Women in HPC sponsors student attendance at SC23 supercomputing conference
Purdue’s Women in High-Performance Computing (WHPC) group sponsored a woman student to attend the 2023 Supercomputing conference, SC23, which took place in Denver last month.
An international conference, SC23 included more than 12,000 attendees from around the world who come to see the latest innovations in high-performance computing and related fields. Purdue has had a presence as an exhibitor at SC for over 20 years, as well as a long history of sponsoring teams in the associated Student Cluster Competition (SCC).
“Attending SC23 was an enriching experience and left me with a profound sense of knowledge, valuable connections, and enhanced confidence,” says Sathvika Kotha, a master’s degree student in computer and information technology, who was sponsored by Purdue WHPC.
“The diverse range of tutorials and workshops on HPC, deep learning and cloud computing have expanded my understanding of current trends and best practices in my field, providing me with a deeper insight into the intricacies of the industry.”
Kotha says she wholeheartedly recommends the WHPC scholarship program to other Purdue students.
“The incredible support provided by the WHPC scholarship program goes beyond just financial assistance; it’s a catalyst for personal and professional advancement that has opened doors to invaluable experiences and opportunities that have shaped my academic and professional journey. Having personally benefited from the program, I can attest to the positive impact it has had on my ability to participate in conferences, access resources and connect with professionals in the field.”
Purdue WHPC is part of a broader engagement initiative by the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC), and is led by women staffers affiliated with RCAC. WHPC is a diverse community encompassing undergraduate, graduate, staff and faculty men and women who are interested in exposing women to high-performance computing and encouraging their pursuit of research and careers in HPC and other technology fields.
Within the WHPC initiative, RCAC extends partial travel assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, empowering their participation in various national conferences aligning with WHPC’s objectives. Applicants are assessed on their demonstrated experience with advanced computation and must explain what they hope to gain from participating in the conference. To be eligible, an applicant must identify as a woman and be an undergrad or grad student maintaining good academic standing.
For full eligibility requirements, and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the WHPC Scholarship page.
“Receiving support from Purdue WHPC was instrumental in making my conference experience not only possible, but exceptionally enriching,” says Kotha. “The financial and logistical support provided by Purdue WHPC ensured that I could attend the conference, participate in various sessions, and engage with industry experts and fellow professionals. The support extended beyond just the financial aspect; it was a vote of confidence and recognition of the importance of my professional development.”
In addition to the scholarship program, Purdue WHPC organizes a range of activities including regular meetings to discuss technical HPC-related issues of interest, opportunities to network with the WHPC community, a mentorship program, workshops, and exposure to external resources and opportunities.
To learn more about Purdue Women in HPC or be added to the mailing list, contact whpcinfo@lists.purdue.edu.