‘Supercomputer’ for Tech?

By Leslie McCartney, of The Montana Standard - 02/14/2007

Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish, views a three-dimensional computer drawing of the Space Station, while wearing a pair of high tech stereo glasses. The visual program was to show Montana legislators in Helena recently the power of supercomputers and the different problems they can solve. The display was presented by the governor’s Office of Economic Development, Montana Tech and IBM. Supporters laud its economic, research benefits. George Lane / Helena Independent Record.

A partnership between a Montana Tech alumnus, big business, Tech professors and the state could result in the college getting a “supercomputer” — the only one in this region.

Supporters say it will open the door for economic development, new jobs and cutting-edge research and development.

“If we are so fortunate to get this through the Legislature, when we turn on the lights on this system it will be the single most important research tool in the U system. It will impact every aspect of science and research,” said Rick Donovan, a Tech professor.

Those supporting the super-computer — which include Gov. Brian Schweitzer — are unanimous in their enthusiasm for the idea.

They say it is an incredible opportunity and an economic development catalyst to grow business, attract the best and brightest, keep college graduates in the state and allow the state to work on incredibly complex problems.

“It basically is more than just Montana Tech, it is literally the future of Montana,” said Earl Dobbs, a Montana Tech alumnus and who is IBM’s worldwide vice president of strategy and business development. His speciality happens to be supercomputers, also called deep computing.

IBM will invest millions in the supercomputer that dovetails with the $7 million sought from the state Legislature.

The idea of a supercomputer has been talked about at Tech for more than 10 years by professors like Donovan, David Hobbs, Curtis Link and Chuck Wideman, but it was the tie with Dobbs, who was born in Dillon and graduated from Twin Bridges High School, that has made the supercomputer viable.

“I cannot stress this enough: it is IBM. The IBM,” Donovan said.

He said a supercomputer can “solve some of the world’s most intractable problems” using modeling and data to generate a range of answers and alternatives. It has untold potential from examining problems such as groundwater flow, looking at oil field reservoirs and carbon sequestration, which is used to study global warming, and biofuels and aerospace applications.

He sees a natural fit between Tech and supercomputing since it has such as strong engineering and science foundation. He said that the supercomputer creates a knowledge-based economy, a “green” technology that attracts high-paying jobs and professionals.

“This is the great American desert of supercomputing,” said Evan Barrett, the state’s economic development director, who noted that no surrounding states have deep computing capabilities. “We can either sit here forever and let someone else serve our needs or we can do it ourselves.” Donovan said that a supercomputing center will attract more people to the U-system where they can pursue work that interests them.

“The coolest toys bring in the brightest kids,” Donovan said. “It will change the face of research and development in Montana.” — Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached at leslie.mccartney@mtstandard.com