IBM has announced it will offer free access to dedicated virtual supercomputing as well as a platform to engage the public in their research to eligible scientists studying climate change-related issues.
Each approved project will have access to up to 100,000 years of computing time, valued at $60 million. The work will be performed on IBM’s philanthropic World Community Grid Platform.
IBM’s World Community Grid provides computing power to scientists by harnessing the unused cycle time of volunteers’ computers and mobile devices. Individuals who wish to participate in the Grid download software that runs when they take breaks or work on lightweight computer tasks, such as browsing the Internet. The software then receives, completes and returns small computational assignments to scientists.
The combined power contributed by hundreds of thousands of volunteers has created one of the fastest virtual supercomputers on the planet.
A similar effort — though on a smaller scale — was launched in 2009 by Facebook and Intel.
The offer is IBM’s response in support of the updated Climate Data Initiative announced by the White House on July 29. Several companies, including Google and Microsoft, have already lent their resources to the Initiative.
IBM invites researchers to submit sustainability project proposals to receive this free resource, and also invites members of the public to donate their unused computing power for these efforts at worldcommunitygrid.org.
Photo Credit: Computer researchers via Shutterstock
