Notes on ISGC 2009: International Symposium on Grid Computing, Taipei, Taiwan

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ISGC 2009
8th International Symposium on Grid Computing
Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Aparil 21, 2009

Day 1. Opening Session

9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Opening Remarks and Keynote Speech

Opening Remarks:

Dr. Simon LIN, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Dr. Robert JONES, CERN, Switzerland

Keynote Speech:

Title: "A Tour of Citizen Cyber-Science"

David ANDERSON
University of California
Berekey Space Sciences Laboratory
USA


NOTES:

(Check if slides are available in ISGC 2009 website)

SETI@home

Folding@home

BOINC

http::boinc.berkeley.edu

climatepridction.net
Einstein@home (gravitational waves)

LHC@home
Rosetta@home (study on protein structure)
IBM Workd Community Grid

Other projects in other areas

Performance

500K people, I M computers
6.5 PetaFLOPS (3 from GPUs, 1.4 from PS3s)

Potential
- 1 billion PCS today, 2 bilioon in 2015
- GPU: approaching 1 TFLOPS
- 1 ExaFLOPS: 4M GPUs * 0.25 availability
- 1 Exabyte: 10M PC disks * 100 GB
- Freescale i.MX51: 2 GFLOPS, 200 mw

Organizational Models

Umbrella Proects

1. Institutional
- Lattice, VTU@home
2. Corporate
- IBM World COmmunity Grid
3. Community
- AlmereGrid
4. Research Community
- MIdnModeling.org

Resources Needed:

publicity
webdevelopment
sysadmin


Paradigm Connections

Grid Computing <---- Volunteer Computing --> Cloud Computing

Left: BOINC for desktop grids, EDGeS (interoperability), Backfill on OSG

Right: BOINC server on Amazon EC2, CERN VM (cloud-sourcing?)

Stardust@home

- The Stardust mission
- Where's the dust?
- Stardust@home: 23K volunteers, 43M viewings, 64 tracks found

Another example: FoldIt@home

VOLUNTEER THINKING

define goals
theorize
etc.

Middleware

jobs -> middleware -> people or computers

Middleware: identity, accounting, etc.


Proect: Bossa

- Open-source PHP-base middleware for volunteer thining: http://bossa.berkeley.edu/

- Polices

Proects in development (using Bossa)

- Hominids@home: Collect photos of Middle Awash (Ethiopia), Look for hominid and other fossils
-AfricaMap

Benefits of citizen cyber-science
(Volunteer computing is still in its infancy)

- To science
- To society

Carl Sagan's Blue Dot (?)

Conclusion

- Let's talk! : davea@ssl.berkely

OPEN FORUM

Question: How do you validate computation from volunteers?

Answer: Variety of techniques

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Visit to the Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

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Photo Caption: Dr. Suhaimi Napis of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Dr. Rafael P. Saldaña of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU, Philippines) together with a robot used in genomics research.

Photo Caption: The Genomics Research Center Building in Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. (Source: http://www.genomics.sinica.edu.tw/)

Notes:

After the last session of the EUAsiaGrid All-Hands Meeting, I together with other EUAsiaGrid partners visited the Genomics Research Center in Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. Our host is Dr. Ying-Ta Wu.

Below is the link to photos taken during our visit to the Genomics Research Center in Academia Sinica:

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Genomics Research Center Website: http://www.genomics.sinica.edu.tw/index.php?v=2

Excerpts from the Website:

"The Genomics Research Center (GRC) of Academia Sinica was founded in January 2003, with major emphasis on the discovery and functional study of certain genes of biological significance and development of innovative technologies and therapeutic strategies. Dr. Winston Chen is currently the Director. Dr.Chi-Huey Wong, currently the President of Academia Sinica, was the first Center Director.

Research in the life science has entered a new era after identification of the human genome and the genome sequences of other species. The challenge that lies ahead is to understand the functions of certain genes and apply that knowledge to development of new technologies and medicines. Academia Sinica is making great efforts to integrate domestic and international resources to foster innovative scientific research in areas related to genomics and proteomics. The GRC is expected to become a center of excellence for genomic research and education. Through the process of using breakthrough discoveries and inventions in the commercial realm, the Center has established a biotechnology incubator to advance the development of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry in Taiwan.

The GRC’s research programs consist of five major areas: Functional Genomics, Chemical Biology, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bioinformatics, and Key Technology. There is also an Incubation Center for pursuing technology transfer and collaboration with peer institutions. In addition, Academia Sinica has established several national genomic core facilities (e.g. mouse mutagenesis and disease models, genotyping, microarrays, mass spectrometry and proteomics, X-ray and NMR for structural genomics, MRI, and bioinformatics) to support these research programs."

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Photos: EUAsiaGrid Project Meeting, 12 December 2008, Taipei, Taiwan

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Click on the link below to view photos taken during the first day of the EUAsiaGrid All-Hands Meeting held on 12 December 2008 at the Activity Room Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/221/Day_1_EUAsiaGrid_Project_Meeting_Academia_Sinica_Taipei_Taiwan_1...

Suggestion: Choose the 'Slideshow' option.

Related Links:

EUAsiaGrid Project Website: http://www.euasiagrid.org/

Other blog entries:

http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2008/12/euasiagrid-project-meeting-day-1.html

http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2008/12/talk-on-gilda-grid-infn-laboratory-for.html

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Getting to Academia Sinica by Local Transport

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Click on link below to get instructions on how to arrive in Academia Sinica using local public transport:

http://www.phys.sinica.edu.tw/TIGP-NANO/GettingToAS.htm


Excerpt:

Getting to Academia Sinica from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport:

By Taxi:
Taxis queue outside the Arrival Halls of both Terminal Ι and Terminal II of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Airport taxis charge according to the meter plus a 50% surcharge (highway tolls not included). Typical fare to Taipei downtown is around NT$1,100. From the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, you may take a taxi directly to Academia Sinica for around NT$ 1,700.

