Hidden within the University of California, San Diego, lies a technological marvel. The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) has been pushing the boundaries of computational science since 1985. It stands as one of the nation’s first federally funded supercomputer centers. SDSC has consistently driven scientific and engineering breakthroughs. This has been achieved through advancements in high-performance computing. SDSC is more than just supercomputers. It tackles the challenges of “Big Data”. This includes data integration, storage, performance modeling, and predictive analytics. The San Diego Supercomputer Center supports diverse research fields. These range from astrophysics and bioinformatics to environmental sciences and health IT. SDSC’s reach extends beyond academia, serving industry and government as well. The center is a vital resource for the national research community. In the fall of 2020, SDSC unveiled Expanse. This supercomputer boasts over twice the performance of its predecessor, Comet. Expanse embodies SDSC’s vision of “Computing without Boundaries”. It achieves this by expanding capacity and offering new capabilities for research. This research relies on diverse, integrated cyberinfrastructure. SDSC has a rich history of innovation. It developed Gordon, the first high-performance supercomputer to utilize massive amounts of flash-based memory. This accelerated solutions for data-intensive problems. Another innovation is Trestles. It also features flash-based memory and focuses on high throughput and scientific productivity. The San Diego Supercomputer Center’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its “green” data center. This facility houses co-location servers for UC San Diego and other UC researchers. SDSC offers more than just hardware. It provides comprehensive support including a 24-hour helpdesk, code optimization, and training. SDSC contributes to the Integrated Digital Infrastructure (IDI) program at UC San Diego. It offers supercomputing, large-scale disk storage, and co-location services in an energy-efficient data center. The San Diego Supercomputer Center continues to shape the future of computational science. It empowers researchers to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation across various fields.
Firehouse Museum
Peeking out of the past is the San Diego Firehouse Museum. It is located in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy.