This session is intended to be a forum for open discussion on the topic of data analytics/data science and how it fits in a HPC environment (or how HPC fits into data analytics/data science). Topics that will be offered for discussion include:
• What exactly IS "Big Data"? What constitutes inclusion in this category? • We've for a very long time been capable of GENERATING this data...have we been extremely negligent in not co-developing adequate methods to examine it all along? • Do the HPC communities, facilities and systems have a role in data analytics and data science? • What are the needs of our researchers in terms of data analytics or data science? • What resources are required in an HPC environment to meet these needs? • What are the implications of research data analytics in terms of the facilities and resources that we in the HPC community build and support? What new architectures and software will be needed? • What new skills are needed of campus champions and other research computing support personnel? Is training available to acquire these skills? • What new collaborations and partnerships might help to advance data analytics as a mode of research in a high performance research computing environment? • Should our community (research computing) have a leadership role in shaping and directing the state of tools for Data Analytics?
The format of this BOF will be an open discussion and exchange of thoughts and ideas. Some issues (such as those presented above) will be presented to help frame the discussion.
