Unraveling the Secrets of Viscous Fluids: Harnessing the Power of Research Computing

In this case study, we hear from Roberto Hart-Villamil (EngD student in Chemical Engineering), who has been making use of BlueBEAR to enable his research into temperature sensitivity and how it affects everyday products. Ever packed your favourite cream for a vacation in a tropical paradise, only to discover it’s turned into an unrecognizable goo? You’re … Continue reading “Unraveling the Secrets of Viscous Fluids: Harnessing the Power of Research Computing”

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Seven brand new posts in Advanced Research Computing

Applications for these posts have closed. Join our brilliant team at the University of Birmingham‘s Advanced Research Computing department (ARC), where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and innovative research projects at a world-class university. The University of Birmingham aspires to establish itself as a World Top 50 university by 2030, … Continue reading “Seven brand new posts in Advanced Research Computing”

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Bear on Tour! (Ole Jensen)

Our next researcher in the #BearonTour series is Professor Ole Jensen (ORCID ID), Co-Director of the Centre for Human Brain Health in the School of Psychology. Q1 – Tell me about your researchWe are using various kind of brain imaging tools to investigate the human brain in the context of clinical and cognitive neuroscience. My … Continue reading “Bear on Tour! (Ole Jensen)”

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Machine Learning and AI use in Business & Economics

On the 24th November, Advanced Research Computing (or the BEAR team!) and researchers in the Business School and Economics presented a hybrid 1 hour session around the use of Machine Learning and AI techniques, in relation to their research areas. There was also a short demo on using the BEAR portal for Economics/Business-related software applications … Continue reading “Machine Learning and AI use in Business & Economics”

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Covid made me do it….

In November’s case study, we hear from researcher Gabrela da Silva Xavier who has been making use of BEAR’s storage and data processing power for imaging and RNA-sequencing data, in both her research and teaching… My name is Gabriela da Silva Xavier. I am an Associate Professor based at the Institute of Metabolism and Systems … Continue reading “Covid made me do it….”

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IT Needs of Active Research Survey News – BEAR

Written by Carol Sandys (Head of Advanced Research Computing) & Stephanie Thompson Thank you to everyone who took time to respond to the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research’s (PVC-R’s) ‘IT Needs of Active Research’ Survey (pdf of questions available below), open between 23 May to 1 July 2022. Whilst the response rate was lower than in … Continue reading “IT Needs of Active Research Survey News – BEAR”

Using BEAR to build a database of global forest disturbance data

In the second case study for September, we hear from one of our BEAR Champions, Nezha Acil, about how she has made use of BEAR storage, data processing and our training throughout her PhD, based on studying global forest disturbance data… My name is Nezha Acil and I am part of Thomas Pugh’s TreeMort team … Continue reading “Using BEAR to build a database of global forest disturbance data”

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BEAR: Maintaining Services when it’s 38C + Outside

If you are reading this, you probably know that we did not…. as we could not…. in the face of sustained temperatures beyond the design specification of the Research Data Centre. As with all engineering, there are safe operational limits and decisions are made about the conditions in which the system will operate. Similarly, air … Continue reading “BEAR: Maintaining Services when it’s 38C + Outside”

BEAR Challenge 2022

Update 15/03/24: BEAR Challenge 2024 – registration open! If you are interested in joining BEAR Challenge 2024 and are either an undergraduate or masters student, from any discipline, please see our Eventbrite registration page for details. —- After a two year hiatus, the BEAR Challenge is back! The popular three day event was held on … Continue reading “BEAR Challenge 2022”

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How Green is the BEAR? Sustainable Supercomputing

Last week we attended the University’s Sustainability Town Hall where we could be found on the IT Services stand, discussing our response to the challenge of delivering sustainable supercomputing. On our agenda for more than a decade, the major breakthrough for BEAR came with the adoption of direct liquid cooling in 2015. Read on to … Continue reading “How Green is the BEAR? Sustainable Supercomputing”