The future of science. That’s what the Intermountain Network Scientific Computation Center represents. Right here on South 1452 East in Salt Lake City stands this unassuming building. It houses a technological marvel. Inside researchers push boundaries. They utilize high-power computing. This dwarfs the supercomputers of just a few years ago.
The INSCC isn’t just a building. It’s a symbol of collaboration. Eight University of Utah departments work together. They range from the colleges of Science Engineering and Mines and Earth Sciences. Their projects are diverse. They simulate explosions. They study groundwater. They analyze cosmic ray data. Richard Koehn the Research Vice President once said INSCC reflects a change. A shift from discipline-based research to functional groupings. This ignores traditional academic boundaries.
At the heart of INSCC is the Center for High-Performance Computing. It boasts four state-of-the-art computers. This includes one of the world’s most powerful graphics supercomputing facilities. The location of these computers doesn’t matter. Information is shared across campus workstations. INSCC is a terminus for the National Science Foundation’s vBNS network. This is the nation’s fastest high-speed national communications and computational network. The University of Utah is also part of Internet 2. This is an initiative for high-speed data transmission.
The INSCC’s impact extends beyond academia. It’s attracted tens of millions in external funding. Partnerships exist with IBM SGI and SUN. The University of Utah was awarded the northern hemisphere cosmic ray observatory. This is part of the Pierre Auger astrophysics project. It’s also one of five University Alliance Centers. This is in the Department of Energy’s Accelerate Strategic Computing Initiative.
Koehn believed the INSCC represents a major adaptation. This is in how science is accomplished. He predicted that future successful universities will depend on rapid communication. This kind of efficient inexpensive large-scale communication is what INSCC provides. Universities that don’t adapt will fall behind. This is the legacy of the Intermountain Network Scientific Computation Center. A place where the future of scientific research is being written. A place where collaboration innovation and cutting-edge technology converge.