NITRD NewsLetter - December 2020

View Full Text:  NITRD-Newsletter-122020.pdf

The December newsletter includes many interesting areas for you to explore: * SNIPPETS: These are short descriptions with corresponding links to what NITRD's Federal agency members are doing in scientific computing technologies, including work to help fight COVID-19, which is causing the global pandemic; * TOPIC OF THE DAY: We examine supercomputers and how they are tackling unique problems. For example, supercomputers are a powerful new weapon against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease COVID-19; * AGENCY CORNER: The Department of Energy is often associated with supercomputers, our topic for this newsletter, so we highlight DOE's work here; STEM & WORKFORCE CORNER: We present the Administration's efforts to build a quantum workforce and support STEM education to support this goal; INNOVATION THROUGH NITRD: We introduce our readers to NITRD's High End Computing Interagency Working Group, which coordinates Federal agency activities on computing technologies; EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: We present a workshop NITRD held on strategic computing; NITRD STAFF: We acquaint our readers with NITRD's IT staff who have created new IT platforms and ensured NITRD's virtual work is smooth sailing. We invite you to take a look at the transformative IT innovations that have found an important place in American life.

Request for Information on Potential Concepts and Approaches for a National Strategic Computing Reserve (NSCR)

Federal Register Notice:  85 FR 83627

ACTION:

Request for information.

SUMMARY:

OSTP and the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Subcommittees on the Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem (FACE) and Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) request input from interested parties on the goals, value, and necessary approaches for establishing a National Strategic Computing Reserve (NSCR). The NSCR may be envisioned as a coalition of experts and resource providers that could be mobilized quickly to provide critical computational resources (including compute, software, data, and technical expertise) in times of urgent need. This Request for Information will help inform potential attributes of a NSCR.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on January 16, 2021.

Federal Register Notice:  85 FR 83627

Pioneering The Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem: A Strategic Plan

View Full Text:  Future-Advanced-Computing-Ecosystem-Strategic-Plan-Nov-2020.pdf

This strategic plan envisions a future advanced computing ecosystem that provides the foundation for continuing American leadership in science and engineering, economic competitiveness, and national security. It develops a whole-of-nation approach based on input from government, academia, nonprofits, and industry sectors, and builds on the objectives and recommendations of the "2019 National Strategic Computing Initiative Update: Pioneering the Future of Computing". This strategic plan also identifies agency roles and responsibilities and describes essential operational and coordination structures necessary to support and implement its objectives.

View Full Text:  Future-Advanced-Computing-Ecosystem-Strategic-Plan-Nov-2020.pdf

Recommendations for Leveraging Cloud Computing Resources for Federally Funded Artificial Intelligence Research and Development

View Full Text:  Recommendations-Cloud-AI-RD-Nov2020.pdf

This report is a product of interagency collaboration, led by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on AI and Subcommittee on Machine Learning and AI (MLAI), that is one of several measures responding to the February 11, 2019, Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. The report details four key recommendations for leveraging cloud computing resources for federally funded artificial intelligence (AI) research and development (R&D). Cloud platforms provide robust, agile, reliable, and scalable computing capabilities, which can help accelerate advances in AI. Cloud computing can also democratize access to the powerful computing capabilities needed for many types of AI R&D. This report is another step in the overall Federal Government strategy to position the United States as the world leader in artificial intelligence.

View Full Text:  Recommendations-Cloud-AI-RD-Nov2020.pdf

NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY CAREER AWARENESS WEEK: RESOURCES FOR A CYBERSECURITY CAREER

Information technology (IT) is part of every aspect of modern life. Emerging technologies such as high-speed mobile networking and smart cities promise that cyberspace will continue to offer exceptional benefits to society. However, as society uses IT more there is greater potential for adversaries to create disruption and destruction through malicious cyber activities, making advances in cybersecurity imperative. NITRD works with its member agencies to coordinate cybersecurity research and development. But there is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers and the demand is increasing. NITRD’s member agencies are leading efforts to develop cyber expertise and build a workforce capable of facing real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Cybersecurity is one of the fasting growing careers in the U.S. Are you a student or know someone who is interested in a cybersecurity career? Confused on where to start? Wondering what are the options in cybersecurity? Take a look at the extensive amount of information on  the Resources for a Cybersecurity Career webpage as you explore a career in cybersecurity. Check out the programs for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-graduates! You will find resources for students, educators, and others spanning information about internships, scholarships, schools with cyber programs, cyber camps, and so much more!

Explore the opportunities for innovation and excitement working in cyber!

NITRD'S SPOTLIGHT ON CYBERSECURITY CAREERS

Cybersecurity is a relatively new field especially in light that the global internet did not come into existence as we know it until the 1980’s. Mobile devices accelerated the use of the internet because it became easy to obtain information “on the move”. With this increased use, came risks to personal, corporate, and government data. Internet-of-Things (IoT) brought new objects into the realm of connectivity with its device-to-device communication. With the growing popularity of IoTs, by 2010 “things” soon outplaced people connected to the internet by a ratio of 1.84. This explosion of internet use also provided vulnerability leading to opportunities for nefarious actors, whether working on their own, in criminal organizations, or with rouge governments.

November 9-14, 2020 is National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week. Check out NITRD's Spotlight on Cybersecurity Careers and see why people in cybersecurity share a passion and a path to an exciting career! Check out the Cyberspace Career Resources: How to be in cybersecurity webpage.

Explore the opportunities for innovation and excitement working in cyber!