IBM Grant to AUT Boosts SKA Bid
IBM will provide research time as well as specialised hardware and software including IBM’s new first of a kind computing solution, System-S. This will be the first research application of this technology platform in the Southern Hemisphere, demonstrating software correlation of radio astronomical data using System S on IBM’s cell based blade platform. This state of the art infrastructure is designed to perform real-time analytics by taking massive amounts of continuous and unstructured raw data - up to 6 gigabytes per second, the equivalent of all the Web pages on the Internet today - and processing it in real time into actionable information and knowledge.
The grant has been provided under IBM’s Shared University Research (SUR) Awards scheme, which aims to support research in areas of significant interest to the recipient university and IBM. IBM has also invited AUT to join its Academic Initiative, which will help AUT to access the latest technology and tools available.
Director of AUT’s Institute for Radiophysics and Space Research, Professor Sergei Gulyaev, said the IBM grant means AUT will have a greater capacity to contribute to SKA.
“This equipment and software will allow us to simulate and test the process of streaming colossal amounts of radio astronomical data with the incredible speed that SKA demands. This award will open a great opportunity for AUT staff and research students to work closely with IBM’s best researchers in the US, Australia and New Zealand. This puts AUT and the Australia – New Zealand bid in an even stronger position,” said Professor Gulyaev.
Managing Director of IBM New Zealand, Jennifer Moxon, said the company is keen to support New Zealand’s research sector.
“IBM is delighted to support a breakthrough science initiative such as this through the application of our technology and expertise. We see this as a further step in the relationship with AUT and believe that the contribution will strengthen the New Zealand bid to co-host the SKA project,” said Ms Moxon.
“As we work towards hosting SKA, we need to ensure we have the right technology and funding. IBM’s generous support is a major step in the right direction,” says Professor Gulyaev.
Contacts
Professor Sergei Gulyaev
Director
Institute for Radiophysics and Space Research
AUT University
Ph 921 9541
Elaine Koller
Communications
IBM New Zealand
Ph 09 359 8708 / 021 744 988
Andrea Malcolm or Aimee Wilkins
Communications Manager
AUT University
Ph 9219423
021924314 or 0212430255
For more information please contact : Andrea Malcolm