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Program Overview

Continuing advances in information technologies are fundamentally changing the methods and research topics in virtually every area of science and engineering, including computational science. Computational science has emerged as a third pillar of research, one that complements theory and experiment. It is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field that uses advanced computing capabilities to understand and solve complex problems. In addition, innovations in telecommunications, networking, collaboration, and data management are changing the way by which basic and collaborative research is done.

Summit Objective

The objective of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) IT Summit is to address the following issues:

  • What are the requirements for information and communication technologies in support of world-class research and education at KAUST?
  • What are the trends in computational e-science, and how can KAUST be best positioned to participate in next generation data-centric super computing?
  • How might KAUST structure its external research programs in scientific computing and related areas?
  • Who are the potential partners, collaborators and vendors for KAUST in addressing next generation capabilities?
  • What are the trends and capabilities in high fidelity teleconferencing and collaboration systems that can enable KAUST researchers to participate in long-distance collaborative research and education with research institutions around the world?

The summit will bring together 16 of the world’s foremost experts in computer science, e-science, data intensive supercomputing, and internet scale systems to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from Oct 27- Oct 29, to answer the questions posed above and examine the likely impact of information technologies on the global research enterprise in the next 10-15 years.

The summit recommendations will assist KAUST in planning and preparation to take advantage of the continuing IT revolution. The Summit includes participants, from industry and academia including those at the forefront of information technology developments as well as e-scientists, who are applying these technologies in their chosen areas of expertise.

The Summit Centerpiece

The centerpiece of the summit will be a one-day meeting held October 28, composed of four key sessions. Each session will be lead by a facilitator, and initiated by opening remarks by one or two of the panelists. The event format will focus on discussion and interaction. The audiences will be composed of KAUST, Saudi Aramco management, stakeholders and the general public. Audience participation will be limited to the last session of the event as outlined below. (view agenda)

Session 1
  • Current and future trends in computationally intensive science and engineering research
    • What are the IT technologies and opportunities that will affect future research in science and engineering?
    • What technology and infrastructure is missing or most needed by the research community today and in the future?
    • What are the trends in technologies such as supercomputing, data-intensive supercomputing, telepresence, and visualization?
Session 2
  • Future cyberinfrastructure needs and a vision for industry and academia
    • Where is industry going, and what are the business and technology drivers?
    • To what extent will the IT needs in basic research be compatible with those of industry?
    • What roles should governments, universities and industry play, and what are successful models for interaction?
Session 3
  • Strategies for enhancing KAUST's role in research information technology and e-science, taking into consideration KAUST's mission, goals, and unique circumstances
    • What are potential key research thrusts and areas for emphasis of KAUST research in information technologies?
    • What are the elements of a cyberinstrastcture that will support the KAUST mission?
    • What possible programs in areas such as systems procurement, recruiting, organizational development, and research collaboration?
Session 4
  • Audience Question and Answer portion of the event.

Deliverables

Following the conclusion of the KAUST IT Summit, KAUST will prepare a final report documenting the proceedings and key insights. Each panelist will be given an opportunity to contribute a brief white paper for inclusion in the final report. To submit a paper prior to the event, please contact

Who Should Attend

Those interested in the future vision for technological solutions to the problem of efficiently connecting data, computers, and people with the goal of enabling derivation of novel scientific theories and knowledge are encouraged to attend.

  • CIOs
  • CTOs
  • Research Directors
  • Academic Leaders
  • IT Directors & Managers
  • Knowledge Management Leaders
  • Enterprise Architects
  • e-Scientists & Researchers
  • Visualization Professionals
  • IT Professionals
  • Members of the press

The event is open to the general public.