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The Great Barrier Reef, a natural wonder teeming with biodiversity, faces unprecedented challenges. Innovative solutions are crucial for its preservation. Researchers at UCLouvain have harnessed the power of GPU computing on the LUMI supercomputer to transform ocean modelling and conservation strategies. Prof. Emmanuel Hanert: “For the Great Barrier Reef, we use SLIM to simulate ocean currents and study reef connectivity —the exchange of living material between reefs. By modelling larval transport, we can determine how reefs are interconnected—identifying which reefs provide larvae to others. This insight is vital for conservation efforts, allowing us to prioritise protecting reefs essential for the resilience and regeneration of the entire ecosystem.”

In this user story prof. Pim Pullens of Ghent University explains how supercomputing infrastructure and other tools are being used to teach students how to analyse imaging data. Prof. Pullens: “As said, my students have no experience working with a supercomputer. However, thanks to using the VSC infrastructure, Open OnDemand and Neurodesk, I can get them to analyse their data within an hour, which shows how user-friendly and efficient this set-up is.” 

Learn how powerful computing supports the use of more advanced genetic testing to improve the diagnosis of rare eye diseases. Mattias Van Heetvelde: “The Tier-2 infrastructure from the VSC allows us the use of significant (temporary) storage and compute resources at no extra cost and ensures our data is handled securely and efficiently. As a safeguard, all patient-derived sequencing data on the VSC infrastructure are pseudonymised, meaning the key to retracing the sequencing data to patient information is not kept on VSC infrastructure.” 

Discover how scientists from UHasselt, UNamur, and Sciensano are using advanced mathematical modeling to prepare for future pandemics. By analyzing data from the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have developed a powerful tool to predict the spread of infectious diseases and assess the impact of interventions like vaccination campaigns. This groundbreaking work will equip us with the knowledge to tackle future outbreaks more effectively. Dive into this fascinating article to learn how these efforts are shaping the future of public health preparedness.

EuroCC Belgium met Marianne Ghyoot, Director of Research & Innovation at Biowin, the Health Cluster of Wallonia to talk about the strategic role of HPC in research, development, and production of innovative products. Discover the full interview of Marianne Ghyoot on our website ?

FFplus is a European initiative, highlighting the adoption of HPC and (generative) AI for SMEs and start-ups across Europe, showing the business benefits and impacts of adopting HPC and AI in real business models. Are you an SME or start-up wanting to shift your innovation potential? Apply now for the FFPlus Open Call (deadline: 4/09/2024)! There are two types of the Open Call: Business Experiments and Innovation Studies. Curious if you qualify for the FFPlus Open Call? Get in touch and we will guide you through every step.

Looking to cool off during a scorching heatwave ?? Head to the forest ?—it's not just beautiful, it's also cooler thanks to thermal buffering. But did you know traditional weather stations often miss these cooler spots? They typically generate macroclimate data and miss out on what is really important for many species living close to the ground (the microclimate). The research lab sGlobe (KULeuven) aims to unravel the drivers and impact of microclimate conditions. sGlobe combines big data with state-of-the-art modelling techniques like machine learning and species distribution models to study the effects of climate change on forest life. Dive into this user story and discover how supercomputing powers this vital research.

EuroCC Belgium met Benoît Macq, Professor at the Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain and two researchers from UCLouvain for an exchange on the theme of HPC in the service of health.