The Fifth IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2012), sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Scalable Computing (TCSC).

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We are pleased to announce the winners of IEEE TCSC Fifth IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2012): "Adaptive Energy Forecasting and Information Diffusion for Smart Power Grids", Yogesh Simmhan, Vaibhav Agarwal, Saima Aman, Alok Kumbhare, Sreedhar Natarajan, Nikhil Rajguru, Ian Robinson, Samuel Stevens, Wei Yin, Qunzhi Zhou and Viktor Prasanna. IEEE TCSC and SCALE 2012 organizers would like to congratulate Yogesh Simmhan and his team.

Objective and Focus

The objective of the Fifth IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2012), sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Scalable Computing (TCSC), is to highlight and showcase real-world problem solving using computing that scales.

Effective solutions to many scientific problems require applications that can scale. There are different dimensions to application scaling: for example, applications can scale-up to large number of cores or compute units, scale-out to utilize multiple distinct compute units, or scale-down to release resources that are no longer needed. In order to scale, applications need the support of tools, middleware, infrastructure, programming systems, etc. SCALE is concerned with advances in application development and supporting infrastructure that enable scaling.

Call for Proposals

The Fifth IEEE International Scalable Computing Challenge (SCALE 2012) contest will focus on end-to-end problem solving using concepts, technologies and architectures (including Clusters, Grids and Clouds) that facilitate scaling. Participants in the challenge will be expected to identify significant current real-world problems where scalable computing techniques can be effectively used, and design, implement, evaluate and demonstrate solutions. SCALE2012 will be held in conjunction with the 12th CCGrid Conference in Ottawa, Canada on 13-16 May, 2012.

We invite teams to submit white papers outlining the problem addressed and the technologies employed to enable applications to scale. White papers should be up to 4 pages long, 12-pt. font and single column, and in addition to listing team members and contact information, should clearly outline:

1. The problem being solved and the technology employed
2. The application scenario and its requirements
3. Performance data and a qualitative description of how the application scales – scale-up, scale-out or any other type of scaling
4. The solution – architecture, underlying concepts and technologies used – highlighting the innovative aspects of the solution
5. Impact of the solution, including extensibility and uniqueness of results, and the extent to which the presented solution pushes the envelope in scalable computing
6. Analysis of solution and technology employed compared to related approaches

In addition to the above, finalists will be judged on the quality of their presentation, which shall include a 5-minute demonstration, as well as their responses to questions by a technical committee.

Papers will be shortlisted using the above 6 points as merit criteria, and up to 6 papers will be invited to compete in a final round at CCGrid 2012. Selected teams will receive an award of up to $1000 to help with travel to the conference. At least one member from each selected team will be expected to register, present and demonstrate their project at CCGrid 2012. Participation from students and young researchers, especially in leadership roles, is strongly encouraged.

Awards

First prize: Plaque + $1000
Second prize: Plaque + $500

Tentative timeline

Coordinator

Shantenu Jha, Rutgers University, USA, shantenu dot jha at rutgers dot edu
Pavan Balaji, Argonne National Lab, USA, balaji at mcs dot anl dot gov

© IEEE Technical Committee on Scalable Computing.