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The group of budding HPC scientists with Mike Chiles of WCDoE (standing, third from left), Peter Waker of Computer Olympiad SA(standing, fourth from left), Valentino Van de Heyde of UWC (standing, second from right) and Dr Daniel Moeketsi of CHPC (standing, fifth from right)
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Enthusing secondary-school learners with a passion for computing is the aim of a joint outreach programme between the Computer Olympiad, the Western Cape Department of Education (WCDoE) and the Centre of High Performance Computing (CHPC).
The programme is the outcome of a discussion some years back between Peter Waker of the Computer Science Olympiad, Mike Chiles (IT director of the Western Cape provisional government) and Dr Jeff Chen of the CHPC. The programme forms part of the CHPC's education and outreach activities, which are geared at raising awareness of and interest in high performance computing across all disciplines. CHPC is a Department of Science and Technology-funded initiative managed by the Meraka Institute of the CSIR.
Dr Daniel Moeketsi, a research scientist at the CHPC, manages the programme and has contributed to its practical execution. Moeketsi explains how it came about, "It is necessary to inspire learners from early on about the 'magic' of high performance computing. To do this, we have started teaching them basic skills required to do computing."
The 10 Grade 11 learners come from previously-disadvantaged schools and have no prior background of computers. Yolanda Bhabhane, Rameez Champion, Rushin January, Kyle Jessman, Brandon Joseph, Neviron Meyer, Imraan Sayed, Leegaaj Swarts, Ashraf Town and Kyle van Vuuren are from Crystal High School, Cathkin High School, Spes Bona High School, Livingstone High School and Silverstream High School. Waker assisted in the selection and evaluation process of these learners, according to certain criteria.
Phase 1 of this outreach programme, which was launched in November 2008, has involved a basic introduction to computers, using machines donated by the WCDoE. Valentino van de Heyde, Moeketsi's Honours student at the University of the Western Cape, and Eric Mbele of the CHPC have put together a course to teach learners the 'nuts and bolts' of computer hardware. This includes the process of putting a computer together from scratch. Learners will also be shown how to install Ubuntu, a Linux-based open source operating system.
The Phase 1 series of seven lectures concludes in mid-March. Phase 2 requires learners to come to grips with the operating system and introduces them to scientific computing programmes.
Moeketsi is confident that it will make a difference to these learners, "By inspiring interested youngsters, we can create an environment in which they will aspire to learn more and become confident users of computers. This is the first step towards growing a new generation of HPC users. The sooner they become acquainted with HPC, the better, as it offers researchers across many domains unprecedented computing power to address more and varying challenges of national and global importance faster and more effectively." Moeketsi concludes, "Motivated, highly skilled people make things happen!"
He is sure that this 'class of 2009' will be in a position to teach their peers the skills to take on similar projects, "A demonstration by a second-tier learner is our ideal, as it proves that the learning has been passed on by one of our group." The 2009 programme concludes with an awards day in September 2009, with prizes for outstanding learners and demonstrators. Learners will also each receive a computer that they built to take home as their personal property.
For more information and opportunities to partner with the CHPC education and outreach programme, contact: Dr DM Moeketsi; email: dmoeketsi@csir.co.za; Tel: 021 658 3961.
Enquiries: CSIR Communication
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