New supercomputer to be based at UQ

A new SGI Origin 3000 supercomputer will be based at The University of Queensland, assisting in research areas such as drug design, genetics, molecular modelling and natural disaster prediction.

A consortium of six Queensland universities, known as the Queensland Parallel Supercomputing Foundation (QPSF), purchased the supercomputer using $4 million in Queensland Government funding, with a further $2 million in funding to be used for associated technology and regional infrastructure.

University of Queensland Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the new supercomputer will be based at The University of Queensland, but will be available to all Queensland-based universities.

The supercomputer is the latest purchase under a $10 million Queensland Government commitment over three years to develop world-class supercomputing facilities in the state.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the QPSF, Andrew Lewis, said the supercomputer would be capable of tackling problems of specific interest to Queensland industries.

"These computers are also capable of simulating natural phenomena such as earthquakes and creating virtual environments such as coral reefs, to help researchers understand and manage environmental problems."

For more information contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications on 07 3365 1088