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Dr. Shaun Hendy
Emily Sullivan
Through the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, we are partners in the Blue Fern Supercomputing Facility at the University of Canterbury. KAREN lets us move large datasets between Blue Fern and our desktops at IRL.
High Performance Computing Case Studies:
Materials Science in Silico - The IRL Applied Maths Team uses mathematics and computer simulation at the atomic scale to try to predict and understand the properties of advanced materials and nanotechnologies. Dr Shaun Hendy's group is particularly interested in the new materials that are now the building blocks of nanotechnology, such as carbon nanotubes and metal nanoparticles, which are tiny objects 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Using computer simulation algorithms the team can conduct virtual experiments on these materials by following the motions of their constituent atoms as they grow. This helps them to understand how growth conditions can influence their final structure and shape, and this understanding can then be used in real experiments in order to control the quality of the final material or device. From time to time they have also discovered new materials or new applications of existing materials through our virtual experiments.
New “Lifesize” H.323 video conferencing facilities were installed at IRL in late 2008, and are already being well used to keep in touch across our three sites: Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. Use of multicast video conferencing, both desktop and conference room, to work on collaborative projects is seen as essential in making efficient use of resources
Desktop Videoconferencing is being used successfully to facilitate good communications within cross-site teams, and multi-organisation projects. Skype has been the primary tool for these conversations to date whilst awaiting the desktop aspect of the Lifesize system to be activated. Some employees have also been using EVO to participate in meetings via the KAREN bridge and to conduct group meetings across sites.
Video Conferencing Case Studies:
Keith Jones provides National Measurement System Advice – Desktop video conferencing essential in overcoming language barriers in a current commercial contract with a country developing its own National Measurement System. Whilst some of the individuals Keith is working with speak reasonable English, Spanish is their primary language, and ensuring that everyone is on the same page is being made much easier through the use of video conferencing.
Collaborative visit to Czech Republic – Video conferencing is proving essential in getting to speed with a research project, in line for a visit to a Lab in the Czech Republic later this year. The small window of usable time between the Czech Republic and New Zealand means all communications must be efficient as possible.
Communication across Multiple Sites – IRL is spread across sites in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Desktop video conferencing is facilitating closer working relationships amongst teams, such as the Mechanical Workshop, and Engineering and Applied Physics, that are spread across multiple IRL Sites.
A number of scientists at IRL regularly interact with the Australian Synchrotron for various types of research. Remote use of this facility is being made possible via KAREN.
Graham Gainsford is interested in X-ray Crystallographic studies of small molecules in single crystals: mainly synthetic precursors (pharmaceutical/drug related), non-linear optical materials & inorganic/organic hybrid materials. Use of the Australian Synchrotron (AUSSY) is essential because the compounds are usually crystalline "powders", that is crystallites averaging about 10 microns in size (typically feathers or fine needles 20 x 5 x 5 microns). In the past, these would be rejected for single crystal work.
With the NX Client software, Graham is able to examine & process data on the AUSSY system e.g. look at the graphic display of the diffraction "frames" produced at AUSSY and is looking forward to running the experiments remotely using mounting robots & systems. Other organisations, such as Massey, are already having success with this, and Waikato & Auckland have being using US installations in a similar way. Remote use of these synchrotrons opens up a world of possibilities, making the use of these distant facilities part of our capability at a fraction of the cost.
IRL created a project to promote KAREN to enhance collaboration between Māori communities, within Māori customary settings (e.g. marae, wānanga, rūnanga), and with IRL to increase Māori RS&T capability. After the project leader became ill it was decided to revise the project scope and proceed with Te Rūnanga o Ngati Awa (TRoNA).
One of the initial challenges was the replacement project manager had no experience with KAREN. This was overcome through discussions with REANNZ, IRL staff, reading relevant website material and using KAREN for video conferencing.
The project was carried out with TRoNA. Their access to KAREN is through Te Whare Wānanga oAwanuiarangi. However during the course of this project, the Wānanga’s access to KAREN was being implemented and was not available for use by this project. Instead access for video conferencing was provided via the KAREN bridge. Although a relatively simple technical process, there were operational issues as access to the Wānanga network is also via a bridge.
Going forward IRL remains committed to advancing research opportunities with Māori and using KAREN where appropriate.
We will continue to investigate the possibilities of participating in grid computing, most likely by joining BestGRID. There are potential applications for grid computing in the measurement standards area relating to error analysis and in the materials science area.
We will also investigate the possibility of using videoconferencing in remote collaborations in the Measurement Standards area.