytics
Workflow migration from the desktop to a cluster
Research portal creation on a cloud platform
Incorporation of advanced computing into research programs
Successful projects under this program are able to access focused and dedicated support from one of ACENET’s research consultants for a period of two to four months. During this period, the ACENET staff member will spend up to 50% of their time working on the project.
The current call opens1 May, 2023, with a deadline for submissions of 12 June, 2023.
The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) is thrilled to announce the full production launch of Lunaris, a national discovery service for multidisciplinary data provided by the Alliance as one of its core research data management services.
Lunaris supports the FAIR principles and benefits the research community in many ways. Datasets from over 100 academic, government and research repositories are made discoverable in a bilingual interface that provides keyword and map-based searching. Several new features have been added to improve the service since the beta launch in March 2023:
geospatial preview for all applicable records
audit of French language website
enhanced map search functionality
UX improvements based on user feedback
Feedback was collected during the beta phase to enhance Lunaris. For more information about Lunaris, or to provide further feedback, please contact support@lunaris.ca.
Applications are now open for ACENET’s new Certificate in Advanced Computing. Up to forty participants will be accepted into the program, which is being delivered under techNL’sFind Your Future in Tech project. The project is aimed at addressing technical skills needs in NL’s labour force.
Participants learn how to use a supercomputer for large-scale simulations, analysis, complex modelling, machine learning, and visualization. They progress from beginner to intermediate with topics that include programming with Python, data analytics and visualization, version control, high performance computing, parallel computing, machine learning, cybersecurity, and workflows and project tools in technology.
Designed to provide job-ready skills, the certificate is completed part-time online over five months with approximately 100 hours of teaching time. The program takes a modular approach, combining six evening hours per week of interactive online classes with supplemental learning material, and includes a final independent study project intended to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.
There are no fees for the program. It is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. Eligibility restrictions apply, which can be viewed at Find Your Future in Tech.
People who have knowledge, experience and comfort with computers, and who want to develop advanced computing skills to either expand their career prospects or bring new capabilities to their existing employment may be interested in this program. Specific work experience is less important than computer experience, and participants may come from a range of industries. Programming experience is beneficial, but not necessary, and a background in mathematics and statistics is strongly recommended. Those who are both motivated and have the capacity and time to augment this program with guided, self-directed learning will be most successful.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm (NST) on November 12, 2023. Classes commence in March, 2024. Details about the certificate and application can be found on our website. Questions are welcome and can be directed to certification@www.ace-net.ca.
As many of you will already be aware, Compute Canada is ceasing its operational responsibilities for supporting Canada’s national advanced research computing (ARC) platform on March 31, 2022, and will be shutting down entirely as a corporation later this year. With this message, we are confirming that this change is not expected to cause any disruption to your services and that no action from you is required at this time.
While Compute Canada may be disappearing, it has been working hard with its institutional and regional partners, as well as its new partner, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) to ensure that your services will continue to be delivered by the same talented and supportive team members with whom you already work.
You will continue to access your services in the same way that you always have. To log in to the national host sites, you will continue to use your current user id and password on the Compute Canada Database, access help from the help desk by emailing support@computecanada.ca, and access the Documentation Wiki as you do today, with no changes.
What will be different? When you renewed your account last year, you gave us permission to share your information with the new organization. Starting April 1st, your contact information will be transferred to the Alliance from Compute Canada. This was covered under the consent to disclose personal information form to which you consented and your personal information will be safeguarded.
Compute Canada’s social media accounts will also close. We encourage you to follow the Alliance on LinkedIn and Twitter where they will ensure that you have all the latest news on Canada’s digital research infrastructure (DRI) ecosystem. In addition, the Alliance will send you messages from communications@alliancecan.ca, please take the appropriate measures in your email client to prevent these messages from being rejected from your inbox.
What does this mean for researchers and the DRI ecosystem? The Alliance and our institutional and regional partners will continue their transition work over the coming year, including working through the design and implementation of a new service model that will harmonize the three pillars of DRI (advanced research computing, research data management, and research software). They will also undertake the task of rebranding all Compute Canada branded materials, such as the Documentation Wiki.
As this work progresses, the Alliance and our institutional and regional partners will communicate important details about changes and any action required on your part. In addition to information about services that was previously found on the Compute Canada website, the Alliance website will provide up-to-date information on the ongoing transition activities.
A thank you from the Compute Canada team On behalf of the entire Compute Canada team, I would like to thank you for your support over the last decade. It has been our privilege to serve and work alongside the research community. The passion, commitment, and incredible talent that you bring to your work has motivated us to do better and has gifted us a sense of pride when we have been able to contribute to your success along the way.
While we will miss working with you, the good news is that we are leaving you in very capable hands. The Alliance and our regional and institutional partners have committed to minimizing any disruption of service and we know that they will continue to provide the same high-quality services that you have come to know and expect from us.
Robbin Tourangeau President and CEO Compute Canada
Technology is central to every opportunity in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The digital transformation is changing how we work in every sector. No matter the field or career stage (beginning, mid-level, or pivoting), there is ample opportunity for growth through tech right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.
To further support our province’s already thriving technology industry, ACENET is excited to announce its partnership with techNL to offer funded seats in technology education and training programs to students, career pivoters, and corporate learners throughout 2023-2024.
techNL’s Find Your Future education program will provide funded seats across numerous tech programs and certifications hosted by ten (10) partner organizations to offer education and training to residents and tech sector employers across the province – creating a pipeline of talent for generations to come.
In conjunction with their education program, techNL is launching a province-wide awareness campaign entitled Find Your Future in Tech to raise awareness and understanding of the breadth of opportunity for careers in technology in Newfoundland and Labrador. Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, the program will run until April 2024.
We are fully committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in Newfoundland & Labrador’s tech community. Members of equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply.
Learn more about ACENET’s Certificate in Advanced Computing here, or other partner offerings at FindYourFutureNL.ca
The Compute Canada Federation (CCF) is pleased to be able to provide advanced research computing (ARC) support for COVID-19 focused research.
If your project is related to COVID-19 and you could benefit from compute resources and support, please reach out to us. This support could include:
Providing access to cloud resources, high-performance clusters, storage or boosting your job priority
Consulting in high-performance computing (HPC), data management, data analysis, machine learning, and visualization
Connecting you to Canadian scientists from other research areas and institutions to further collaborations.
The CCF is committed to supporting COVID-19 research. We are here to help.
To access these resources, please email support@computecanada.ca with “COVID-19” in the subject line. Include a brief explanation of the type of support you need and a brief description (2-3 sentences) of how your project relates to COVID-19.
We understand that users with Resource Allocation Competition allocations (current and new ones starting April 1, 2020) may choose to repurpose the allocations for COVID-19 research. We would ask that you reach out, using the email address provided above, and let us know your plans to enable us to most efficiently manage demands on our resources.
Please share this information with your colleagues, especially those who are not current Compute Canada users but could benefit from ARC resources.
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