2008 Microsoft eScience Workshop

December 7-9, 2008, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Theme: Accelerating Time to Scientific Discovery

Last year the Microsoft eScience workshop at RENCI in Chapel Hill, North Carolina attracted over 250 scientists, researchers, and academics. There were more than 50 presentations and 100 posters showcasing projects in areas as diverse as astronomy, malaria, and the use of GPUs for scientific computation. Feedback from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and the event also served as a venue for Microsoft groups to meet with researchers and discuss future collaborations.

This year we are expecting even higher participation as we are fortunate enough to be partnering with Professors Geoffrey Fox and Dennis Gannon from Indiana University and the IEEE eScience Conference. The venue for both events is University Place Conference Center & Hotel at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The goal of this cross-disciplinary workshop is to bring together scientists from diverse research disciplines and give them the opportunity to share their research and their experiences of how computing is shaping their work and thus providing new insights into facilitating scientific discovery. The focus will be on discussion of the computing technologies that enable scalable solutions in order to address scientific grand challenges.

In keeping with the workshop theme, Accelerating Time to Scientific Discovery, there are several new features in support:

• Tutorials covering facilitatory technologies ranging from cloud computing to virtual research environments and repositories will be held on opening day.
• A panel of scientists from diverse research disciplines will describe roadblocks and make possible recommendations before opening the floor to questions.
• Birds of a feather sessions are available upon request. Contact esci2008@microsoft.com if you are interested in holding a special session.

More details on these events and the overall workshop agenda can be found in the event Program.

The primary sponsor for the event is the Microsoft External Research group, headed by Corporate Vice President Tony Hey. Please direct any questions regarding the 2008 Microsoft eScience Workshop to esci2008@microsoft.com.