12. Event title:
Supercomputers in Science: From the Big Bang to Climate Change
13. Description of the core message of your event and key topics to be covered (c.100 words):
We want to explain how supercomputers and computer simulations play a key role in modern science. They are fundamental to new discoveries in many areas including nanotechnology, particle physics, cosmology, engineering and climate science. The UK is a world leader in this area with the UK national supercomputer, HECToR, being operated by EPCC at the University of Edinburgh. Although computers are ubiquitous in modern life, their crucial role in modern science is not generally understood. For example, the evidence that human activity plays a major role in climate change comes mainly from computer simulations that can only be performed on supercomputers.
14. Does the event have particular local relevance?:
16. How does your event relate to this year's theme of 'Making waves'?:
Computer models are becoming increasingly important in predictions of future events, climate change being the most topical. These large-scale simulations can only be done on very large supercomputers. The range of areas in which computer models are used is rapidly increasing.
