CSC Summer School 2024: High performance computing in Nuuksio National Park
CSC Summer School in high performance computing (HPC) 2024 was held once again in the beautiful Nuuksio National Park. The 10-day-training brought together participants from across the globe, all with different educational backgrounds but united by a common interest: high-performance computing.
Participants have been pleased with the Summer School before, and this year was no exception. A mix of engaging content, professional instructors, hands-on exercises, and fun with fellow attendees has become the key to its success.
A beginner-friendly approach to the contents
The Summer School is designed for everyone interested in exploring the world of supercomputers, regardless of skill level.
“It’s really a great way to get you started,” says Olavi Kiuru, a participant of the Summer School 2024.
“I didn’t have any skills beforehand, so I came here with a blank mind, but I’ve learned a lot. We get a lot of information and so many resources that we can use in the future.”
The program offers a cross-section of courses covering everything you need to know about HPC. Over the course of 10 days, participants dive into topics like parallel programming, GPU programming, parallel I/O, and HPC application design.
It’s really a great way to get you started
Olavi Kiuru, a participant of the Summer School 2024
As Daniel Jordan, another participant, puts it: “They took us all the way from ground zero to having everything we need to know to put a code onto a supercomputer in a few days, which is quite impressive.”
This year’s program had an extra treat: a special lecture on quantum computing, offering a glimpse into how quantum computers work, and even a chance to run some code on a quantum computer.
Learning by doing: high performance computing hands-on
The Summer School isn’t just about sitting in lectures. Participants can immediately apply what they’ve learned to their own projects. The course walks them through how to scale workloads to run on a supercomputer.
“I’ve learned so much, especially about memory management,” says Olavi.
“Now I understand how to access and manage the memory of supercomputers, which is crucial for optimizing the programs we use.”
Students worked on a variety of computational projects, from simulating the plasma surrounding neutron stars to using AI to accelerate simulations. The trainers were there to help, offering individualized support and providing a wide array of resources for future projects.
Free time activities surrounded by Finnish nature
The Summer School is not all work. The picturesque setting in a Finnish national park added an extra layer of relaxation and fun.
“A lot of the time when you do courses, you’re not necessarily staying in a lovely hotel in the middle of nature with lots of activities and things planned,” Daniel remarks about the exceptional circumstances.
Participants got to swim in the lake before lectures, challenge each other to table tennis matches, unwind with some board games in the evening. There were also organized activities like sports sessions and the essential Finnish experience: a lakeside sauna.
Applications for CSC Summer School 2025 open in the spring.