By Bus:
Where to buy tickets/board the bus:Ticket counters are located in the Arrival Passenger Reception Areas of both Terminals.Terminal I Bus Platform: On the southwest side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area. Terminal II Bus Platform: On the northeast side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area on the first floor of the terminal.

Adult single fares vary from NT$ 110 to $140.

The journey time is about 1 hour in moderate traffic.

Four bus companies now provide frequent services between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and downtown Taipei: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
Taiwan Bus Corp. (Kuogong Line): to Taipei Railway Station and Taipei Sung Shan Airport. You may get off at either stop and then take a taxi to Academia Sinica for approximately NT$300.

Evergreen: to ZhongXiao-FuXing MRT Station. If you only have light packages, this is a good way to save money. You can get off at ZhongXiao-FuXing MRT Station, take MRT “Blue Line” and get off at the terminal stop “Kunyang”. Walk out the station and take a taxi to Academia Sinica for about NT$120.

Toward You Air Bus: to ZhongXiao-FuXing MRT Station, Hyatt Hotel & Far Eastern Hotel. Get off at one of the above stops and take a taxi from there to Academia Sinica for around NT$220.

Fe Go Express: to Taipei Sung Shan Airport. Take a taxi from Sung Shan Airport to Academia Sinica for around NT$300.

Getting to Academia Sinica from Taipei City:

By City Bus:
205, 212, 212-Straight Line, 270, 270 (Shuttle), 276, 306, 306 (Shuttle), 620, 645, 645(Extended), S1, S12, S12 (Shuttle), S5, BL25 , get off at Academia Sinica stop.

By MRT:
Take Blue Line (Banqiao-Nangang Line) to Kunyang Station; get out from Exit No 4, cross the street for bus 212-Straight Line, 270, 270 (Shuttle), BL25, get off at Academia Sinica Stop.

By Train:
Take train to Nankang train station, front door exit and take bus ,306 (Shuttle) , 205, 212-Straight Line, 276; back door exit and take bus 212, 270, BL25 , get off at Academia Sinica Stop

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A Quiet Morning In Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan (April 13, 2008)

April 13, 2008

Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Notes:

This morning (4/13/04) I woke up early, refreshed from a whole day post-conference tour in Turtle Island, Taiwan and the Taiwan Traditional Arts Center.

I moved in the Guest House of Academiaa Sinica yesterday from Howard Plaza Hotel, Taipei.

After answering some e-mails, I had breakfast at the T-Life Cafe' located at the ground floor of the Guest House.

I took some photos within and outside the guesthouse. Below is the link to the photos:

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/108

Later today, I will visit some electronic shops in downtown Taipei.

Cheers,

Raffy

in Taipei, Taiwan

4/13/08, 09:45

About Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

(Figure Caption: Map of Academia Sinica. Click on map to see a larger image.
Source: http://www.sinica.edu.tw/as/map/asmap.html)

Note: Last Sunday, November 18, 2007 I arrived in Taipei, Taiwan for the following meetings/conferences: (1) ONCO-MEDIA Project Meeting, (2) MIST 2007 (Medical Informatics Symposium in Taiwan), and (3) ICT-Asia Regional Seminar The ICT-Asia Seminar (Nov. 19-21, 2007) was held at the Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

Here's a blurb on Academia Sinica taken from its website (http://www.sinica.edu.tw/~hro/IS/introduction.shtml)

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Academia Sinica, founded in 1928, is the most prominent academic institution in the Republic of China. While affiliated directly to the Presidential Office of R.O.C., Academia Sinica enjoys independence and autonomy in formulating its own research objectives. Its major tasks are to undertake in-depth academic research on various subjects in the sciences and humanities, and to provide guidelines, channels of coordination, and incentives in order to raise academic standards in the country.

In recent years, under the leadership of President Yuan T. Lee, Academia Sinica has been transformed into a modern research institution. Many of the 28 research institutes are now headed by world-class scholars and staffed by highly-trained, motivated, and creative young investigators. Major strides have also been made toward raising the standards of academic research, and Academia Sinica is presently positioning itself to move its research activities to the international level. Aside from placing greater emphasis on opening up new areas of intellectual endeavors, Academia Sinica is also taking a leadership role in launching new initiatives in applied research to meet the broad spectrum of societal needs within Taiwan.

To fulfill these goals, Academia Sinica has adopted various measures to promote internal integration of research activities in the three broad research areas (mathematics and physical sciences, life sciences, and the humanities and social sciences) to improve the planning, implementation, and evaluation of long-term projects. Academia Sinica aims to enhance the impact of its research activities, to harness basic research results for applications and technology transfer, to engage Taiwan’s academic and research communities in a modern and forward-looking collective academic vision, to cultivate an intellectual environment that is conducive to the nurturing of young scholars and the recognition of outstanding scholarship in Taiwan, and to promote international cooperation and scholarly exchanges that will accelerate the overall development of academic research in Academia Sinica and the Republic of China.

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[endofqote]

More information about Academia Sinica can be found in its website (http://www.sinica.edu.tw)

Other information:

• How to reach the Academia Sinica
• English/Chinese language map to the Academia sinica
• Location and Map of Academia Sinica